Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

This Italian pasta recipe is simply made by combining Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe. It comes together in 30 minutes for a quick and easy weeknight dinner. 

Orecchiette and cavatelli are iconic pasta shapes originating from Southern Italy. 

Both have small cavities that are great for holding a variety of sauces made with chunky ingredients. 

In Italian, orecchiette literally means “little ears”. Originating from the Puglia region of Italy, this is one of the best sauce-catching pasta shapes.  

This Orecchiette Pasta Recipe with Italian sausage and broccoli rabe is a variation of Puglia’s signature pasta dish. The rapini is first blanched and then stir-fried with spicy sausage to create a silky, chunky sauce held perfectly in the pasta cavity. 

Mise en place

The first thing we are going to do is bring a very large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. While we wait, let start chopping and prepping some of the ingredients. 

Prep the garlic:  Crush about 4-6 garlic cloves with the side of your knife. Remove the papery skins and cut off the tips. Give them a coarse chop and set them aside. Feel free to adjust this amount based on your personal preference. 

Prep the french shallot: Remove the papery skin, cut off the tips and mince. Set aside.  

Prep the broccoli rabe: Trim the stems of 2 bunches to remove as much of the tough stalk as possible, anywhere from 1-2 inches. Then, place in a large bowl of cold water and keep submerging it. Remove any discolored leaves and debris. Lift with a slotted spoon and place in a colander. Give them one final rinse under running water. For more information on this vegetable, consult this post on rapini.

Grate the cheeses: We also need to grate about ¼ cup of both Pecorino Romano cheese and Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese to help us create a silky sauce.

Instructions

At this time, the water should be at a rolling boil. Add the broccoli rabe. Return to a boil and cook for an additional 3 minutes or until the stalks are tender. 

With a slotted spoon, remove them from the boiling water and place in a colander to drain. Gently squeeze out excess moisture. Coarsely chop into 1-inch bite-sized pieces. Set aside.

In the same large pot of boiling water, slowly add 1 pound of orecchiette pasta and stir continuously for one minute. Cook according to package directions until almost al dente.

While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a very large saucepan, over medium-high heat. Swirl to coat the entire pan.

Add the minced shallots and sauté until beginning to soften about 2-3 minutes. Stir often. 

Add  ½ pound of crumbled Italian sausage (spicy or sweet). With a wooden spoon, break up the meat into small pieces, about ¼- ½  inch pieces, until lightly browned. This should take about 5 minutes. If necessary, adjust the heat. 

Add the chopped garlic and ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (or to taste) and sauté for 30-45 seconds. 

Add ¼ cup of white wine and deglaze the pan. 

Lower heat to medium-low and add the cooked chopped broccoli rabe. Combine properly together. If too dry, add a little of the pasta water. Adjust seasonings. 

At this time, the pasta should be almost al dente.  Reserve a cup of the pasta water. Drain and add to the saucepan. Combine gently together. 

Turn the heat off.  Add a little of the hot pasta water and the grated cheese and toss to combine.

Toss and shake the pan back and forth for 1-2 minutes, until a sauce forms.

If necessary, adjust the consistency of the sauce with the rest of the cooking liquid. 

Taste and adjust seasonings with salt and pepper.

Plate and garnish with more grated cheese, if desired. Serve immediately. 

Tips

• Placing a lid on a pot makes the water boil faster.
• Use high-quality ingredients for the best results. 
• Cook the pasta in the same water as the broccoli rabe.
• Use an 11 or 12-inch skillet (or larger!) 
• Adjust the total amount of fresh garlic to your preference. Do not be tempted to use garlic powder.
• Undercook the pasta slightly as it continues cooking in the pan. 
• Orecchiette can be replaced with any short pasta such as cavatelli, small pasta shells, etc. 
• For a lighter tasting meal, use chicken or turkey sausage.

Preventing orecchiette from sticking together

When these pasta shells stick together, they are almost impossible to separate. This makes it harder for them to cook properly and prevents them from catching all the sauce.

In order to prevent this, make sure you use a very large pot of salted water and slowly add the pasta when the water is at a rolling boil. Maintain the rolling boil throughout the cooking time. Also, stir continuously for the first minute. Pay particular attention to the bottom of the pot. If this fails, consider buying another brand of pasta, preferably one with ridges. 

Can I make this a vegetarian meal?

Simply eliminate the sausage and replace it with any legume such as chickpeas, beans or lentils to transform this Italian pasta dish into a high fiber, healthy and complete vegetarian meal. 

Broccoli Rabe substitute

If you are having a hard time finding this vegetable, replace it with mustard or collard greens. Kale is another great option. 

Replace it with broccolini, swiss chard, broccoli or spinach if you are not a fan of its signature bitter taste. 

More Italian pasta recipes

If you are looking for more pasta recipes that are simple and quick to make, try this spaghetti pasta with veggies. Another family favorite is this meatless broccoli rabe pasta recipe.

Are you a pasta lover? Be sure to visit the Pasta Category for more options.

Recipe origins

During my youth, my mom would often make fresh pasta recipes with my dad’s homemade sausages. Combining it with pasta and broccoli was a dish my whole family loved.

Inspired by my mom’s recipe and my love of broccoli rabe, I have been making variations of this dish for decades.

You can do the same! Use the ingredients you have in your pantry and fridge and have fun!

Enjoy your meal! Buon appetito! 

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

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Ciao for now,

Maria

★★★★★ If you have made this orecchiette recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!