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Easy Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage & Broccoli


  • Author: Jessica

Ingredients

Scale

Essential Ingredients:

  • 12 ounces orecchiette pasta
  • 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or spicy, based on preference)
  • 2 cups fresh broccoli florets
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Parmesan cheese (optional, for garnish)

Instructions

1. Cook the Pasta:

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
  2. Add orecchiette pasta and cook until al dente, according to package instructions.
  3. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and drain the pasta.

2. Prepare the Sausage:

  1. While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it into small pieces with a spatula.

3. Sauté the Garlic:

  1. Add minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage and sauté for about 1 minute, or until fragrant.

4. Cook the Broccoli:

  1. Add the broccoli florets to the skillet. Pour in a splash of the reserved pasta water and cover the skillet.
  2. Steam the broccoli for about 5 minutes, or until tender.

5. Combine Everything:

  1. Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the sausage and broccoli.
  2. Toss everything together, adding more pasta water as needed to create a light sauce.
  3. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.

6. Garnish and Serve:

  1. Serve the pasta hot, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese if desired.

Notes

  • Preparation Time: 10 minutes
  • Cooking Time: 20 minutes
  • Total Time: 30 minutes