Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

Name: Pasta with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
Prep time: P0Y0M0DT0H15M0.000S
Cook time: P0Y0M0DT0H25M0.000S
Total time: P0Y0M0DT0H55M0.000S
Yield: 8 servings
Ingredients: 1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed of damaged leaves; 1 pound orecchiette or other pasta noodle; 2 tablespoons water; 4 to 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced; 1/2 pound Italian sausage, cut into quarter-inch slices; Salt; 1 cup coarse, seasoned bread crumbs, toasted, optional garnish; Pecorino Romano or Parmesan, optional garnish

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Level: Easy
Total: 55 min

Prep: 15 min
Inactive: 15 min
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 8 servings

Tips: Cook the broccoli rabe the night before and you'll be way ahead. Whatever you do, read the recipe through start to finish before you get started. It's a little out of the ordinary but relatively painless. Cook off the garlic and sausage up to one hour ahead and let it sit in the pan until you're ready to finish the dish.

Level: Easy
Total: 55 min

Prep: 15 min
Inactive: 15 min
Cook: 25 min

Yield: 8 servings

Ingredients

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1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed of damaged leaves

1 pound orecchiette or other pasta noodle

2 tablespoons water

4 to 5 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

1/2 pound Italian sausage, cut into quarter-inch slices

Salt

1 cup coarse, seasoned bread crumbs, toasted, optional garnish

Pecorino Romano or Parmesan, optional garnish

Directions

Watch how to make this recipe.

Cut the broccoli rabe into 3 to 4 inch pieces, discarding the stems. In a large pot of rapidly boiling water, blanch the broccoli rabe until tender and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Before you drain broccoli rabe, reserve 1 cup of cooking liquid. Drain and rinse the broccoli rabe with cold water until it has cooled off. Spread it out on a towel to finish draining.
Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions until al dente.
While the pasta is cooking, place 2 tablespoons of water into a cold skillet with garlic and sausage and then turn heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden and sausage is cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Pour reserved broccoli water into pan with sausage.
When the pasta is cooked, drain it and place back in pot you cooked it in and season with salt. Pour sausage sauce over pasta and stir in cooked broccoli rabe. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately.
If the Queen's coming to dinner: Garnish with fresh bread crumbs and/or freshly grated pecorino Romano or parmesan cheese.