Description
Home cooks find pure comfort in this orecchiette with sausage and spinach delight recipe, blending hearty Italian flavors with simple ingredients. Spicy sausage, tender pasta, and fresh spinach combine to offer you a satisfying meal perfect for weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz (454 g) Italian sausage
- 8 oz (226 g) orecchiette pasta
- 3 cups (packed) fresh baby spinach
- ½ medium onion, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ cup dry white wine
- ½ tsp Dijon mustard
- 2 tbsps fresh basil (optional)
- Salt to taste
- Pepper to taste
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Pasta Preparation: Bring a generously salted large pot of water to a vigorous boil, then cook orecchiette until perfectly al dente, ensuring a slight resistance when bitten, approximately 8-10 minutes.
- Sausage Foundation: In a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, crumble sausage and sauté with diced onions, browning the meat thoroughly and creating a fragrant base while rendering the fat.
- Flavor Layering: Reduce heat and introduce minced garlic and Dijon mustard, quickly stirring to prevent scorching and developing a rich, aromatic foundation. Deglaze the pan with dry white wine, allowing the liquid to reduce and concentrate the flavors.
- Vegetable Integration: Incorporate fresh spinach leaves into the sausage mixture, using tongs to gently wilt and seamlessly blend the greens, creating a vibrant and cohesive sauce.
- Final Fusion: Drain the pasta and transfer directly into the skillet, tossing meticulously to ensure each orecchiette is luxuriously coated with the savory sauce. Season generously with kosher salt and freshly cracked black pepper, and if desired, garnish with finely grated parmesan and torn fresh basil leaves before serving immediately.
Notes
- Pasta Perfect Timing: Aim for al dente pasta by testing a piece 1-2 minutes before recommended cooking time to prevent overcooking.
- Fat Management Tip: Drain excess sausage fat but keep a small amount for enhanced flavor and proper sauce consistency.
- Wine Selection Wisdom: Choose a dry white wine like Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc that complements the sausage’s richness without overpowering other ingredients.
- Spinach Integration Technique: Add spinach at the last moment to maintain its vibrant color and prevent wilting into a mushy texture, ensuring a fresh and crisp element in the final dish.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 5
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 850 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 24 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg