30 mins

Broccoli and Sausage Casarecce and Italian Side Salad

Such a great dish! Nice light buttery sauce with zesty sausage and tender broccoli. A great alternative to the typical heavy pasta dish and so very versatile. Choose a fun pasta, such as this Casarecce. Then start using what you have on hand. Chopped tomatoes, mushrooms, broccoli, asparagus; you name....
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4.8/5 - (9 votes)

Broccoli and Sausage Casarecce

SERVINGS : 4 PEOPLE PREP TIME : MINUTES

Ingredients

  • 1 pound broccoli, cut into florets
  • 12 ounces casereccia pasta, or other pasta
  • 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced or pressed
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated
  • crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
    •
Servings:

Directions

  • Boil broccoli florets in a large pot of lightly salted water for about 3 minutes or until bright green and crisp tender.
  • Use a slotted spoon and transfer the cooked broccoli to a plate and reserve.
  • Add the pasta to the boiling 'broccoli' water and cook according to package directions.
  • Meanwhile, heat a skillet over medium high heat. Add bulk sausage. Crumble as it cooks and let brown on the edges.
  • Stir in garlic and let cook a minute or two.
  • Once the pasta is cooked, drain, reserving about 1/2 cup pasta water.
  • Add cooked pasta, broccoli, and pasta water to the skillet with the sausage. Let simmer for a few minutes until most of the water has been absorbed and evaporated.
  • Remove from the heat, add butter, and melt.
  • Sprinkle with parmesan and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  • Serve.

Nutrition per serving

Per Serving: Calories 524 Fat 17 Sat Fat 8 Sodium 324 Carbs 74 Sugars 4 Fiber 6 Protein 19.

Italian Side Salad

SERVINGS : 4 PEOPLE PREP TIME : MINUTES

Ingredients

  • 1/2 head Boston lettuce
  • 1 roma tomato, quartered
  • Vinaigrette
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons red wine vinegar
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 teaspoon dried parsley
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasonings
  • kosher salt, to taste
  • pepper, to taste
    •
Servings:

Directions

  • Combine with a blender stick or whisk.
  • Drizzle lettuce and sliced tomato with vinaigrette.

Nutrition per serving

Serving Size 103g Calories 92 Fat 9 Carbs 3.6 Fiber 1 Protein 1.

NOTES

KID NOTE: The kids loved this meal

VEGETARIAN TIP: Skip the sausage. Add a bit more olive oil and lots of fresh vegetables.

GLUTEN MODIFICATIONS:  Use gluten free pasta.

2 Comments

  1. Leigh says:
    April 6, 2018 at 9:22 am

    This was a delicious. The pasta dish was so flavorful even without a traditional pasta sauce.

    Reply
  2. linlasteins says:
    May 18, 2018 at 4:42 pm

    LOVE this dish, have made it many times since it came out. I use sweet turkey sausage, for the kids, and fresh parm. Its more then four servings for our family of four.

    Reply

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