Orecchiette means “little ears”, which approximates the shape of the pasta.
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Highlights: : Cheese, Fast, Pork
This pasta is native to Puglia in southern Italy. It is perfectly suited for savory sauces and dishes. Quick, easy and tasty, this is a perfect weekday meal.
Receive an earful of praise when you serve this dish!
Estimated Cost: $15
Difficulty: Easy
Suggested Beverage: Pinot Noir, Sangiovese
Equipment and Supplies
- 6-quart Dutch oven round and wide
Ingredients
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta, dried
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound bulk Italian sausage
- 121 ounces baby spinach, roughly chopped
- ⅓ cup chicken stock
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 teaspoons lemon zest
- 2 tablespoons giardiniera, your choice of heat
Method
- Bring a large cast-iron Dutch oven of water to a boil, salt it, and cook the orecchiette according to the package instructions to al dente. Drain and set aside.1 pound orecchiette pasta
- Wipe out the inside of the Dutch oven with a clean kitchen towel, heat the oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook until cooked through and browned, 5 to 7 minutes, breaking up large pieces of meat. Drain if you must.1 pound bulk Italian sausage, 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the spinach and chicken stock, cover, and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the spinach is wilted.121 ounces baby spinach, ⅓ cup chicken stock
- Fold in the pasta. Heat briefly to allow any excess liquid to evaporate, then fold in the mozzarella cheese and lemon zest. Top with Parmesan. Season with salt, add the giardiniera, and serve immediately.1 cup mozzarella cheese, ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese, 2 teaspoons lemon zest, 2 tablespoons giardiniera
Private Notes
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