Cavatelli With Chorizo And Rapini Recipes

CAVATELLI WITH SAUSAGE AND RADICCHIO

Steps:

• In an 8- to 12-quart pot, bring 6 quarts (24 cups) salted water to a rolling boil.
• In a large nonstick skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the olive oil over medium-high heat until hot but not smoking. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned but not yet crispy. Remove the meat from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Add the onions and remaining tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet and saute until the onions are soft. Add the sausage back along with a pinch of red pepper flakes and saute an additional minute. Reduce the flame to medium low and pour in the wine, cooking until it is reduced by half, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the sauce from the heat.
• Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until al dente. Drain the pasta and add it to the sauce in the skillet. Add the Parmigiano-Reggiano and radicchio and toss to combine the ingredients. Garnish with the crushed walnuts, a drop of extra-virgin olive oil and a light dusting of freshly grated Parmigiano-Reggiano.

RICOTTA CAVATELLI

Steps:

• Combine the ricotta, eggs and salt in a large bowl, then stir into the flour. Gently combine with your hands to bring together into a dough. Knead the dough together, adding additional flour until the dough is firm and not sticky. Tightly wrap in plastic and rest in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to overnight.
• Cut the dough into quarters. Working with one quarter at a time, roll the dough on a lightly-floured surface into a 1/4-inch-thick rope. With a knife, cut the rope into 1/2-inch pieces. Use a bench scraper or your index and third fingers held together to gently press down on each piece, beginning at the top and moving down toward the bottom, dragging the bench scraper toward you and causing the pasta to roll over on itself. Transfer the formed pasta to a lightly-floured baking sheet and let dry at room temperature for at least 30 minutes. (At this point, the pasta can be frozen in a single layer and stored in a resealable plastic bag in the freezer.)
• Bring a saucepan of salted water to a boil. Add the pasta and cook until the cavatelli are al dente and begin to float to the top, 3 to 5 minutes.

CAVATELLI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• In a kettle of boiling salted water cook pasta until al dente.
• While pasta is cooking, squeeze sausage from its casings into a large heavy skillet and sauté over moderately high heat, stirring to break up chunks, until no longer pink. With slotted spoon transfer sausage to a bowl, reserving drippings in skillet.
• Cut broccoli rabe into 1-inch pieces and sauté in reserved drippings, stirring occasionally, until it begins to brown. Add garlic and sauté, stirring frequently, 1 minute. Add broth and raisins and simmer until broccoli rabe is just tender, about 3 minutes. Add butter, stirring until incorporated.
• Drain pasta and return to kettle. Add broccoli rabe mixture and sausage and heat through if necessary.
• Serve pasta with Parmesan.