Friday, December 18, 2009

Pasta Night


I love dishes like this baked pasta on busy weeknights. You get your meat, veggie, and carbs in one serving. It's easy and yummy, and nothing beats warm gooey cheese on a cold winter night.

Sausage, Mozzarella and Broccoli Rabe with Shells
Recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart's Everyday Food

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, chopped
3 sprigs thyme
coarse salt and ground pepper
2 garlic cloves, chopped
3 links spicy Italian sausage (3/4 pound total), casings removed
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 can (28 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes
8 ounces medium shell pasta
1 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1 pound), trimmed and coarsely chopped
6 ounces fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Add onion and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden brown, about 15 minutes (reduce heat if browning too quickly). Add garlic and sausage. Cook, breaking meat up with a wooden spoon, until browned and cooked through. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, about 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, breaking them up with spoon. Cook sauce until slightly thickened, about 5 minutes to 8 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Discard thyme.

Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 4 minutes less than package instructions. Add broccoli rabe to pot and cook 15 seconds. Drain pasta and broccoli rabe and return to pot. Stir in sausage mixture. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish or divide among four 16-ounce gratin dishes. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake until cheese has melted and liquid is bubbling, about 15 minutes.

13 comments:

  1. YUM!! it looks great for a cold wintry day at home to curl up, with a book, and a little bowl of this pasta!

    ReplyDelete
  2. This sounds delicious...and so cozy! Thanks for the recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds yummy! Love the presentation here.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I agree- everything wrapped up in a delicious casserole! Easy too.

    ReplyDelete
  5. oh my gosh thats the cutest little pasta dish!! totally going to try this!

    ReplyDelete
  6. This looks delicious, and exactly what I am going to make for dinner tonight! My boyfriend will think I am a genius, but little does he know I am just an avid blogger who steals people's ideas and applies them to my own life ;) haha

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mmm! Thanks for sharing. Pasta is my absolute favorite thing to eat :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'd have to agree, warm gooey cheese is a comfort food staple. Adding veggies is very responsible. Wonderful idea for a weeknight dinner!

    ReplyDelete
  9. this looks and sounds great, I actually love broccoli rabe and am always looking for ways to incorporate its bitter yumminess!

    ReplyDelete

LinkWithin

Blog Widget by LinkWithin
Blogging tips