Roasted Broccoli and Sausage Pasta ~ Seasoned roasted broccoli and Italian sausage lend exquisite flavor to this simple pasta dish all tossed with Romano cheese.If you’ve looked at the picture you will notice that the dish is not slathered in sauce.
Shocking, I know.
I am saucy gal. If a dish has a sauce, I tend to add more than I should. It’s who I am. I have accepted it.
In a post a long time ago I mentioned a brand of pasta I had discovered and I just loved, Pastificio di Martino or known here in the States as Pasta di Martino. It was the first time I wanted the noodle more than the sauce. Actually shocking.
When I was recently in San Francisco for the Fancy Foods show (post coming soon on that), I visited Pastificio di Martino’s booth and chatted with the woman running the booth. I expressed my genuine love for her product and then she loaded me up with pasta. I wasn’t going to turn down free pasta.
To say thanks for the free yumminess, I decided to showcase the actual noodle by making a sauce-less dish. But the pasta is far from dry. A bit of pasta water helps the dish gel together. I confess, I was shocked by how good this was. My deep abiding love for red sauce was mocking me the entire time I was cooking, taunting me that I’d be left deeply unsatisfied. After the first bite, my taste buds told that mocking part of me to STFU. Another win for this dish is that the 13 year old who was part of my test panel loathes broccoli. I told her she had to try it because I was roasting it and and roasted broccoli is like candy. I got the eye-roll accompanied with the ‘yeah, right whatever’ shrug of shoulders. I gave her a bit and she was converted. Although Elizabeth who actually likes broccoli, didn’t like it roasted. I guess that makes it a wash. But I did tell my child there were no brownies in her future unless she ate the broccoli, so by some miracle it did disappear off her plate and into her belly. Ah the power of brownies!
Prep the broccoli first, get the water boiling, and then cook the sausage and onions while the broccoli is in the oven and the pasta is cooking. Dinner all comes together in about 40 minutes. I’d love it to be 30, but the broccoli does take about 30 minutes to roast.
Ingredients
- 1 lb pasta (sturdy noodle like Elicoidali, Penne, or Rigatoni); cooked according to package directions plus some pasta water
- 1 bunch (2 heads) broccoli; cut into florets
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp granulated garlic
- 1/2 medium onion
- 1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1-18 oz package Italian sausage (sweet, mild, or hot; 5-6 links); casings removed
- 1/2 cup Romano cheese; grated
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes as an optional garnish
Instructions
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Clean and cut broccoli into florets, place in a zip seal bag.
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Add the olive oil, salt, pepper, and garlic, seal and shake.
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Place a baking sheet and roast in a pre-heated 400° for about 30 minutes, but begin checking and watching it after 20 minutes.
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Bring a pot of water to boil, salt it and cook the pasta according to package directions.
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In a large pan or skillet, add the olive oil and sauté the onions for 2-3 minutes or until they begin to soften.
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Remove the casings from the sausage and crumble into the cooking onions; cook about 5 minutes or until the sausage is cooked through.
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Once the pasta is done, add it by spoonfuls, mostly drained, but with water still clinging to it to the sausage, mix well.
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Add 1/4 of the cheese, mix well.
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If needed, add some pasta water, 1/8 of a cup at a time, then add the remaining cheese.
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If the pan will accommodate, stir in the roasted broccoli, if not, transfer for a large bowl and toss the pasta, sausage, and broccoli together.
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Taste, add salt and pepper as needed for taste, add red pepper flakes if using.
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Serve and enjoy
39 Comments
Colleen
February 16, 2016 at 5:05 amNothing better than the combo of roasted broccoli and sausage! Love this dish it looks amazing!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:27 pmThank you Colleen.
Marye
February 16, 2016 at 5:39 amWow, this looks so flavorful and delicious!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:24 pmThank you Marye, for being simple it does have a lot of flavor.
Katerina @ Diethood
February 16, 2016 at 8:18 amSuch a delicious way to get around the sauce! Besides, there’s cheese in there so I’m good!! 😀
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:23 pmOh yes, there will always be cheese.
linda spiker
February 16, 2016 at 8:26 amWow! Great giveaway and love the recipe too!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:22 pmThank you Linda.
Sherri @ Watch Learn Eat
February 16, 2016 at 11:54 amFirst, Happy 2nd Blogiversary! This dish looks fantastic! Especially love that roasted broccoli..Mmm! Great recipe!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:22 pmThank you Sherri, so much!
michelle @ blackberry babe
February 16, 2016 at 2:24 pmI’m a saucy kind of girl myself! I like a strange amount of sauce on everything. Sometimes it grosses my husband out. You’re brave to go “sauceless” with this pasta, but it looks like it turned out beautifully!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:21 pmIt was odd to be sauce-less, but it really does work.
Annie
February 16, 2016 at 3:45 pmThis dish looks just incredible! I love a good hearty pasta dish!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:21 pmI am happy to hear that Annie. Thank you.
Kristen
February 16, 2016 at 4:10 pmI love roasted broccoli. Using it in your pasta dish sounds amazing. I know my whole family would love it.
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:20 pmIt’s simply and easy, hope they all enjoy it.
Dee Dee (My Midlife Kitchen)
February 16, 2016 at 7:50 pmThere is a restaurant in McLean, VA that serves a version of this using broccolini instead of regular broccoli. It is my husband’s favorite. Now I can make it for him at home! Thanks for the reminder and inspiration!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:20 pmWonderful, I hope it tastes close to the dish he loves so much.
Becky Hardin | The Cookie Rookie
February 16, 2016 at 7:57 pmThis is such an easy dish and looks so yummy. I am trying this soon.
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:19 pmI hope you enjoy it Becky.
Kaitie
February 16, 2016 at 8:11 pmThis looks absolutely amazing! I love sausage in pasta. Always makes it that much better 🙂
Michelle De La Cerda
February 16, 2016 at 8:19 pmThank you Kaitie!
Megan {Country Cleaver}
February 16, 2016 at 9:53 pmPerfect for the midweek dinner rush!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 19, 2016 at 11:41 amYes, I completely agree Megan.
Healing Tomato
February 17, 2016 at 7:13 pmThis looks like a very hearty and delicious meal. It is something for the whole family to enjoy. LOVE this pasta.
Michelle De La Cerda
February 19, 2016 at 11:42 amAll you have to do is omit the sausage, and you’re all set.
Cookin Canuck
February 19, 2016 at 10:45 amSometimes the simplest pasta dishes are the best ones. This would be perfect for a last-minute weeknight meal!
christine
February 19, 2016 at 10:53 amYes. We love sausage and broccoli pastas. A “sauce” definitely isn’t needed on a tasty pasta dish, especially if the pasta water is seasoned properly. this is the kind of dish I can even get my pickiest of picky kids to eat!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 19, 2016 at 11:43 amI am happy to hear your picky ones would enjoy this, as mine did too. Maybe it’s the simplicity and they can see exactly everything they are eating?
Kristyn
February 19, 2016 at 7:55 pmI love the combination of the sausage and the roasted broccoli!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 21, 2016 at 12:59 pmThank you Kristyn.
Debra @ Bowl Me Over
February 19, 2016 at 8:33 pmLove how simple yet flavorful this dish is!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 21, 2016 at 12:58 pmThank you Debra.
Meg @ With Salt and Wit
February 21, 2016 at 11:55 amI am such a sauce gal too! But this dish looks so tasty!
Michelle De La Cerda
February 21, 2016 at 12:57 pmThank you Meg.
Sam | Ahead of Thyme
February 22, 2016 at 6:41 pmYum, this looks so good! Thanks for sharing!
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life
February 23, 2016 at 5:49 pmI make something very similar and it’s a huge family favorite. I’ll have to try it with roasted broccoli too now!
Jess @ JessExplainsItAll
February 24, 2016 at 2:26 pmOMG that pasta looks divine!!!! And those elephant salt and pepper shakers are out of this world cute. 😀
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