Description
Caramelized fennel paccheri with sausage & pistachios delivers a symphony of Mediterranean flavors in one luxurious pasta dish. Sicilian-inspired ingredients dance together, creating a sophisticated plate that invites passionate cooks to savor each complex, richly textured bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 3/4 pound (340 grams) paccheri pasta
- 1/2 pound (227 grams) mild Italian sausage
- 1 large fennel bulb, cored and thinly sliced
- 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
Herbs and Seasonings:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, roughly torn
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
- Kosher salt, to taste
Supporting Ingredients:
- 3 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 cup white wine
- 1/2 cup roasted salted pistachios, chopped
- 1/4 pound (113 grams) fresh spinach
- 3/4 cup grated pecorino cheese, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- Olive oil, as needed
Instructions
- Gently warm a skillet and melt butter, then carefully toast pistachios until they release a rich, nutty aroma. Remove and reserve for garnishing.
- Select a heavy-bottomed pot and introduce olive oil over moderate heat. Crumble sausage into the pan, allowing it to develop a deep golden-brown exterior through even cooking.
- Without cleaning the pot, introduce thinly sliced red onion and fennel, seasoning with a delicate salt sprinkle. Allow vegetables to slowly transform, developing rich caramel undertones through patient, occasional stirring.
- Simultaneously prepare a large water vessel, seasoning generously with salt. Submerge paccheri pasta, monitoring cooking time to ensure a perfectly al dente texture.
- Enhance the caramelized vegetable foundation by incorporating minced garlic and red pepper flakes, creating an aromatic base. Deglaze with white wine, allowing liquid to concentrate and integrate flavors.
- Unite pasta with the robust sauce, gently folding in fresh spinach, previously cooked sausage, and remaining butter. Integrate pecorino cheese, creating a luxurious, silky coating that envelops each pasta tube.
- Transfer the gleaming pasta to an elegant serving dish, crowning with toasted pistachios, additional pecorino shavings, and a scattering of fresh herb confetti.
Notes
- Enhance fennel’s sweetness by letting it caramelize slowly without stirring too frequently, allowing natural sugars to develop a deep golden color.
- Undercook pasta slightly when boiling since it continues cooking in the sauce, preventing mushy texture and maintaining perfect al dente consistency.
- Toast pistachios carefully to release their nutty flavor without burning, watching the skillet closely and stirring continuously for even browning.
- Substitute Italian sausage with plant-based alternatives like crumbled tempeh or vegan sausage for a vegetarian version that maintains rich, savory profile.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 540
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 600 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 54 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg