Green with Envy Orecchiette and Red Wine Braised Sausages
- 2 pounds - 8 short links or 4 large, hot or sweet Italian sausages
- 2 cups dry red wine
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- Salt
- 1 pound orecchiette pasta
- 1/2 cup hazelnuts
- 1 package or bunch chives, coarsely chopped or torn by hand
- 2 cloves garlic, popped from skin, 1 clove minced, divided
- 12 stems tarragon, 1 package or small bunch, leaves stripped from stems
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus more to pass at table
- 1 bunch green Swiss chard, stems removed and roughly chopped
- A little freshly grated nutmeg, to taste
- Orecchiette means little ears and the ears will be burning over this recipe - tasty and supper good for you.
- The friends and family you make it for will be green with envy to be able to make something so delicious!
- Place sausages in a skillet and add wine and 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil to the pan.
- Place pan over medium-high heat and let the wine reduce and evaporate, 15 to 18 minutes.
- Eventually, the casings will crisp up and the wine and oil will glaze the casings.
- Place a pot of water on to boil for the pasta.
- Salt water and cook to al dente.
- Heads up: you will need 1 1/2 cups, a couple of ladles, starchy cooking water just before you drain the orecchiette.
- Toast hazelnuts 5 minutes over medium-low heat in a small skillet.
- Cool a few minutes.
- Place the chives, garlic, tarragon, salt and pepper and nuts into food processor and turn it on.
- Stream in about 5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and process the ingredients into a smooth but thick sauce.
- Transfer the sauce to a bowl and stir in the cheese.
- The color is stronger if you stir rather than process the cheese into the sauce.
- Heat remaining 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium high to high heat.
- Add greens, minced garlic and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg to taste.
- Sear greens, tossing them as they wilt down, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Add cooking liquids to pesto in bowl then add pasta and greens and toss to coat the pasta and let the flavors absorb, 1 minute.
- Serve 2 braised sausages with lots of greens alongside.
red wine, extravirgin olive oil, salt, pasta, hazelnuts, chives, garlic, tarragon, salt, green swiss chard, nutmeg
Taken from www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/green-with-envy-orecchiette-and-red-wine-braised-sausages-recipe.html (may not work)