Description
Creamy orecchiette with sausage and spinach delivers Italian comfort in one delightful skillet. Robust flavors blend perfectly, offering a quick weeknight meal that whisks you straight to southern Italy’s warm kitchens.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Proteins:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) orecchiette pasta
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage, casings removed
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 2 cups fresh spinach, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings and Extras:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
- 1/4 cup pasta water (reserved)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water, add salt, and bring to a rolling boil. Cook orecchiette pasta until al dente, following package timing. Carefully preserve ¼ cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Crumble sausage into the pan, breaking it into small pieces while cooking until golden brown and crispy.
- Reduce heat to medium and introduce minced garlic, stirring constantly for 60 seconds to release aromatic flavors without burning.
- Gently fold fresh spinach into the sausage mixture, allowing leaves to wilt and incorporate fully, approximately 2 minutes.
- Transfer drained pasta directly into the skillet, combining with reserved cooking liquid. Toss ingredients thoroughly to ensure even distribution of flavors and create a light, silky sauce.
- Generously sprinkle grated Parmesan cheese over the mixture. Season with cracked black pepper, salt, and optional red pepper flakes for added heat. Stir to coat ingredients completely.
- Plate immediately while steaming hot, garnishing with additional Parmesan cheese for enhanced richness and presentation.
Notes
- Choose a robust, flavorful Italian sausage like sweet or spicy pork sausage for maximum taste depth.
- Drain sausage excess fat before adding garlic to prevent greasy texture and maintain clean flavor profile.
- Keep pasta water starchy and salty to help sauce cling better and enhance overall seasoning of the dish.
- Swap spinach with kale or Swiss chard for different nutrient profiles and interesting texture variations.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 610 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 620 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 24 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 32 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg