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Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
4.3 from 6 votes

Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

This Italian sausage and broccoli rabe is made by pan-frying sausage and sautéing broccolini with oil, garlic, and pepper flakes. A simple and easy weeknight meal.

Prep Time
25 mins
Cook Time
20 mins
Total Time
45 mins
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 823 kcal
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

For the Italian sausage
  • One (1 1/2 to 2 pound) Italian sausage or substitute links, coil
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Scant 1/4 cup water plus more as needed, cold
For the broccoli rabe
  • 1 bunch broccoli rabe see * below, or broccolini
  • 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil plus more for drizzling
  • 1 clove garlic thinly sliced
  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes crushed
  • salt to taste
  • 1/4 cup water cold

Instructions

Cook the Italian sausage
    Cup of Yum
  1. Prick the sausage in a few places with the tip of a sharp knife to keep the casing from splitting as it cooks.
  2. Heat the olive oil in a heavy, large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and almost all of the water, cover, and cook until the sausage begins to brown on the bottom, about 15 minutes.
  3. Carefully turn the sausage over and, if the skillet is dry, add a splash more water. Cover and continue to cook until the sausage begins to brown on the other side, about 10 minutes.
  4. Uncover and keep cooking until the water evaporates and the sausage is well browned and cooked through, 5 to 10 minutes. (The sausage will brown quickly once the water evaporates. You can nudge the sausage a little here and there during cooking to be certain it doesn't stick to the skillet.)
Cook the broccoli rabe
  1. Meanwhile, trim the thick stems from the broccoli rabe or Broccolini and discard or reserve for another use. Rinse the broccoli rabe or Broccolini and shake off any excess water.
  2. In a large skillet over medium heat, warm the extra-virgin olive oil. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook just until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe or broccolini, a generous pinch salt, and the water, cover, and cook, turning the broccoli rabe or broccolini as it begins to wilt, until it's tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes.
  3. Uncover and cook until the water evaporates, 3 to 5 minutes. Drizzle with oil and season to taste with salt.
Serve the Italian sausage and broccoli rabe
  1. Pile the sausage and broccoli rabe together, either moving everything to a skillet and taking that to the table or transferring everything to a platter. Serve warm. (Any leftovers work marvelously when chopped and tossed with freshly cooked pasta.)

Notes

  • Broccoli rabe. Rapini. Broccoletti. Broccolini. Pretty much the same thing. Just a public service announcement in case you’re wondering “brocco-what?!” as you wander the produce aisles of your grocery store.

Nutrition Information

Serving 1portion Calories 823kcal (41%) Carbohydrates 12g (4%) Protein 29g (58%) Fat 74g (114%) Saturated Fat 22g (110%) Monounsaturated Fat 39g (195%) Cholesterol 129mg (43%) Sodium 1298mg (54%) Fiber 4g (16%) Sugar 3g (6%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 823

% Daily Value*

Serving 1portion
Calories 823kcal 41%
Carbohydrates 12g 4%
Protein 29g 58%
Fat 74g 114%
Saturated Fat 22g 110%
Monounsaturated Fat 39g 195%
Cholesterol 129mg 43%
Sodium 1298mg 54%
Fiber 4g 16%
Sugar 3g 6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.