Green with Envy Orecchiette and Red Wine Braised Sausages
Ingredients
- 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 (EVOO), 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
Preparation
Place sausages in a skillet and add wine and 1 tablespoon EVOO to the pan. Place pan over medium-high heat and let the wine reduce and evaporate, 15-18 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 EVOO 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 EVOO 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, 3-4 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.
