Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Asparagus

Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Asparagus

4 servings
Throw together a 30-minute dinner with orecchiette pasta, crisp-tender asparagus, and meaty sweet or spicy Italian sausage. Top it off with cheese, and dig in!

Ingredients

  • kosher salt

    plus more for the pasta water

    ½ tsp
  • orecchiette
    1 lb
  • medium asparagus

    cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces

    1 lb
  • salted butter
    2 tbsp
  • sweet or hot Italian sausage

    casings removed

    1 lb
  • garlic cloves
    4
  • black pepper
    ½ tsp
  • red pepper flakes
    ¼ tsp
  • chicken broth
    1 c
  • heavy cream
    1 c
  • parmesan cheese

    plus more for topping

    1 c
  • Grated zest and juice of 1 lemon
  • fresh basil
    ¼ c

Directions

  1. 1

    Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, adding the asparagus during the last 2 minutes. Drain the pasta and asparagus.

  2. 2

    Meanwhile, melt the butter in a large Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes.

  3. 3

    Add the garlic, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes to the sausage and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Add the chicken broth and cook 1 minute, scraping up the bottom of the pot. Reduce the heat to medium-low and stir in the heavy cream. Simmer until thickened, 3 to 4 minutes. Reduce the heat to low and stir in the parmesan, lemon zest, and lemon juice.

  4. 4

    Add the pasta, asparagus, and basil to the pot and stir to coat. Serve with parmesan for topping.<br/>

Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Asparagus

Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Asparagus

30 min4 servings1205 cal

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