Broccoli Rabe Pesto with Sausage

STORY

A few months ago, I had a special at Skinner’s that I knew was going to try at home. It was a broccoli rabe pesto with sausage that was so decadent and filling, it fed three people and left me with enough to eat for lunch the next day.

I decided to make a lighter, home-friendly version. I fed this one to Sean, substituting pistachios for walnuts, and ramps (yes they’re still around!) for garlic. This was the result:

RECIPE

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 10 – 15 minutes
• Total Time: ~25 – 30 minutes

TOOLS

• chef knife
• medium mixing bowl
• food processor or hand blender
• medium sized pot

INGREDIENTS

1 bunch Broccoli rabe (rapini) – chopped, tough ends removed
1 bunch of basil
1/4 cup of pistachios
1 tbsp of ramp roots chopped (or 2 cloves of garlic, chopped)
1 tbsp of red spring onions chopped (or 1 tbsp of red onion, chopped)
1 tbsp of Parmigiano-Reggiano
~1/4 tsp of sea salt (or more to taste)
1/4 tsp of fresh ground black pepper
~2 tbsp of olive oil (poured in slowly), plus 1 tbsp of olive oil set aside
1 cup of pasta
1 savory or sweet Italian pork sausage (chicken sausage is fine too – or you can leave out the sausage all together, your choice)

METHOD

1. Fill a medium sized pot with salted water and bring to a boil.
2. While water is boiling, mix broccoli rabe, basil, pistachios, ramps (or garlic), red spring onions (or red onion), Parmigiano-Reggiano, sea salt, and fresh ground black pepper into a food processor or a mixing bowl.
3. Start pulsing the vegetables and pistachios and slowly add olive oil until pesto is formed. If pesto seems a little thick, add a little bit more olive oil.
4. Taste pesto to check salt level (add more if needed).
5. When the water is boiling rapidly, add pasta and cook until tender (~5 minutes)
6. Remove casing from sausage, and chop.
7. Once pasta is boiled, drain and set aside.
8. Dry out pan, and add 1 tbsp of olive oil.
9. When oil is heated, cook sausage until brown.
10. Drain excess oil and add pesto and cook for ~2 minutes.
11. Add pasta, and stir until pasta is coated.
12. Pour in a pasta bowl and eat.

Photo Credit: Lance Madson