Description
Creamy orecchiette with sausage and spinach delivers a comforting Italian pasta experience. Bold flavors and simple ingredients combine for a satisfying meal you can enjoy any evening.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) orecchiette pasta
- 10 ounces (285 grams) halal sausage, crumbled
- 6 ounces (170 grams) fresh spinach, washed and chopped
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Garnish:
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook orecchiette until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Set aside 1 cup of starchy pasta water before draining.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium flame, introducing finely diced onions and sautéing until they become translucent and soft.
- Introduce minced garlic to the skillet, allowing it to release its aromatic essence for roughly 60 seconds.
- Crumble sausage into the pan, browning thoroughly and ensuring complete cooking, breaking into small, uniform pieces.
- Gently fold in fresh spinach leaves, allowing them to wilt and integrate with the sausage mixture, which takes approximately 2-3 minutes.
- Transfer drained pasta directly into the skillet, meticulously folding and coating each orecchiette with the rich sausage and spinach medley.
- Modulate the sauce’s consistency by incrementally introducing reserved pasta water, creating a silky, cohesive coating.
- Elevate the flavor profile with a judicious sprinkle of red pepper flakes, salt, and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to personal taste preferences.
- Present the dish immediately, optionally embellishing with a generous dusting of freshly grated Parmesan cheese for an additional layer of complexity.
Notes
- Choose whole wheat or gluten-free pasta to make the dish more diet-friendly for those with specific nutritional needs.
- Drain and rinse spinach thoroughly to remove excess moisture, preventing a watery sauce and ensuring a more concentrated flavor.
- Consider using lean turkey sausage for a lower-fat alternative that maintains the rich, savory profile of the original recipe.
- Experiment with adding roasted red peppers or sun-dried tomatoes for an extra layer of depth and complexity to the dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 474 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 5 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 52 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg