22 – OCTOBER 2019
Home – Family Meal
Shells are the
ideal shape for
trapping all the
bits of sausage
and veg studded
throughout.
8 SERVINGS
¼ cup plus 1 Tbsp. extra-virgin
olive oil
1 lb. sweet or hot Italian sausage,
casings removed
6 garlic cloves, coarsely chopped
1 Tbsp. finely chopped sage, plus
10 leaves for serving
½ tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
- Place racks in middle and
upper third of oven; preheat to
325°. Heat a large, deep ovenproof
skillet over medium-high. Pour
in ¼ cup oil; add sausage and
break up into small pieces.
Cook, undisturbed, until browned
underneath, about 4 minutes. Stir a
few times; cook, undisturbed, until
cooked through, about 3 minutes. - Add garlic, chopped sage, and
red pepper flakes to sausage and
cook, stirring, until garlic is golden,
about 2 minutes. Mix in half-and-
half and simmer until thickened
slightly, about 2 minutes. Reduce
heat to low. Stirring constantly,
gradually add two-thirds of the
cheese a little at a time, letting
it melt before adding more. Cook,
stirring, until sauce is smooth
and thick, about 3 minutes; season
with salt. Remove from heat. - Meanwhile, cook pasta in a
pot of boiling salted water, stirring
occasionally and adding broccoli
rabe during the last 2 minutes, until
very al dente, about 2 minutes less
than package directions. Drain
in a colander, shaking well. Return
pasta and broccoli rabe to pot. - Add sausage mixture to pasta
and toss to coat; transfer to skillet.
Cover with foil and bake on middle
rack until pasta is al dente and
sauce is bubbling, 30–40 minutes.
Remove from oven. Heat broiler. - Top pasta with remaining cheese.
Toss sage leaves and remaining
1 Tbsp. oil in a small bowl; arrange
over pasta. Broil on upper rack
until cheese is browned in spots,
about 5 minutes. Let cool slightly
before serving.
2 cups half-and-half
12 oz. Fontina and/or aged cheddar,
coarsely grated, divided
Kosher salt
1 lb. ridged medium pasta shells
(such as lumaconi) or large
tube pasta (such as rigatoni)
1 bunch broccoli rabe, stems cut into
2" pieces, leafy ends left long
Baked Shells With
Sausage and Greens
Crisp nuggets of Italian sausage
and tender broccoli rabe swathed
in a blanket of cozy cheese sauce—
this is the definition of cold-weather
comfort food
RECIPE BY CLAIRE SAFFITZ