1large Russet potatoanywhere from 110 to 240 grams, peeled and chopped
6tablespoonsolive oildivided
2green onionschopped (or one small shallot)
3garlic clovesfinely chopped
1poundthick mild Italian sausages, skinned (about 3 thick sausages)454 grams
⅓cupfrozen peas100 grams
¼cupgrated Parmesan or pecorino cheese23 grams
Salt and black pepper
1teaspooncracked dried Rosemary needles
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
Meanwhile, wash the broccoli rabe.
Cut off the ends.
Once water has come to a boil, use a kitchen tongue to dunk the broccoli rabe into the water. Let it simmer for about 7 minutes.
Then with a kitchen tongue, take out the cooked broccoli rabe or scoop it out—leaving the water intact.
Transfer to a colander to drain—place on a cutting board and chop into smaller pieces, reserve.
Return the same water to a boil.
Add pasta and potato pieces to boiling water and cook for 10-12 minutes or until the potatoes are fork-tender and pasta is al dente (tender but firm to the bite).
Meanwhile, cover a large Dutch pan or skillet with 2 tablespoons of olive oil and heat over medium heat.
When shimmering, stir in the onions and garlic.
Cook for about 1 minute until fragrant.
Add cooked and chopped rabe, and season with a few pinches of salt—Cook and stir for about 5 minutes.
Stir in again 2 tablespoons of olive oil and add the sausage.
Cook and stir for 5 to 7 minutes or until cooked through—season with a few pinches of salt and Rosemary.
Stir in the peas and cook with the rest for about 1 minute.
When pasta and potatoes are done, drain, reserving ¼ cup of pasta water. I prefer to transfer the noodles and potatoes with a large slotted spoon to the sausage and broccoli rabe dish.
Add two tablespoons of olive oil, and stir to combine. Usually not necessary, but add the reserved starchy pasta water a few tablespoons at a time as needed to moisten.
Season to taste with salt and pepper.
Stir in the parmesan cheese.
Serve immediately hot with extra cheese on the side (optional).
Notes
While water is coming to a boil, I usually prep the vegetables to save time: peel and chop the potatoes and green onions, and finely chop the garlic. Wash the broccoli rabe.
Most dried, shorter, thicker pasta shapes cook for around 10 to 12 minutes. If your pasta cooks according to package directions in less time, throw the potatoes in first. Peeled and chopped russet potatoes should cook for 10 to 12 minutes and can be perfectly cooked together with shorter dried pasta like penne.
This pasta dish tastes so much better when paired with starchy Russet potatoes. I usually ad one large one (110 grams), but feel free to add more (up to 240 grams)—it should be enough to get that creamy comfy bite without overpowering the rest of the ingredients.
Remove the sausage casing: It tastes so much better, and then chop the meat into smaller pieces. See my post on how to do this quickly.
Broccoli rabe: to reduce its bitterness, the greeny leaves are cooked twice, first in the same water used to cook the pasta and potato afterward. Then it's tossed in the skillet with olive oil, garlic, and onions for a few minutes. It omits the need for blanching or any extra equipment.