Sausage, Broccoli & Chilli Pasta Recipe
A flavorful and hearty pasta dish combining spicy pork sausages, tender broccoli, and a zesty crème fraîche sauce with a kick of chilli, perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.
- Author: Kai
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Pasta and Vegetables
- 300g rigatoni
- 330g long-stemmed broccoli, any larger stems trimmed or halved
Sausage Mix
- 6 pork sausages, sausagemeat squeezed from its skins
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp chilli flakes
- 2 garlic cloves, crushed
- 2 tbsp parsley, leaves picked and finely chopped, stems finely chopped
Sauce and Garnish
- 3 tbsp crème fraîche
- ½ lemon, zested and juiced
- 1 red chilli, deseeded and finely sliced
- Cook the Pasta and Broccoli: Boil a large pan of salted water, then cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions. Add the broccoli during the last 3-4 minutes of cooking until just tender. Drain, reserving a mugful of the pasta cooking water.
- Cook the Sausagemeat: In a cold frying pan, place the sausagemeat and olive oil. Cook over medium heat, stirring often for 6-8 minutes until the fat renders and the meat turns golden and crisp. Remove the cooked sausagemeat with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Flavor the Base: Add the chilli flakes, crushed garlic, and parsley stems to the pan and cook for 2-3 minutes until fragrant, stirring continuously to release their flavors.
- Combine and Finish: Stir in the lemon zest, then return the cooked sausagemeat to the pan. Add the drained pasta and broccoli and toss well to combine. Stir through the crème fraîche, lemon juice, and a splash of the reserved pasta cooking water. Cook for another minute, allowing the sauce to come together and coat the pasta evenly.
- Serve: Divide the pasta into bowls and garnish with the finely sliced red chilli for an extra fresh and spicy finish.
Notes
- Reserve some pasta cooking water as it helps loosen the sauce and bind the ingredients together.
- Adjust the amount of chilli flakes depending on your preferred spice level.
- For a lighter option, substitute crème fraîche with Greek yogurt.
- You can use any short tubular pasta instead of rigatoni if preferred.
- Make sure to deseed the red chilli to moderate the heat in the garnish.
Keywords: sausage pasta, broccoli pasta, spicy pasta, creamy pasta, easy weeknight dinner