orecchiette-paasta-with-brabe-sausage-b-squash2016-10-11-at-11-31-37-am-41 butternut squash, peeled and cut into 1/2″ dice or use pre cubed (4 cups generous)

Extra virgin olive oil

Kosher salt

2-3 Italian sausage links (casings removed), (optional)

1 bunch of broccoli rabe, tough bottom stems removed

3 cloves garlic, chopped

Pinch of crushed red pepper

1lb. of pasta (orecchiette) or similar

1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano

 

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

 

Cube 4 generous cups Squash- butternut, acorn, pumpkin – your choice, toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast 20 mins or until softened, but not mushy. Remove from oven, set aside.

 

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Set up a bowl of ice water. Drop the broccoli rabe into the pot of boiling water, let cook, roughly 2 minutes, remove from the water, and immediately plunge into the ice water. Reserve the boiling water to cook the pasta in. Remove the broccoli rabe from the ice water, squeeze out excess water, and cut into large chunks. Start cooking the pasta.

 

In a large 12″ skillet, heat some more olive oil and brown your sausage meat, breaking it up with a potato masher, add your chopped garlic and crushed red pepper, more oil if necessary. Add the roasted squash, broccoli rabe, salt and some pasta water, let simmer until pasta is ready. Once pasta is almost cooked, add your pasta to sauté pan and combine well. Adding more pasta water until all are well combined and cooked through and the sauce sticks to the pasta.

 

Drizzle with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkle with the grated Parmigiana cheese. Toss to combine and taste.

 

 

 

 

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