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bell' alimento

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Orecchiette with Sausage Broccolini & Burrata

By Paula |

Orecchiette with Sausage Broccolini & Burrata

Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Broccoli

I’ve had a love affair with pasta for as long as I can remember. Pasta is pure comfort for me, it’s my culinary happy place. Making, eating, sharing it with others it’s what I crave. I spent my formative years in Northern Italy.

It’s where I learned how to drive a Vespa, how to navigate trains and buses, how to speak like a native, how to say more with my hands without words than I ever imagined possible and very high on the list how to properly cook pasta. 

Orecchiette
When I wasn’t out and about (riding around towns on Vespas and eating my weight in gelato) I spent a lot of time watching and learning to cook. A few things I know to be true are that first and foremost always start with quality ingredients. That whole saying about quality over quantity, yeah it’s true. Next up, don’t ever over cook your pasta.

It should be al dente (to the tooth) meaning the pasta should have a little BITE to it. Pasta water is magical. ALWAYS reserve a little before draining the pasta in case you need it finish the dish. This is one I’m passionate about, pasta should not be drowned in sauce.
Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Broccoli

I like to have a variety of dried pastas in all shapes and sizes in my pantry at all times. I’m not sure I could ever pick a favorite pasta shape. It would be like picking a favorite child. If you looked in my pantry you would probably think there are more than 5 people in our house just from the sheer amount of pasta. Goes back to that whole comfort food happy place thing.

It’s also nice to have the variety so I can pair my pastas with my sauces accordingly. Yes, certain pastas are better suited for specific sauces. Take this orecchiette dish for instance. Orecchiette has a unique domed shape, smooth on the inside and grooved on the outside, that makes it perfect for scooping up hearty sauces, and fresh vegetables.

Barilla Collezione

Since I know you love pasta as much as I do I’m excited to share with you Barilla’s new line of Barilla®Collezione pastas. Barilla Collezione has five new unique pasta shapes that are inspired by the regions of Italy. They’re created using the finest ingredients and with a texture reminiscent of homemade pasta to inspire you in the kitchen.

You can find Barilla Collezione at grocery shelves nationwide starting this month and includes: Bucatini (Lazio), Casarecce (Sicily), Spaghetti alla Chitarra (Abruzzo), Orecchiette (Puglia) and Gnocchetti (Sardinia). What makes them unique? They’re extruded through bronze dies, a process that gives the pasta a rough, porous surface, resulting in a texture similar to homemade pasta. Nice right?

Barilla is name that you’ve grown to associate with high-quality taste and texture. Making it easy for you to create the magic of authentic Italian cooking in your home kitchen any day of the week.

 

Orecchiette with Italian Sausage and Broccoli
EDITED TO ADD: Thank you for your entries. Contest has ended. Winner has been notified via email.

GIVEAWAY:

1 gift basket with the following:
A variety of Barilla Collezione product samples
Barilla apron or cooking utensils such as a fresh herb saver
$25 gift card for Williams Sonoma

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Baci!
signature2010

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Barilla, however, my opinions are entirely my own and I have not been paid to publish positive sentiments towards Barilla or their products.

Print
Orecchiette with Sausage, Broccolini and Burrata

What You Will Need:

  • 1 pound Barilla Collezione Orecchiette
  • kosher salt
  • 8 ounces Brocolini - trimmed
  • 1/4 cup lemon infused olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic - thinly sliced
  • 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 8 ounces cooked Italian sausage
  • 8 ounces burrata

What To Do:

  1. Place a large pot of water onto boil. Generously season with salt. Add pasta and cook until just shy of al dente. Add broccolini to pasta and cook for approximately 1-2 minutes. remove with tongs and transfer to saute pan. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water prior to draining.
  2. Into a large saute pan add: oil, garlic, pepper flakes. Heat over medium heat.
  3. Add pasta and sausage to saute pan. Toss to combine.
  4. Dollop burrata on prior to serving.
https://bellalimento.com/2014/07/10/orecchiette-with-sausage-and-broccoli/

 

Comments

  3. christine says

    Yum. My style of food. I make something similar but I use rapini. Orichette basically begs for sausage don’t you think? Awesome recipe.

  11. Cherie Barnaby says

    I love orecchiette pasta. I have a recipe I’ll use it for with spinach and sundries tomatoes. #yumminess

  16. Maria says

    I would try the Spaghetti alla Chitarra first as spaghetti or any long pasta has always been my favorite. Yes, the different pasta shapes taste different.. contrary to what anyone in my family says…ha-ha

  17. Sara Tann says

    This looks super Delicious. I love little ear pasta and am definitely going to try this.

    Thank you! 🙂

  19. Linda Arcaro says

    I have made this several times. The only problem I have is u can’t get orecchiette where I live so I drive to Pa. and stock up on the different pastas.

  21. Natalie J Vandenberghe says

    Orecchiette (Puglia)because my daughter recently ordered orecchiette at a Pasta restaurant and loved it!

  22. Heather says

    I want to try the Gnocchetti (Sardinia) first! This dish looks amazing!!

  24. Donna L says

    They all look yummy. I would like to try the Orecchiette first. By the way, your recipe looks and sounds delicious.

  50. Rachel Cooks says

    Would you believe I’ve never had burrata? I need to remedy asap. I haven’t heard of this Barilla line yet — can’t wait to try. I love Orecchiette.

  52. Debbie Welchert says

    I have heard so much about Orecchiette pasta and would love to try it.

  59. Elizabeth @ Food Ramblings says

    Delicious food! And I love the new barilla pasta shapes!

  63. Rog says

    Oh my! This is so delicious.. a great tasting and looking appetizer! I wanna try this at home too.

  64. Charlette Finley says

    Love Barilla products! I have used Orecchiette pasta many times. Love how the sauces layers in the little centers!

  65. Denise says

    I feel in love with orecchiette about 20 years ago at a dinner party. I enjoyed how each piece of pasta cuddle something from rest of the dish.

    Great post on the different pastas – great reference for those of us who want to branch outside of spaghetti!

  70. Blessie Nelson says

    I would choose Orecchiette – shells and summer – the perfect pairing!

  73. kristen says

    My husband only eats penne but I think I could convince him to eat the casarecce

  75. Carolsue says

    I’d like to try the Barilla® Collezione Casarecce
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