ORECCHIETTE WITH FENNEL, SAUSAGE, AND SWEET PEPPERS

Orecchiette with Fennel, Sausage, and Sweet Peppers image

Orecchiette pasta with fennel, sausage, and sweet peppers.

Provided by Christopher Stolworthy

Categories Main Dish Recipes Pasta

Time 55m

Yield 8

Number Of Ingredients 10

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Ingredients

1 pound bell peppers, sliced
1 bulb fennel, cored and quartered
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 pound Italian sausage
1 medium shallot, minced
1 (16 ounce) package orecchiette pasta
2 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 cup basil leaves

Steps:

Preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
Toss bell peppers and fennel with oil and thyme. Place vegetables on a baking sheet.
Roast in the preheated oven until tender, 8 to 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and shallot; saute until sausage is browned and crumbly, 5 to 7 minutes. Drain and discard grease.
Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Stir in orecchiette and return to a boil. Cook pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, until tender yet firm to the bite, 12 to 14 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
Add orecchiette pasta, tomato paste, garlic, and roasted vegetables to the sausage in the skillet. Cook over medium heat until fragrant, 2 to 3 minutes. Pour in the reserved pasta water; simmer until sauce is reduced to your liking, 3 to 5 minutes more. Remove from heat and stir in basil before serving.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 402.8 calories, Carbohydrate 50.8 g, Cholesterol 22.3 mg, Fat 15.4 g, Fiber 4.6 g, Protein 16 g, SaturatedFat 4.2 g, Sodium 495.2 mg, Sugar 4.4 g