Presto Pasta Night: Penne With Broccoli, Sausage, And Smoked Mozzarella

I'm tearing myself away from The Ruins, which I started reading an hour ago, to post about our meal tonight.  Believe me, it's hard to do anything but read that book.  I'm hooked.  In fact, if I had started the book before dinner, cereal would have been the blue plate special. But, dinner was served and it's a dish that I've made many times over the years. The ingredients change according to what's in the fridge and pantry.  Basically, it's pasta cooked with a vegetable, such as broccoli, rabe, or asparagus. Then I toss it with cheese and sauteed sausage (or mushrooms).  Tonight is was penne with broccoli, sausage, and smoked mozzarella. It's a very simple, but satisfying dish, and most people are always enthusiastic in their praise when they eat it.  The smoke mozzarella packs a punch. I smell like I've been sitting around a campfire.  Hmmmm...I could take a bath and read the book.  But I usually drop them in the water when I do that. 

Here is the pasta in my favorite pan. It's a huge saute pan, and I'm seriously in love with it.  I can make huge quantities of caramelized onions in it.  In my world, that's VERY important.  I have a friend who wants a BMW. I wanted this All-Clad saute pan, big enough to take a bath in. 

The mozzarella melts almost immediately when you toss it in.

This is my submission for Presto Pasta Night, the fabulous event created by the lovely Ruth at Once Upon A Feast.  She will have a terrific round-up of pasta recipes from around the world, on her site Friday. Check it out!

OK, back to the book. I will be up late reading it.

Penne With Broccoli, Sausage, And Smoked Mozzarella

Serves 4

About 2 cups (or one large head) of trimmed broccoli, cut in small pieces
2 Tablespoons olive oil
3 cloves of minced garlic
salt
lots of freshly ground black pepper
a pinch of crushed red pepper
1 cup (more or less) of small diced smoked mozzarella
2-3  small sausages, thinly sliced  (I used sun dried turkey sausage)--or use sliced portabella mushrooms
1/2 cup sliced basil
1 pound penne
1 cup pasta water reserved

Heat water to a boil in a large pot, add a good amount of salt, then add the penne.  Cook according to directions until the last 2 minutes, then add the broccoli to the water.  Drain broccoli and pasta when done.

While the pasta is cooking, saute the sausage, red pepper, and garlic in the olive oil for about 5 minutes over medium heat. (My sausage was pre-cooked when I bought it.)  I used a very large saute pan, but a large skillet or pot will work too.  Add the pasta and broccoli to the sausage and stir, adding the reserved pasta water.  Stir for at least a minute over medium high heat.  Add salt and pepper to taste.  Add the cheese and the basil and remove from the heat. Stir well, then serve.   

Comments

[Katiez]

I soooo want to be able to get smoked mozzarella! I keep reading about it and it sounds soooo good! I've only been able to get Mozzarelle di Bufala for the last year and a half so I'm not holding my breath for this one...
Wonderful pasta, maybe I can make it next time I'm in the U.S.... or you could invite me to dinner... yep, that would work, too!

[e]

As always, Sher, dinner looks delicious.

I love getting consumed by a good book.

[Belinda]

Simple and satisfying are two of my favorite words when it comes to a quick dinner, when time is not on your side some evenings! Thanks for sharing the recipe. And I rarely use sausage of any kind, so this will be a nice way to change things up a bit. :-) Now I'm off to Amazon to find out more about that book! Happy reading. :-)

[Patricia Scarpin]

That pan is huge! It must be wonderful to cook with it, Sher.

And this pasta dish looks so good! My husband and I would love having this for dinner.

[Katie B.]

I have all these bits at home, I think this will be a weekend dinner! Thanks!!

[kevin]

This sounds really simple to make and looks really tasty. Smoked mozzarella is one of my favorite cheeses and it would go really well in something like this.

[Ruth]

Great post - now I have to buy the book! And a great looking dish. Thanks for sharing with PResto Pasta Nights.

[s'kat]

Smoked cheese and delicious sausages? Now that's dinner.

Enjoy the book!

[marye]

aww..I was at the hospital all day yesterday with dh..I forgot about presto pasta night! your looks really good. really really good. :)

[Alisha]

Oh, I love the way this looks! Simple enough for a quick dinner and then get back to what you were doing. (I love it when I have a great book I can't put down.)

[mosaic cats]

omigod.
This one is on the list for sure. You've finally cracked the Mosaic Lady. She shall cook from a recipe!

Do you get Top Chef over there? This week was all pasta stuff. It was very tormenting to watch. Good thing we were full. Especially cuz a couple were PESTO pastas. YUM x 12.

[Susan from Food Blogga]

Hah, I just made almost this identical dish for dinner last night. Great minds.... :)

[Ari (Baking and Books)]

The addition of smoked mozzarella is pure inspiration!

[Glenna]

Looks wonderful and so easy. Perfect for reading nights or working nights.

[Lisa]

Another gorgeous pasta dish! I've got so many of yours tagged, I'll never be able to make them all!

[Kristen]

This looks amazing! I love pasta with sausage. Mmmmm!

[Jennifer]

How delicious looking! I do love penne pasta and italian sausage!

[Sarah]

Hello. I found your site a while back when searching for pasta recipes on the web, and I've printed just about every one from here! The photos are always lovely. Thanks for sharing.