Orecchiette Pasta with Broccoli Di Rabe and Sausage

• 1 bunch broccoli rabe with the lower part of the stems cut off.
• l lb. orecchiette pasta
• 2 lbs sweet Italian sausage removed from casing. Use what you prefer. I like a lot!
• Extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 8 cloves of garlic sliced
• A pinch of red pepper flakes
• Salt and pepper
• 1cup of pasta water

1. 1. Prepare the pasta according to directions but short by two minutes.
   2. Reserve one cup of pasta water and strain pasta.
   3. Cook the broccoli rabe in a pot of boiling water for 2 minutes, remove and chop into bite size pieces.
   4. In a large sauté pan put 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and add the sausage meat removed from the casing.
   5. Using a spoon break the sausage into small pieces and sauté until browned.
   6. Add the garlic and a few pinches of red pepper flakes sauté this for 2 minutes on a medium heat, do not burn the garlic.
   7. Add stock, broccoli rabe, pasta, salt, pepper to taste and slowly add the cup of pasta water.
   8. Continue cooking and turning pasta into the sauce until fully cooked.This should take another 2-3 minutes.

My Grandmother was from Bari Italy where this dish was created and she would only serve with pecorino Romano cheese. That’s how she taught me, so that’s what I do!

-Daniel Mancini