Easy, delicious, comforting, and warm – Casarecce with Italian Sausage, Wilted Greens & Parmesan is the perfect dish for busy weeknights or for when company’s coming over!
We recently visited one of my favorite Italian foodie shops, and in true form, came away with some nice Italian treats. It is impossible to leave that place empty-handed!
Though hubby can usually be found hobnobbing with the dolci, the sweet stuff… I tend to mingle with the gustoso (savory, toothsome….) I just love that word! GUSTOSO!
Like usual, we left with dinner and dessert: arancini (the size of my head), and a variety of biscotti… plus – we made our way down the pasta aisle… a virtual pasta-playground, where, as you might imagine, one’s brain can be left spinning as if saddled to your favorite horse on a child’s merry-go-round. Such giddiness! Does pasta do that to you too? The assortment delights.
On this trip – casarecce was the winning shape. Originating from Sicily, casarecce from the word casareccio, meaning homemade, is a gentle-twist-shaped pasta.
Ideal for all sorts of sauces, it’s a pasta worth grabbing when you can find it.
I had a hankering for Italian sausage, and since wilted greens are easy to prepare and a lovely complement – here we are!
And we can’t forget the parm! All the parm! (And red pepper flakes if the sausage isn’t quite spicy enough…. 😉 )
INGREDIENTS:
- Olive oil
- Italian sausage
- Mixed greens (I used Earthbound Farm Power Greens: Baby Chard, Kale & Spinach, though you could use any one or combination of greens in the dish.)
- Casarecce pasta
- Parmesan
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
DIRECTIONS:
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook the sausage until browned, about 7 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook the casarecce in boiling salted water until al dente.
- While the pasta is cooking – add your mixed greens to the sausage, and sauté, stirring until just tender, about 5 minutes.
- Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking liquid. Drain pasta.
- Add about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid to the skillet with the sausage and greens, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from the bottom.
- Add the pasta and toss.
- Stir in the parm and thin with additional cooking liquid if desired.
- Top with more cheese and red pepper flakes if you’re feeling adventurous.
Now go make yourself a big bowl of pasta! You’ll be glad you did!
If you decide to give Casarecce with Italian Sausage, Wilted Greens & Parmesan a whirl – I’d love your feedback and photos! Tag @ciaochowbambina on Instagram, or share to my Pinterest and Facebook page!
MORE ITALIAN RECIPES:
Sun-Dried Tomato, Fennel & Parmesan Biscotti
Pesto Arancini – Italian Street Food
Pasta with Herbed Walnut Sauce
Buon Appetito!
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Casarecce with Italian Sausage, Wilted Greens & Parmesan
Description
Easy, delicious, comforting and warm, Casarecce with Italian Sausage, Wilted Greens & Parmesan is the perfect dish for busy weeknights or for when company’s coming over!
Ingredients
3 – 4 Tbsp olive oil
1 lb. hot Italian sausage, removed from casing and crumbled
1 lb. mixed greens (I used Earthbound Farm Power Greens: Baby Chard, Kale & Spinach, though you could use any one or combination of greens in the dish.)
1 lb. dried casarecce (or any other pasta)
1 cup shredded Parmesan
red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat; cook the sausage until browned, about 7 minutes.
Meanwhile, cook the casarecce in boiling salted water until al dente.
While the pasta is cooking – add the mixed greens to the sausage, and sauté, stirring until just tender, about 5 minutes.
Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking liquid. Drain pasta.
Add about 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid to the skillet with the sausage and greens, stirring and scraping up any brown bits from the bottom.
Add the pasta and toss.
Stir in the parm and thin with additional cooking liquid if desired.
Top with more cheese and red pepper flakes.
SO EASY SO FRESH SO DELICIOUS
YES! So happy you liked & enjoyed!! Thank you!!!
I’m SO looking for casarecce! What a fabulous pasta recipe and with such delicious memories! This is some serious comfort food 😀
Never a bad time at an Italian foods shop! 😉 Thanks, friend!
I am so intrigued by this recipe. I don’t believe that I ever had the pleasure of enjoying casarecce – it looks like the perfect shape to absorb much of the flavors of your Italian sausage and wilted greens rendering. And places for the red pepper flakes to hide. Yum!
…so many places to hide! yes – this pasta serves many purposes! 🙂 Thanks, Milena!
Annie, you have a way of making pasta look SO mouthwatering!!! Oh my word. I’m pretty sure I could eat this entire pan full…especially if it has spicy sausage!!! Definitely trying out this type of pasta. Delicious!
I’m a big fan of spicy sausage! 🙂 Thanks so much, my friend!
I’m with you about getting giddy over pasta shapes and textures – it’s incredible what a difference it make! And you know what? Casarecce is new to me – now I’m on the hunt! SO making this beautiful dish of yours, Annie!
Happy hunting, my friend! It will not disappoint! xo
You’ve always got the most interesting and tasty pastas, such good flavor combinations too. Never a disappointment! Delish!
Thanks so much!! Can never run out of things to do with past!! 🙂
I’ve never seen pasta like this in the store! I might have to go hit up my local Italian shop to see if I can find it. I just love the way it looks! This dish looks so hearty and delicious Annie!!
Hit that shop up! You’ll find all sorts of goodies!! Thanks, friend!
I love casarecce Annie! And this is one dish everyone at our house would totally love. I’m thinking this needs to be on this weekend’s menu!
It’s a fun dish! It definitely went fast in my house!! 🙂
I’m a total pasta nerd! I love trying new shapes and now I have to find casarecce! (By the way, have you ever looked through the book The Geometry of Pasta? It’s really interesting!)
Oooooh – I have not! I need to check that out pronto!! Thanks, Kelsie!!
I love this shape of pasta and it’s perfect with the sausage and greens here! And of course Parm. Lots and lots of parm 🙂
Yessss – lots and lots of parm!! Thanks, Jennifer!
I love the shape of that pasta! This entire pasta dish looks amazing. What a great combination of flavors. I would have difficulty leaving a store like the one you mention. What an amazing place!
This is one fun pasta! And that is one of my favorite places! I feel like a kid in a candy shop when I’m there! Thanks, Kathy!!
Arancini the size of ya head? Well, I can certainly get on board with dat 😉 !! And this pasta? Toothsome indeed! Love how hearty and flavourful it is, Annie! Pinned and trying soon. Would make for a lovely date night meal with hubby. Happy weekend ahead, my friend. XOXO
They were some big arancini! hahaha! 🙂 The perfect date night dinner! Thanks, friend! xoxo
I’ve never tried casarecce pasta so I’ll have to give it a go! Loving this cozy pasta dish Annie, and my husband would love it too!
All about the cozy these days! Thanks, Leanne!