5 Ingredients or Fewer

Orecchiette with Spicy Sausage and Ramps

by:
May  9, 2021
4.7
3 Ratings
Orecchiette with Spicy Sausage and Ramps
  • Serves 8
Author Notes

A simple spring dish, whipped together in half an hour, this pasta gets a meaty kick from the sausage, and a mellow sweetness from sauteed ramps. Feel free to use young leeks if you can't find ramps. —Merrill Stubbs

What You'll Need
Ingredients
  • Kosher salt
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 1/2 pounds hot Italian sausage, bulk or removed from casings
  • 1/2 pound ramps (you can use young leeks if you don't have access to ramps), cleaned and trimmed of roots
  • 1 pound orecchiette or other short pasta
Directions
  1. Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage and brown for about 5 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
  2. Meanwhile, slice the bulb end (white parts) of the ramps finely and roughly chop the leaves, keeping the two separate. Add the bulbs to the pan and cook, stirring frequently, for 2 to 3 minutes, until they soften and start to brown. Add the leaves and cook for another minute, until just wilted. Turn off the heat and set aside (you can hold this for up to an hour, reheating before you add the pasta).
  3. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until just al dente, following the package directions. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking water and drain the pasta well. Add it to the sausage and ramps over medium heat. Stir through, adding some of the cooking liquid if the pasta looks dry. Serve immediately.
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  • Lauren Lever
    Lauren Lever
  • Jacqueline Vignone
    Jacqueline Vignone
  • tota
    tota
  • Peter
    Peter
  • Merrill Stubbs
    Merrill Stubbs

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11 Reviews

Lauren L.
Lauren L. October 15, 2018
My husband and I love this. It’s so simple and satisfying. I added a splash of cream at the end to give the sauce a bit more body and it worked nicely.
 
Jo-Anne
Jo-Anne October 16, 2018
So was the result a bit saucier at the end?
 
Lauren L.
Lauren L. October 16, 2018
I wouldn’t say saucy exactly. Just a touch creamy.
 
Jo-Anne
Jo-Anne October 16, 2018
Will definitely give this a try? Did you use a table creme?
 
Jacqueline V.
Jacqueline V. November 2, 2016
Made this last night...I had never used a ramp in place of an onion, it was delish. I also tossed in a few broccoli rabe flowers, perfection.
 
tota
tota June 5, 2015
Can you offer a substitute for the sausage? Have a good amount of ramps in house but non-meat eating family. Thanks!
 
Jo-Anne
Jo-Anne April 17, 2015
How much kosher salt should be added to the boiling water for the pasta? I am lucky...I made the acquaintance of a garlic farmer a couple of years ago so I am able to get the ramps and the garlic when they are in season. I also make sure to round up people I know will be happy buy directly from him. Win Win. :)
 
Merrill S.
Merrill S. April 17, 2015
Our rule of thumb for salting pasta water is add enough so that the water tastes like the sea.
 
Better T.
Better T. May 28, 2014
I finally found ramps in my grocery store of all places ( even though we have an absolutely incredible farmers market), had to make this because I love oricchiette. I added a touch of cream, chopped tomato and white wine- because it was in the frig. So simple, so incredibly delicious. Thank you.
By the way, the pickled ramps ( by Amanda) are wonderful.
 
Peter
Peter May 31, 2012
While I love recipes that give me ideas on how to use ramps, it also makes me sad when I see a recipe that sounds delicious but ramps -- damned their fickle, fleeting season -- are long gone from the farmer's markets!
 
eisenstar
eisenstar May 16, 2012
Hi, Merrill. Thanx for suggesting substituting young leeks, if ramps aren't available. I'm dieing to make this dish. Will try my local Farmers Market, this weekend, before I give up my search for ramps!