Orecchiette with Sausage and Spinach

It’s 2022…finally! Here’s hoping for a better year ahead with more time together! I have to confess, I do not believe in New Years resolutions. I mean, has anyone actually ever kept a resolution for more than the month of January (if you ever even get that far)? I’m going to go to the gym; I’m going to cut out carbs; I’m going to stop drinking so much; I’m going to, I’m going to, I’m going to. I prefer to think of the New Year as a chance think about goals you want to achieve, and how you can do that in a reasonable and sustainable way, but without the pressure of making it a “resolution.” I have 3 main goals (not resolutions) for the year ahead. First, and my biggest, is to get this blog but up and running full time and get myself back on my 5-year-plan track for growing this blog and any business ventures that stem from it. Second, is to cook more family meals, both healthy and indulgent, and get my kids to expand their palettes. Third is something I’ve wanted to do for a while…but it’s going to remain a secret for now. Stay tuned for that reveal soon!

Orechiette with sausage and broccoli rabe was one dish that became a favorite of mine while living in NYC after college. I would order it almost every time I went to an Italian restaurant. If I saw it on the menu, it was like there was a power over me telling me that I had to order it, and it never let me down. Then one winter evening, I was at home in my apartment craving this pasta dish – OK, honestly I am probably always craving it – but this time was enough that I decided to go ahead and make it myself. I walked over to my local specialty grocery store, bought all the ingredients needed, went home and gave it a go. And I crushed it! It was awesome! Since then, this dish has been in the regular rotation in my kitchen, and I no longer feel the need to order it when I go out. I truly believe, tooting my own horn here, that my version is better than the restaurant version. And the best part is how easy it is to make!

You may be wondering why this post is for orecchiette with sausage and spinach, not broccoli rabe. As I mentioned above, I am focusing on cooking meals that my whole family can eat. This saves me from having to make multiple dinners, but more importantly I want my kids to understand that they need to try new things and expand their palates. However I do understand that there are limits, and I think broccoli rabe is over the line of those limits. Broccoli rabe is a very bitter vegetable that many adults don’t even eat. It is an acquired taste and not one that I expect my kids to adopt (yet). So in order to make this dish more kid/family friendly, I substituted the broccoli rabe with spinach, a vegetable that both my kids enjoy. It still adds the fresh crunch and the nutrition I’m looking for, without the bitter overtones.

Start by bringing a large pot of water to a boil. Cook the orecchiette to al dente according to package directions. Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium high heat. Once heated, add the sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon while it cooks. Cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and no longer pink.

While the sausage is cooking, chop the leeks. I like to slice the leek in half about 3/4 of the way up, and then chop, so you wind up with leek semi-circles. One thing to note about leeks – they grow upwards in the ground, so they are often filled with dirt. Once you chop them, place them in a bowl of water, mix them around, and then let them sit until you are ready to use them. The last picture above isn’t the most attractive picture but I wanted to show you – see all the dirt that has accumulated at the bottom? That will all be in your food if you don’t let your leeks soak first.

Once the sausage is cooked, add in the leeks and cook for 2 minutes until softened, stirring so it doesn’t burn. Then add in the spinach and garlic, cooking until the spinach wilts. If you want a little bit of spice, you can add in some red pepper flake as well. Generally I always choose spice, but I have to be mindful when cooking for my kids so I only added a little.

With the heat on high, pour in the wine. Using the wooden spoon, scrape up all of the brown bits off the bottom of the pan. Brown = flavor! Add in the butter and stir until melted.

When the orecchiette is finished, use a slotted spoon or spider to add the pasta into the sausage and spinach mixture. Mix it all together. If it seems dry, add some pasta water, about 1/4 cup. This starchy water will help develop a sauce. Once combined, turn off the heat, add in the parmesan and give a final mix. Taste and season if necessary. The cheese will add a good amount of salt so be careful not to overdo it with additional salt. Serve hot with some additional parmesan on top.

Some easy variations to this dish are to use spicy sausage for some kick, change up the the pasta shape, or try out a any leafy green that you prefer – kale, for example, would be delicious. I hope you and your family enjoy this dish as much as I do! Here’s to more delizious recipes and more meals shared together this year! Happy 2022!