Spicy Sausage Broccoli Rabe Parmesan
Description
The intense flavor of broccoli rabe combines with the savory taste of hot Italian sausage and tomatoes for a quick but heart sauce served over whole wheat rotini.
Ingredients
•
8 ounces whole wheat rotini pasta
•
3 bunches broccoli rabe, trimmed
•
4 (4 ounce) links hot Italian sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces
•
1 tablespoon sausage drippings
•
2 garlic cloves, chopped
•
1 (14 1/2 ounce) can diced tomatoes
•
salt and ground black pepper to taste
•
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
•
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
•
1 teaspoon olive oil, or to taste
Directions
1
Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the rotini, and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 6 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
2
While the pasta is cooking, place a steamer insert into a saucepan, and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli rabe, recover, and steam until just tender, about 2 minutes depending on thickness.
3
At the same time, place the Italian sausage into a large skillet over medium heat, and cook until browned and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes. Remove sausage from pan and set aside; drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon of sausage drippings in the pan. Sprinkle in the garlic, and cook until it starts to brown, about 1 minute.
4
Stir in 1/2 of the broccoli rabe. Cook and stir until the rabe has wilted, then add remaining rabe and diced tomatoes. Cook until rabe is tender, about 5 minutes; sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
5
Return sausage to the skillet, and cook just until the meat is hot; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve over hot rotini.