It’s often said the best pasta dishes are the quickest ones and today’s offering underlines this truism.
One pot and one skillet on the stovetop, the pot of water blanches broccolini then does double-duty with cooking the pasta in the same water.
The skillet is where the sausage meat is browned, onions and garlic cooked and ultimately the dish comes together with the pasta and broccolini added.
Italian sausages make for a quick hack if you want meatballs – just remove the casings and roll into meatballs.
Healthy and delicious broccolini give you lots of fiber and nutrition and the pasta brings everything together.
A pasta dish that should be ready in about 15 minutes. Hello weeknight meal!
Pasta With Italian Sausage and Broccolini
(serves 4)
2 mild Italian sausages
about 16 broccolini stalks (rapini is good as well)
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
1 cup diced onion
3 cloves garlic, minced
salt and pepper to taste
250 gr. pasta (I used trecce no. 49 or use other braided pasta)
1 cup grated Romano or Parmesan cheese
1 tsp. chilli flakes
- Place a large pot of water on your stove-top to boil.
- Cut along the sausages to just expose the meat. Remove the casings and discard. Roll the sausage into meatballs.
- Place a large skillet on your stovetop over medium high heat, add a bit oil oil and place the meatballs in the pan and brown on all sides. Remove and reserve.
- Cut the broccolini into four smaller pieces. Season boiling water with plenty of salt and place broccolini in, boil for 2-3 minutes. Remove with slotted spoon and place in a bowl with cold water. Once cooled drain and reserve.
- Into the same pot of water, add the pasta, stir. Boil for 5-6 minutes.
- Meanwhile, add your remaining olive oil into the skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and garlic and sweat for 5-6 minutes or until translucent. Turn off heat.
- Once pasta is cooked, transfer to the skillet with a slotted spoon. Add the meatballs and broccolini and turn the heat back on to medium.
- Add a cup of hot pasta water to the mix, stir to incorporate until a sauce has formed. Add grated cheese, toss and divide and serve.
- Grate more cheese, sprinkle chilli flakes and serve.
