11 July 2008

Orecchiette with Sausage, Cremini Mushrooms, and Peas


This made a fantastic Sunday meal, yet another from Giada DeLaurentiis (what can I say, the chick has great pasta recipes). I love any dish with lots of peas, this one also adding spicy sausage and earthy mushrooms, all stirred together with salty Parmesan cheese. Mmm.


It makes for a good summer recipe - good hot or cooled down a bit, comes together quickly, and no heavy sauce drowning all the ingredients.


Orecchiette with Sausage, Cremini Mushrooms, and Peas
(adapted from Giada DeLaurentiis' Everyday Italian, 2005)



Ingredients:
1/3 to 1/2 c. extra virgin olive oil
1 lb. ground Italian sausage, removed from casing
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
10 oz. cremini mushrooms, sliced
1 (10 oz.) package frozen peas, defrosted slightly
1 lb. (or so) dried orecchiette pasta
1/2 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese

In a large pot, bring 6 quarts of salted water to a boil.

In a large saute pan over high heat, add 2 tablespoons olive oil. Add sausage and sauté, breaking any large lumps, until golden brown (8-10 minutes). Remove meat from pan and set aside.

Add about 2 more Tbsp. olive oil to pan and heat. Add mushrooms and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the liquid from the mushrooms has evaporated, about 5-8 minutes. Add the peas and saute for another 2-3 minutes. Return the meat to the pan and cook until the flavors begin to meld (about 2 minutes). Remove from heat and set aside.

When the pot of water has come to a boil, add pasta and cook until al dente, about 9 minutes. Drain in a colander, reserving about 1/2 c. of the pasta water.

Return pasta to the pot and add the meat mixture. Combine thoroughly and gently cook over medium heat for 5 minutes, adding pasta water as needed to moisten. Drizzle in remaining olive oil into mixture. It is important to keep the mixture moistened (do not let it dry out); use more pasta water or olive oil as needed.

Check the seasoning. Turn off the heat and add the grated cheese. Stir well and serve in large bowl.

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

This looks absolutely delicious. Can't wait to try it!

Elizabeth said...

Yum, that looks delicious!

Anonymous said...

That looks fabulous! I'll be over with a big bowl and fork.

Anonymous said...

I have a thing for fun pasta shapes and I love, love, love orecchiette.

This looks REALLY tasty! Pass a bowl my way!

Katie B. said...

You really can't go wrong with Giada and pasta!! This dish looks quite tasty!

Anonymous said...

only one question, I can sustitute the peas for Generic Viagra, this because I'm allergic to the peas, jajajaja...how sad!