Orecchiette with Sausages and Spinach

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Orecchiette with Sausages and Spinach. We all love simplicity, so making dinner as quick and easy as possible is always one of our goals.  This is an example of one of those dishes that comes together in less than 30 minutes!  A bonus feature is that it contains carbs, protein, and veggies – all in one delicious dish!  My favorite!

 

Orecchiette pasta (in Italian, it means “little ears”) is tossed in a skillet with crumbled sausages, fresh cherry tomatoes, white wine, garlic, and fresh spinach.

Topped with grated pecorino cheese to give this dish a burst more flavor!

 

Orecchiette with sausages and spinach is a common dish and one our mom usually makes with broccoli rabe.  However, my family prefers this pasta dish with spinach. 

The spinach is sweeter and adds a softer texture to this pasta dish.

Mom always bought her sausages from her local butcher in links, rather than purchasing the prepackaged crumbled sausage at the supermarket. 

Nowadays, you can easily find crumbled sausage at your local supermarket.

 

How to Make Orecchiette with Sausages and Spinach:

1.  First, start by sauteing some garlic with olive oil in a skillet, on the stove-top.

2.  Next, remove the casings from the links, about 4 links, (save the others for another recipe) and add the crumbled sausage to the skillet.  Cook it until it’s fully cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes.

3.   Add the wine.  If you have been following us here at 2SR then you’ll know we always cook with wine, and of course, that goes in too!

4.  Toss in cherry tomatoes and fresh spinach. 

5.  And finally, toss in the cooked orecchiette pasta, grated cheese, and serve!

I took our mom’s recipe and simplified it with spinach, which goes in fresh, not sauteed beforehand.  One step less, making this dish so much quicker!

 

Orecchiette with sausages and spinach incorporates all fresh ingredients in a flavorful, mouth-watering dish that is healthy to eat and easy to prepare, and colorful too! 

I love making dishes like this one!  You’ll have to try this recipe!  🙂

Cheers, and enjoy!

 

*You can follow along below or jump down to the bottom for our full recipe card.

Ingredients for Orecchiette with Sausages and Spinach:

• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil – divided

• 4 links of Italian sausage, removed from casings, crumbled

• 6 garlic cloves- sliced

• 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes

• 1/4 cup white wine

• 8 to 10 cherry tomatoes- sliced

• 3 cups packed baby spinach

• salt and pepper to taste

• 1/2 pound (8-ounces)  Orecchiette pasta

• 2 Tbsp. grated Pecorino Romano cheese, and extra at the table for serving

Directions:

1.  In a large, deep skillet, on medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil.  Add the garlic and crumbled sausage.

 

 

2.  Cook until sausage is brown and fully cooked, about 5 to 7 minutes.  Stir in the pepper flakes and sauté for 1 minute with the sausage.

3.  Pour in white wine and cherry tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper to taste.  Simmer for 2 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes have softened.

4.  Stir in the 2nd tablespoon of olive oil, then add in the spinach.  Stir until the spinach wilts.  Turn off the heat and set it aside.

 

 

5.  Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil.  Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water and add in the orecchiette pasta.  Cook the orecchiette until they are al-dente.  Reserve 1/4 cup of salty water.  Drain the pasta.

6.  Transfer orecchiette pasta to the skillet with sausage mixture.  Slowly add in the reserved pasta water.  Turn the heat back onto a low heat, and sauté while stirring everything until well combined, about 1 minute.  Remove pan from heat.

 

7.  Stir in 2 tablespoons of grated pecorino romano cheese.  Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to serving plates and serve.  Serve with extra grated pecorino cheese at the table. 

Serves 4

 

… Don’t forget to PIN this one to your Dinner Board!  … thanks

 

Looking for more delicious recipes for easy meals?  Try these:

• OVEN-Baked Thin Sweet Sausages, Red Bell Peppers & Potato Casserole

• Tagliatelle with Fresh Tomato Sausage Ragu

• Penne Tossed with Sauteed Chicken, Kale and Cherry Tomatoes

• Sicilian Sausage and Peppers

 

Yield: 4 servings

Orecchiette with Sausages and Spinach

Print

Orecchiette pasta (in Italian, it means "little ears") is tossed in a skillet with crumbled sausages, fresh cherry tomatoes, white wine, garlic, and fresh spinach. Topped with grated pecorino cheese to give this dish a burst more flavor!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 18 minutes

Total Time 28 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil - divided
• 4 links of Italian sausage, removed from casings, crumbled
• 6 garlic cloves- sliced
• 1/8 tsp. red pepper flakes
• 1/4 cup white wine
• 8 to 10 cherry tomatoes- sliced
• 3 cups packed baby spinach
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1/2 pound of Orecchiette pasta
• 2 Tbsp. grated pecorino cheese, and extra for serving

Instructions

1. In a large, deep skillet, on medium heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil. Add the garlic and crumbled sausage.
2. Cook until sausage is brown and fully cooked, about 4 to 5 minutes.
3. Stir in the pepper flakes and sauté for 1 minute with the sausage.
4. Pour in white wine and cherry tomatoes, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Simmer for 2 minutes, until the cherry tomatoes have softened.
5. Stir in the 2nd tablespoon of olive oil, then add in the spinach. Stir until the spinach wilts. Turn off the heat and set it aside.
6. Meantime, bring a large pot of water to boil. Add 1 teaspoon of salt to the water and add in the Orecchiette pasta. Cook the orecchiette until they are al-dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of salty water. Drain the pasta.
7. Transfer orecchiette pasta to the skillet with sausage mixture. Slowly add in the reserved pasta water. Turn the heat back onto a low heat, and sauté while stirring everything until well combined, about 1 minute. Remove pan from heat.
8. Stir in 2 tablespoons of grated pecorino cheese. Taste and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to serving plates and serve.
9. Serves 4

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

4 servings

Serving Size:

1 serving
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 329Protein: 12.8g

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	329
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 13.3g	17%
Saturated Fat 2.9g	15%
Cholesterol 55mg	18%
Sodium 241mg	10%
Total Carbohydrate 38.5g	14%
Dietary Fiber 1.9g	7%
Total Sugars 0.6g
Protein 12.8g
Vitamin D 0mcg	0%
Calcium 126mg	10%
Iron 4mg	24%
Potassium 605mg	13%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a

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This recipe is our family’s recipe and was posted back in April 2016.  All content and photos are original and remain the same.

HAPPY and HEALTHY COOKING!  🙂

Thanks for stopping by!!

xo Anna and Liz