Orecchiette Recipe

Prepare the pasta:
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Once boiling, add the orecchiette and cook for about 10-12 minutes, or until al dente (firm to the bite). Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water for later.
Cook the sausage:
While the pasta is cooking, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 7-8 minutes.
Sauté garlic and red pepper flakes:
Once the sausage is cooked, add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) to the skillet. Sauté for about 1-2 minutes until the garlic becomes fragrant, but be careful not to burn it.
Add broccoli rabe:
Add the chopped broccoli rabe to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté for 4-5 minutes, or until the broccoli rabe wilts and becomes tender. If the skillet seems too dry, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to help soften the broccoli rabe
Combine pasta and sauce:
Add the cooked orecchiette to the skillet with the sausage and broccoli rabe. Toss everything together to combine, adding more pasta water as needed to create a silky sauce
Serve:
Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve the pasta with a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy!