Penne, Spicy Sausage, and Broccolini

I love this recipe! The combination of flavors is absolutely delicious and it's super easy to make - perfect for a weeknight meal. The broccolini are tender and sweet and compliment the spicy sausage very well. Broccolini are often misidentified as baby broccoli, but actually they are a cross between broccoli and kai-lan, also known as, Chinese broccoli. Any small pasta will do, farfalle would be a good substitute. 

Ingredients:
2 bunches broccolini, leaves removed, stems trimmed
12 ounces penne
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 pound hot Italian sausage
3 garlic cloves, minced
Pinch of crushed red pepper
¼ cup Parmesan cheese

Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook broccolini for 1-2 minutes. Remove broccolini reserving cooking water. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Reserve water.

Meanwhile, cook the sausage over medium heat with the olive oil, breaking up any large pieces (~8 minutes). Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for 30 seconds. Add broccolini and toss to coat. Lower heat and add pasta when cooked. Ladle in enough of the cooking water to keep the dish moist.  Toss with Parmesan before serving.

Bon appetit!