This hearty and delicious Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, Greens, Gorgonzola & Walnuts is a treat for the tastebuds!
Our summer potted plants are holding on for dear life. Most have said their final good byes, and the couple planters set just outside my studio door contain more stem than flower. Our apple trees, shedding fruit like a mama sheds tears on the first day of school, provide feasts for the fawns.
Fall has arrived.
How do you feel about autumn? I adore it. Of course the crisp and sunny days are easy to love, the days where leaves slow waltz across soft lawns like brides and grooms across shiny parquet. But there’s something about the grayer days too, the days colored platinum that strike a pleasing chord – a chord replete with comforts born of flannel wraps, cozy fires, long books, and food.
Food like Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, Greens, Gorgonzola & Walnuts. Now that’s a mouthful! Let’s get to it!
INGREDIENTS:
- Rigatoni
- Italian sausage
- Olive oil
- Red lettuce
- Shallots
- Walnuts
- Salt & black pepper
- Gorgonzola
- Parmesan cheese
INSTRUCTIONS:Â
- In a large skillet over medium heat cook the sausage. Break meat into crumbles with your spatula. When finished cooking, remove sausage to a paper towel lined plate. Set aside. (Leave skillet on the stove for later use.)
- Next, in a large pot of salted boiling water cook the pasta until firm to the bite. (Al dente)
- In the meantime, into the large skillet, add olive oil, lettuce and shallots. Sauté for 5 minutes or more, until liquid is evaporated.
- When the pasta is cooked, reserve one cup of cooking liquid, and drain.
- Place pasta back in the pot, add the sausage, gorgonzola, lettuce, shallots and walnuts. Pour 1/2 – 1 cup reserved cooking liquid, salt, and pepper.
- Serve warm with a drizzle of of olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese.
Happy autumn, my friends! Enjoy the leaves, and the rigatoni!
Buon Appetito!
MORE COMFORT FOOD:
Spicy Pasta with Chickpeas & Herbs
Pappardelle with Meatballs, Spicy Sausage & Herbed RicottaÂ
Italian Panini with Salami, Fontina, Arugula & Sun-Dried Tomato Mayo!
Simple Barilotti with Peas, Ham and Cream
Mom’s Old-Fashioned MeatloafÂ
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Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, Greens, Gorgonzola & Walnuts
Description
This hearty and delicious Rigatoni with Italian Sausage, Greens, Gorgonzola & Walnuts is a treat for the tastebuds!
Ingredients
1 lb. rigatoni
1 lb. Italian sausage, hot or sweet, casing removed
1/4 cup olive oil
2 heads red lettuce, cored and cut into 1-inch ribbons
1/3 cup shallots, finely chopped
1 cup chopped walnuts
kosher salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste
5 oz. mild Gorgonzola, crumbled
Parmesan cheese
Instructions
In a large skillet over medium heat cook the sausage. Break meat into crumbles with your spatula. When finished cooking, remove sausage to a paper towel lined plate. Set aside. (Leave skillet on the stove for later use.)
Next, in a large pot of salted boiling water cook the pasta until firm to the bite. (Al dente)
In the meantime, into the large skillet, add olive oil, lettuce and shallots. Sauté for 5 minutes or more, until liquid is evaporated.
When the pasta is cooked, reserve one cup of cooking liquid, and drain.
Place pasta back in the pot, add the sausage, gorgonzola, lettuce, shallots and walnuts. Pour 1/2 – 1 cup reserved cooking liquid, salt and pepper.
Serve warm with a drizzle of of olive oil and grated Parmesan cheese.
A beautiful pasta dish, Annie!! The nuts are perfection! I’m thinking this would be great with a glass of red on a Friday night!
Yes! The perfect Friday night! Thanks, Katherine!!