SPONSORED POST: Be inspired to make a delicious and easy weeknight dinner that even your pickiest eaters will adore with artisanal cheeses from Goat Cheeses of France.
Let this sausage and Chabichou Du Poitou French goat cheese orecchiette tossed with broccoli and fresh sage be your new 10 minute weeknight meal that is bursting with flavor.
Broccoli can create a pesto like effect without the extra work of making a pesto. You add the goat cheese to the sauce and it gets creamy. You add sausage for that crunchy bite in between and fresh sage leaves for that earthy flavor. This Broccoli, Sausage and Goat Cheese Orecchiette will be your go to weeknight meal. It’s flavor bang, with a good balance of meat, veggie, carb and dairy. The best part is that this meal gets ready in just 10 minutes.
We eat pasta quite often. Most of the time, it’s light with some lemon and fresh herbs. This particular Orecchiette pasta dish has bold flavors from the goat cheese. The mild tangy taste from the cheese with fresh sage balances quite pleasantly. The flavor of goat cheese can be sensitive to certain taste buds. So, if you are trying goat cheese for the first time, I would suggest try a good brand. And start with a variety that doesn’t have overpowering flavor. 
There are wide varieties of goat cheese available. I used Chabichou Du Poitou for this dish. This cheese is smooth to the palate with a mild acidic salty taste. The wrinkly edible rind is just so beautiful. As you cut the log, you see two more layers with the core being shiny white. It’s amazing to see three different textures in one log of goat cheese, all naturally formed as the cheese matured with time. I used all the three layers in making the sauce for the pasta and the shape of orecchiette pasta is just perfect to hold the sauce together.
I created this dish in collaboration with Goat Cheeses of France. France is the number 1 producer of pure goat cheese in the world with 110,000 tons (over 242 million pounds) produced in 2011. In French, Chèvre means goat and farmers have been using fresh goat’s milk to make cheese referred to as chèvre for centuries. With over 3,000 goat cheese produces and 60 dairy companies in France, The Original Chèvre is well known for its variety.
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Broccoli, Sausage and Goat Cheese Orecchiette
- Total Time: 25 minutes
- Yield: Serves 4
- Diet: Omnivore
Description
A quick weeknight pasta dish bursting with flavor. Creamy goat cheese, savory sausage, and tender broccoli make a perfect combination.
Ingredients
- 1 lbs (454 g) pasta
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) salt
- 2 tbsp (30 ml) butter
- 10 sage leaves
- 1 tbsp (15 ml) grated garlic
- 3 lbs (1361 g) turkey sausage
- 1 lbs (454 g) Chabichou Du Poitou French goat cheese
- 1/4 cup walnut
- grated parmesan cheese
- 2 oz (156 g) broccoli florets
Instructions
- Peel the turkey sausage, remove the meat, and shape it into small balls.
- Toast walnuts in a small pan over medium-high heat, then chop roughly and set aside.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat. Add pasta and broccoli florets; cook for 8 minutes. Prepare a colander for draining.
- Heat a 9-inch pan over medium-high heat. Prepare a plate lined with a kitchen towel.
- Melt butter in the hot pan, add sage leaves, cook for 1 minute, then remove and place on the kitchen towel to drain.
- Add grated garlic to the pan and stir for a few seconds. Add the turkey sausage balls; cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add goat cheese and stir until melted.
- Reserve ¼ cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta and broccoli. Add them to the pan and stir. Add the reserved pasta water and mix.
- Season with salt to taste.
- Top with parmesan cheese, crispy sage leaves, and toasted walnuts. Serve.
Notes
- For a richer flavor, use Italian sausage instead of turkey sausage.
- If Chabichou goat cheese is unavailable, substitute with another soft, creamy goat cheese.
- To prevent the pasta from sticking, add a drizzle of olive oil to the drained pasta before adding it to the sauce.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stir-Frying
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 5
- Sodium: 600
- Fat: 30
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 60
- Fiber: 5
- Protein: 25
- Cholesterol: 80
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a different type of cheese instead of Chabichou Du Poitou?
Yes, you can substitute with another mild goat cheese or even a creamy cheese like ricotta, but keep in mind that it might alter the flavor profile of the dish.
What type of sausage works best for this orecchiette recipe?
A mild Italian sausage or chicken sausage is recommended, as they provide a nice crunch and complement the flavors of the broccoli and goat cheese.
How do I ensure the broccoli blends well in the sauce?
Make sure to chop the broccoli into small florets and sauté it just until tender; this will help it create a pesto-like effect when combined with the goat cheese.
