Sausage and Peppers Pasta With Broccoli : Italian Dishes To Try

 Sausage and Peppers Pasta With Broccoli

Time : 20 Minutes 

When coupled with spaghetti, the traditional Italian flavor combination of sausage and peppers produces a filling and simple midweek supper. Broccoli is a great nutritious ingredient that adds texture and cooks quickly. If you prefer a more aggressive vegetable, though, you can choose between broccolini or broccoli rabe. Although this recipe calls for sweet Italian pork sausage, there's no need to feel constrained by it: Use chicken-apple sausage as a healthy alternative, spicy Italian sausage for more spice, or fresh chorizo or breakfast sausage to transform this meal into brunch.

INGREDIENTS

Yield:

4 servings

¼ cup extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound sweet Italian pork sausage, casings removed

1 pound broccoli, cut into 1½-inch florets (about 4 cups)

2 medium yellow bell peppers (12 ounces), cored, seeded and thinly sliced (about 2½ cups)

3 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

Kosher salt and pepper

1 pound rigatoni

½ cup grated Parmesan (2 ounces), plus more for serving

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (from about ½ lemon)

½ teaspoon red-pepper flakes

PREPARATION For Sausage and Peppers Pasta With Broccoli

Step 1

Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up the meat using a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Scrape the mixture into a medium bowl. Add the remaining 2 tablespoons oil, the broccoli, peppers and garlic to the skillet and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until they soften and begin to brown, about 8 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup cooking water and drain the pasta. Return the pasta and reserved cooking water to the pot over low heat. Add the broccoli mixture, cooked sausage and its accumulated juices, ½ cup Parmesan, the lemon juice and red-pepper flakes and stir vigorously until liquid is slightly thickened and saucy, about 2 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.

Step 3

Serve the pasta with additional Parmesan for sprinkling on top.