Sausage Orecchiette with Peppers and Spinach Recipe
Sausage Orecchiette with Peppers and Spinach is a rich and flavorful Italian pasta dish that combines the delicious flavors of sausage, peppers, spinach, and cream sauce.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 5 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian, American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Orecchiette Pasta:
- 1 pound orecchietta pasta
Italian Sausage Mixture:
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 1½ or 2 red bell peppers, sliced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 3 cups fresh baby spinach
Cream Sauce:
- ½ cup heavy cream
- 1 to 2 cups starchy pasta cooking water (reserved from boiling the pasta)
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese, shredded
- 1 tablespoon fresh herbs (parsley, rosemary, thyme, basil, or sage)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil orecchiette pasta in salted water for about 9 to 13 minutes. Reserve 2 cups of pasta cooking water before draining.
- Brown Sausage Mixture: Brown sausage in a skillet, add onion and bell peppers, cook until caramelized.
- Add Garlic and Spinach: Stir in garlic and spinach until fragrant.
- Make Cream Sauce: Add cream and pasta water, simmer for 5 minutes.
- Combine and Serve: Toss drained pasta, Parmesan, and herbs with the sauce. Serve with extra Parmesan.
Notes
- Cooking Time for Orecchiette: Cooking time may vary, aim for al dente texture.
- Caramelize the Sausage: Ensure sausage, onions, and peppers are crispy and caramelized for flavor.
- Adjusting the Sauce: Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency as needed.
- Bell Peppers: Adjust quantity based on preference.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 831 kcal
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1014mg
- Fat: 44g
- Saturated Fat: 19g
- Unsaturated Fat: 22g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 74g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 34g
- Cholesterol: 109mg
