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.