Description
Orecchiette with Sausage and Spinach Delight brings Italian countryside comfort to your kitchen with its perfect balance of hearty sausage and tender spinach. Rich pasta embraces savory flavors, creating a rustic meal that invites you to savor each delicious forkful of culinary tradition.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta and Proteins:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) orecchiette pasta
- 16 ounces (454 grams) Italian sausage
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil (optional)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- ½ teaspoon Dijon mustard
- ½ cup dry white wine
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and generously salt it. Bring to a rolling boil over high heat and cook the orecchiette pasta until it reaches a tender yet firm al dente texture, typically 8-10 minutes (225 grams or ).
- While the pasta cooks, heat a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Crumble the sausage meat and dice the onions, then sauté together for 7-9 minutes until the meat browns completely and onions turn translucent.
- Drain excess fat, leaving approximately in the pan. Reduce heat to medium and introduce minced garlic and Dijon mustard, stirring quickly to prevent burning.
- Deglaze the skillet with dry white wine, allowing the liquid to simmer and reduce by half, concentrating the flavors for about 2 minutes.
- Gently fold fresh spinach leaves into the sausage mixture, using tongs to help them wilt and integrate smoothly.
- Transfer the drained pasta directly into the skillet, tossing thoroughly to ensure each pasta piece is coated with the rich, savory sauce.
- Season the dish with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper to taste. Optional: Garnish with finely grated parmesan cheese and torn fresh basil leaves before serving immediately.
Notes
- Quick-cooking pasta dish bursting with savory sausage and vibrant spinach flavors.
- Select fresh Italian sausage for the most authentic and rich taste profile.
- Remove sausage from casing easily by slicing lengthwise and peeling off the skin before chopping.
- White wine adds depth and helps deglaze the pan, capturing all the delicious browned bits.
- Wilting spinach takes less than a minute, keeping its bright green color and nutritional value intact.
- Grate parmesan cheese directly over the hot pasta to help it melt slightly and enhance overall seasoning.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 680 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg