Orecchiette with Sausage & Zucchini

pasta with sausage and zucchini First, I have to say, this tastes better than the picture shows. The colors look a little bland here once the zucchini and squash cook, don’t be fooled.  This is a delicious healthy pasta dish!  It is inspired by a dish I had in Rome.  Mama mia it was good!  In Rome I am sure it wasn’t chicken sausage, but I like to use the chicken sausage as I think it has great flavor.  Feel free to use whatever sausage you like.

The key to this dish is to undercook the pasta, so that  you finish it in the pan with the sauce (or “condimento” as Mario Batali always says!).  This allows the orrechiette to soak up all the flavors, oh yeah!

Orecchiette with Sausage & Zucchini
Author: 
Recipe type: Main
Cuisine: Italian
Prep time: 
Cook time: 
Total time: 
Serves: 6
 
Ingredients
  • 1 Pound of Chicken Sausage (Can substitute Turkey or Pork)
  • 1 Pound of Orecchiette
  • 2 Tbsp Olive Oil
  • ¾ Cup White Wine
  • 1 Cup Chicken Broth
  • 1 Zucchini, chopped
  • 1 Summer Squash, chopped
  • 1 Medium onion, diced fine
  • 1 Tbsp Italian Seasoning
  • 1 Tsp Crushed red pepper (optional)
  • 2 Tbsp Garlic, minced
  • Romano or Parmesan cheese
Instructions
  1. Bring a large pot of water to boil, salt well.
  2. Heat a saute pan and add 1 Tbsp of the olive oil. Remove the sausage from the casings and chop into smaller pieces. Brown and stir for 5 minutes.
  3. Add the remaining olive oil and the onions to the pan. Stir and cook for 3 minutes.
  4. Meanwhile, cook the pasta until just under done. Reserve 1 cup pasta water.
  5. Add the garlic, zucchini and squash to the pan. Salt & pepper to taste. Add the italian seasoning and crushed red pepper. Cook for 3 minutes.
  6. Add the wine and reduce for 2 minutes.
  7. Add the broth and cook for 5 minutes until it reduces. Taste for seasoning.
  8. Add ½ cup of pasta water, more if needed. The pasta water will tighten the sauce.
  9. Add the pasta to the pan, and cook for 1-2 minutes, until pasta is perfectly done. Sprinkle with your choice of cheese (I like both!)