Orecchiette with pork and fennel sausage and broccolini

Name: Orecchiette with pork and fennel sausage and broccolini
Cook time: 30 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 2 tbsp olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, sliced; ½ tsp fennel seeds; 4 Italian-style pork and fennel sausages; pinch sea salt and black pepper; pinch chilli flakes; 60ml dry white wine, e.g. pinot grigio; 30g unsalted butter; 1 bunch broccolini, chopped into thirds; 400g orecchiette; finely grated pecorino cheese to serve

Vanessa Gordon

June 8, 2022

easyTime:< 30 minsServes:4

The traditional pasta of Puglia, orecchiette or “little ears” are paired simply here with pork and fennel sausage and broccolini.

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil
2 garlic cloves, sliced
½ tsp fennel seeds
4 Italian-style pork and fennel sausages
pinch sea salt and black pepper
pinch chilli flakes
60ml dry white wine, e.g. pinot grigio
30g unsalted butter
1 bunch broccolini, chopped into thirds
400g orecchiette
finely grated pecorino cheese to serve

Method

In a saute pan, heat olive oil with garlic and fennel seeds until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
Remove sausages from casings, add the meat to the pan and break apart with a wooden spoon over medium heat. Add salt to help the meat release its juices, along with pepper and a pinch of chilli flakes.
Once the sausage meat is cooked, about 8-10 minutes, add a splash of white wine and scrape up the caramelised bits on the bottom of the pan, then add the butter and stir through.
Cook pasta in plenty of salted water according to packet instructions. Add broccolini to the boiling water for the last 2 minutes of cooking.
Drain the pasta and broccolini, saving a ladle of the pasta cooking water. Transfer pasta and broccolini to the saute pan, along with reserved pasta water. Toss everything together then season to taste.
Divide pasta among bowls, topping with a generous amount of grated pecorino.