Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Kale | Dapur Sinolin

This Sausage and Kale Orecchiette is a great weeknight meal. It uses just a few ingredients and can be made quickly. Great for kids, too!

Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Kale

prep time 10 mins

cook time 20 mins

total time 30 mins

Ingredients

• 12 ounces orecchiette pasta
• 14-16 ounces bulk Italian sausage
• 1 large bunch purple or Tuscan kale, de-stemmed and leaves chopped
• 1 large shallot, sliced
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• 1/2 cup salted pasta water
• 1 lemon, juice only
• Salt, to taste
• For the Crispy Parmesan Breadcrumbs
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 cup breadcrumbs
• 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)

Method

1. Melt butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. In a small bowl, toss together breadcrumbs, parmesan, and red pepper flakes to avoid any huge parmesan clumps. Pour into skillet and stir to coat with butter. Cook for 3-4 minutes, tossing occasionally, until browned. Set aside until ready to eat.
2. Fill a large pot with water and set it over medium-high heat. Add a tablespoon of kosher salt (or 2 teaspoons table salt) per quart of water. The water should taste seasoned, but not seawater-salty. It’s important to get the salt level right in the water because we will be using it to finish the dish.
3. When the water is boiling, add the pasta and stir it rapidly to separate the pasta, since orecchiette has a tendency to stick together. Cook until al dente, probably 9-11 minutes. Scoop out a cup of the pasta water (don’t forget!), then drain and rinse the pasta to stop the cooking.
4. Orechiette pasta funny ears pasta
5. While the pasta cooks, add the Italian sausage in small chunks to a large skillet over medium heat. Cook, letting the sausage render out fat, for 6-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sausage is cooked through.
6. At this point, there should be enough fat from the sausage in the skillet, but if your skillet is very dry, add a drizzle of olive oil before the next ingredients go in.
7. Brown sausage for Sausage and Kale Skillet Dinner recipe
8. Add the chopped kale, shallot, and garlic to the skillet. Stir to combine and cook for 2-3 minutes until kale is wilted.
9. Kale in pan for Sausage and Kale Skillet Dinner
10. Add the cooked orecchiette, 1/2 cup pasta water, and lemon juice to the skillet. Toss to combine and heat until the pasta water thickens to form a light sauce. If the pasta seems dry, add more pasta water.
11. Serve pasta in shallow bowls garnished with crispy breadcrumb topper.
12. Orecchiette Pasta with Sausage and Kale recipe
13. Store leftovers in the fridge for 5-6 days. Reheat in the microwave with a splash of water or over the stove in a skillet on medium-high heat.