Sausage & Spinach Orecchiette

For a quick, simple and delicately delicious dinner, look no further than this recipe.

Orecchiette, which translates to “little ears” from Italian — due to the pasta’s shape — is a go-to choice for me. It takes only 10 minutes to cook and with just an olive oil and butter base, makes for a quick home-cooked lunch or after-work dinner.

The spicy Italian sausage gives this dish enough kick for most people, but I still add a few spoons of crushed red pepper for that extra spice. Adding a decorative green to this recipe, the spinach takes only a few minutes to cook and wraps in and around the shelled pasta in a perfectly tasty way.

I recommend a side of garlic bread for this simple dish, as well as a topping of grated parmesan cheese that naturally melts into the pasta for a cheesy delight.

Prep time | 10 mins.
Cook time | 20 mins.
Yields | 4 servings

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 tbsp white onion, chopped
  • 6 tbsp butter
  • 1 box of orecchiette
  • 3 whole hot Italian sausages
  • 100g baby spinach
  • 1 tbsp salt
  • 1 tbsp pepper
  • 2 tbsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 3 tbsp parmesan cheese, grated

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. Boil a large pot of water. While you wait for the water to boil, start chopping the onion.
  2. In a large pan drizzled with olive oil on medium-high heat, add the butter, then add the chopped onion.
  3. Chop the sausage. If wrapped in a casing, remove from casing and break apart with a knife or by hand.
  4. Once the butter is melted and the onions start to turn golden, lower the heat to medium and let the chopped sausage until it’s no longer pink in colour. Add the salt, pepper and crushed red pepper.
  5. When the water starts boiling, add a handful of salt to the pot and add the box of orecchiette. Cook for 10 minutes.
  6. Once the sausage is cooked, add the baby spinach to the large pan and let cook until the spinach is dark in colour and has shrivelled up.
  7. When the pasta is ready, strain it and add it to the large pan. Combine it with the sausage and spinach. Add the parmesan cheese and mix until well combined. If the pasta looks dry, add more olive and continue mixing together.
  8. Plate your meal and enjoy with a rich glass of red wine!