Fresh Pappardelle With Sausage, Fennel And Ricotta

• For the sauce:
• 6 Tbs. olive oil
• 1 lb. (500 g) bulk Italian fennel sausage or fresh sausages,
• casings removed
• 1 fennel bulb, cored and julienned
• 1/2 cup (4 fl. oz./125 ml) dry white wine
• 1/4 cup (1 1/2 oz./45 g) diced shallots
• 1/4 cup (1 1/2 oz./45 g) chopped garlic
• 2 tsp. fresh thyme (optional)
• 1 cup (8 fl. oz./250 ml) chicken broth
• 4 Tbs. (1/2 stick) (2 oz./60 g) unsalted butter
• 1 cup (8 oz./250 g) fresh ricotta, preferably Bellwether Farms
• 1/4 cup (1/3 oz./10 g) chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
• 1/4 cup (1 oz./30 g) grated Parmesan cheese

1. To make the sauce, in a large saute pan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Break the sausage into nickel-size pieces and add to the pan along with the fennel. Saute, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the wine, shallots, garlic and thyme. Cook until the wine is reduced by about half and the smell of alcohol no longer persists, about 3 minutes. Add the chicken broth and butter and continue cooking until the mixture is reduced by about three-quarters, 3 to 5 minutes.
2. While the sauce is reducing, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil over high heat. Once the sauce has reduced, add 1 lb. (500 g) of the pappardelle-about two-thirds of the total-to the boiling water and cook until al dente (tender but firm to the bite), 2 to 3 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/4 cup (2 fl. oz./60 ml) of the cooking water. Add the reserved cooking water and the pasta to the saute pan with the sauce. Toss until the sauce coats the pasta, about 30 seconds. Transfer to a large serving bowl, top with dollops of the ricotta and the parsley and toss to combine. Sprinkle the Parmesan on top and serve immediately. Serves 4.
3. Ari Rosen, Co-Owner and Chef, Scopa, Healdsburg, CA.

olive oil, italian fennel sausage, casings removed, fennel bulb, white wine, fresh thyme, chicken broth, butter, fresh ricotta, parsley

Taken from www.epicurious.com/recipes/member/views/fresh-pappardelle-with-sausage-fennel-and-ricotta-52884261 (may not work)