Pasta with Broccoli Rape and Sausages

”Pasta Rapine e Salsiccia”


“Pasta Sasizza e Vrocculi i Rape”

 

This is a one dish dinner that consists of vegetables, proteins and carbohydrates. To prepare it is easy and the combination of pasta, broccoli rape and Sicilian style sausage make it a tasty and appealing pasta recipe.  
If you add some flakes of red peppers to this delightful pasta you will enhance its flavor and give zest to it.
To make the vegetarian version, eliminate the sausages.

 

SERVES 4 TO 6

                            Broccoli e Rape

 

INGREDIENTS

  • 1 lb. fusilli, shells or penne pasta
  • 6 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • ½ small onion, finely diced
  • 5 links of Sicilian style sausages (less than 1 lb.)
  • ¼ cup of white wine (optional)
  • 1 lb. broccoli rape, washed a few times
  • 3 garlic cloves, sliced
  • Crushed red pepper to taste
  • Salt and pepper
  • 2 oz. of your preferred grated cheese

 

PREPARATION

In a 5 ½ quart sauté pan, place 2 tablespoons of oil, the diced onion, and the sausages with the skin removed. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Add wine and ½ cup of water, simmer until most of the liquid is evaporated.(If you cannot use wine replace it with water).
Remove from heat, transfer to a dish using a slotted spoon and set aside.
In a large pot, place 5 quarts of water with 2 tablespoon of salt over a high heat. When water boils, add broccoli rape and cook for 3 minutes.
Transfer broccoli into a large dish, cool a few minutes and very carefully chop coarsely.

 

 

The Pasta
In the same water, cook pasta al dente, following the package’s direction.

 

The Condiment
Using a 5 ½ quart sauté pan, place 4 tablespoons of oil, the garlic and sauté over a medium heat, when it is golden add broccoli and continue cooking for 2 minutes. Add sausages and simmer until pasta is ready.

 

The Assembly
Drain pasta and save some of the water.
Add pasta to sauté pan with the sausages and broccoli; toss it over a high flame until the pasta and condiments blend well. If it becomes to dry add some of the reserved water. Remove from the heat and add ½ of the cheese. Serve immediately, garnish each plate with grated cheese and serve crushed red pepper on the side.