A recipe courtesy of Joe Bastianich, I would say that it is indeed a simple dish at its best! Quoting his actual words from the book - ...
A recipe courtesy of Joe Bastianich, I would say that it is indeed a simple dish at its best! Quoting his actual words from the book -
"An outstanding dish shouldn't be overly complex. Often the best ones are made with only a handful of ingredients. For example, this pasta recipe contains little more than broccoli rabe and sausage. The delicious simplicity of authentic Italian food is what we are looking for. When you think you have enough ingredients, take two out!
And simple and outstanding this dish sure is!
Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe and Italian Sausage
Adapted from the recipe by Joe Bastianich
Source: MasterChef Cookbook by JoAnn Cianciulli
Serves 2
1/2lb dry orecchiette (little ear-shaped pasta)
1/2lb broccoli rabe, stems trimmed
3 sweet Italian pork or chicken sausages
3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1/3 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
1/8 cup extra-virgin olive oil
grated Parmesan cheese
salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
1. Cut the sausages on the bias into 1/2" slices. Set aside.
2. Bring a large pot of salted water to boil (you will need at least 1 quart of salted water for every 1/4lb of dry pasta). Fill a large bowl of iced cold water and set aside. Add the broccoli rave to the pot and cook for 4 minutes, or until the spears turn slightly tender but looking bright green still. Be sure not to overcook them.
3. Reserving the pot of salted water, transfer the rabe to the bowl of cold water and let chill. Once cooled down enough to be handled with hands, remove from the water bath and cut into 1" sections. Set aside.
4. Return the pot of salted water to boil. Add the orecchiette and stir to prevent them from sticking to one another. Cook for 5 to 8 minutes, or until al dente. Drain, reserving about 1/4 cup of the pasta cooking water.
5. Coat a large skillet with the extra-virgin olive oil and place over medium-high heat. When the oil has been well heated, arrange the sausage pieces in a single layer. Leave undisturbed for about 2 to 3 minutes until they are nicely browned on the bottom.
6. Flip them over to pan fry the other side, again for another 2 to 3 minutes until thoroughly cooked.
7. Transfer the sausage to a bowl and set aside.
8. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet. Stir for about 30 seconds, or until the garlic is fragrant. Add the reserved broccoli rabe, season with salt and pepper, and stir for about a minute.
9. Add the sausage back to the pan, along with the orecchiette. Toss to mix the contents well, adding reserved cooking liquid if the pasta seems too dry.
10. Sprinkle with cheese and serve hot.
