Rigatoni Con Salsiccia Piccante E Finocchio Recipes

BAKED PASTA PICCANTE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Parboil sausages in water to cover for 8 minutes.
• Drain and cool.
• ,slice into 1 inch thick rounds.
• Bring 5 quarts of salted water to a boil.
• In large bowl mix: sausages with cream, stock, cheeses, jalapeno, sage and salt.
• In small bowl toss bell peppers with butter.
• Parboil pasta for 4 minutes.
• Drain and fold into other ingredients in a large bowl.
• Divide into 6-8 shallow ceramic baking dishes.
• Place pepper on top.
• Bake until brown and bubbly (7-10 minutes).

SAUSAGE, LENTILS AND FENNEL

Steps:

• Bring lentils, water and 1/2 teaspoon salt to a boil in a 2-quart heavy saucepan, then reduce heat and simmer, uncovered, until lentils are just tender but not falling apart, 12 to 25 minutes.
• While lentils simmer, cut fennel bulb into 1/4-inch dice and chop enough fennel fronds to measure 2 tablespoons. Heat 3 tablespoons olive oil in a 3 to 4 quart heavy saucepan over moderate heat until hot but not smoking, then stir in onion, carrot, fennel bulb, fennel seeds and remaining teaspoon salt.
• Cover pan and cook, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are very tender, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, lightly prick sausages in a couple of places with tip of a sharp knife, then cook sausages in remaining 1/2 tablespoon olive oil in a 10-inch nonstick skillet over moderately high heat, turning occasionally, until golden brown and cooked through, 12 to 15 minutes.
• Transfer to a cutting board.
• Drain cooked lentils in a sieve set over a bowl and reserve cooking water. Stir lentils into vegetables with enough cooking water to moisten (1/4 to 1/2 cup) and cook over moderate heat until heated through.
• Stir in parsley, pepper, 1 tablespoon vinegar and 1 tablespoon fennel fronds. Season with vinegar and salt.
• Cut sausages diagonally into 1/2-inch thick slices. Serve lentils topped with sausage and sprinkled with remaining tablespoon fennel fronds.
• Drizzle all over with extra-virgin olive oil.
• Makes 4 (main course) servings.
• That's it!

PASTA CON FINOCCHIO E SARDE (PASTA WITH FENNEL AND SARDINES)

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water for the pasta. Bring to a boil over high heat.
• While water is heating -- Heat oil in a wide saucepan over medium-high heat and add the whole cloves of garlic. When garlic starts to sizzle add the fennel, sauté for a few minutes until they start to cook. Add the raisins and the pine nuts and simmer until the water for the pasta is boiling.
• In the meantime, toast your breadcrumbs in a small heavy bottomed skillet. I usually keep old Italian bread in the freezer and chop it up in a blender when it has thawed. Trust me it is much more flavorful than store bought breadcrumbs. Keep an eye on the breadcrumbs; they usually toast quickly.
• Once the water starts to boil for the pasta add salt to the water and bring to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook until al dente. You should add the sardines to the pan with the fennel at this point.
• When the pasta is perfectly al dente, add a cup of the pasta water to the fennel sauce, turn up the heat on the sauce. Drain the pasta. Without shaking all of the water out of the colander pour the pasta into the pan and toss it with the sauce. This allows for the pasta to cook a little longer in the sauce and to absorb the flavor.
• Take the pan off of the heat and toss with the toasted bread crumbs and chopped fennel fronds. Serve immediately.

RIGATONI WITH ITALIAN SAUSAGE AND FENNEL

Steps:

• In a heavy skillet, cook sausage over moderate heat, stirring and breaking up any lumps until it is cooked through; transfer with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain oil.
• Add olive oil to skillet;
• Add sliced onions and garlic; cook over moderate-low heat, stirring, until onion is softened.
• Add the bell peppers and sliced fennel; cook over moderate heat, stirring occasionally, for 5 minutes, or until the bell pepper and fennel are softened.
• Add the wine and broth; bring to a boil and simmer, covered, for 5 minutes.
• Add cream and boil the mixture until it is thickened slightly and reduced by about one third.
• Cook pasta until al dente; drain.
• Mix fennel, sausage mixture into pasta.
• Serve immediately with grated Parmesan.