Italian nonnas never mixed sausage with broccoli until 1960s—this "traditional" combo was invented by Italian-American immigrants in Brooklyn.
Creamy Sausage & Broccoli Pasta
Indulge in a rich and velvety pasta dish that brings together savory veggie sausages and vibrant broccoli for a delightful meal in no time! This creamy creation is not just quick to whip up but also packs a punch of flavor, making it the perfect comfort food to satisfy your cravings. Get ready to twirl your fork in this scrumptious bowl of goodness!
Prep
10
min
Cook
25
min
Serves
3
people
Level
beginner
📝 Ingredients
Serves 3🥬Fresh Produce(5)
- 1 small head of broccoli
- 1tsp minced garlic (5 ml)
- 1tsp mixed herbs (5 ml)
- 1/2 red onion
- 1tsp dried parsley (5 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 4 veggie sausages
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- Handful grated cheddar cheese
- 2tbsp soft/cream cheese (30 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 1tbsp oil (15 ml)
- 150g (ish) of pasta (5.29 oz)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- Salt & pepper
📦Other(1)
- 1tsp chilli flakes (5 ml)optional
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Chop your broccoli into chunks - stalk and all and pop into boiling water for 6-8 minutes (or until soft).
- 2
In the meantime, fry off diced red onion in olive oil until soft before adding minced garlic and continuing to cook for a further 2 minutes.
- 3
De-skin your veggie sausages and add them to the red onions, breaking them up and cooking until brown.
- 4
Whilst these cook, your broccoli should be done. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and place to one side. Add your pasta into the same water and cook as per packet instructions.
- 5
Drain once cooked, setting aside a mug of pasta water.
- 6
Chop the broccoli into smaller chunks before adding to the cooked sausages. Season generously with salt & pepper, dried parsley, mixed herbs & chilli flakes.
- 7
Add soft/cream cheese and loosen with the pasta water until you’re at the desired consistency.
- 8
Add your pasta and combine - adding more pasta water if needed before grating cheddar over the top.
- 9
Serve up with even more cheese & another sprinkle of chilli flakes.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook broccoli stems 2-3 minutes before adding florets since stems are 40% denser and need extra time to reach the same tenderness.timing2-3 minutes
- ✓Add pasta water to the cream cheese gradually at 165-175°F to prevent breaking - the starch content should be 0.5-1% for proper emulsification.technique165-175°F
- ✓Break up veggie sausages into 1/2-inch pieces maximum because smaller pieces create more surface area for browning and better sauce integration.technique1/2-inch pieces
- ✓Reserve 1.5 cups pasta water instead of 1 mug - veggie sausage proteins absorb 25% more liquid than meat, requiring extra starchy water for creaminess.ingredient1.5 cups
- ✓Add cream cheese off heat and whisk vigorously for 30-45 seconds to prevent curdling from temperature shock above 180°F.timing30-45 seconds
Share this recipe
Prep
10
min
Cook
25
min
Serves
3
people
Level
beginner
Share this recipe
Italian nonnas never mixed sausage with broccoli until 1960s—this "traditional" combo was invented by Italian-American immigrants in Brooklyn.
Creamy Sausage & Broccoli Pasta
Indulge in a rich and velvety pasta dish that brings together savory veggie sausages and vibrant broccoli for a delightful meal in no time! This creamy creation is not just quick to whip up but also packs a punch of flavor, making it the perfect comfort food to satisfy your cravings. Get ready to twirl your fork in this scrumptious bowl of goodness!
📝 Ingredients
Serves 3🥬Fresh Produce(5)
- 1 small head of broccoli
- 1tsp minced garlic (5 ml)
- 1tsp mixed herbs (5 ml)
- 1/2 red onion
- 1tsp dried parsley (5 ml)
🥩Meat & Seafood(1)
- 4 veggie sausages
🥛Dairy & Eggs(2)
- Handful grated cheddar cheese
- 2tbsp soft/cream cheese (30 ml)
🫙Pantry Staples(2)
- 1tbsp oil (15 ml)
- 150g (ish) of pasta (5.29 oz)
🧂Spices & Seasonings(1)
- Salt & pepper
📦Other(1)
- 1tsp chilli flakes (5 ml)optional
👨🍳 Instructions
- 1
Chop your broccoli into chunks - stalk and all and pop into boiling water for 6-8 minutes (or until soft).
- 2
In the meantime, fry off diced red onion in olive oil until soft before adding minced garlic and continuing to cook for a further 2 minutes.
- 3
De-skin your veggie sausages and add them to the red onions, breaking them up and cooking until brown.
- 4
Whilst these cook, your broccoli should be done. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon and place to one side. Add your pasta into the same water and cook as per packet instructions.
- 5
Drain once cooked, setting aside a mug of pasta water.
- 6
Chop the broccoli into smaller chunks before adding to the cooked sausages. Season generously with salt & pepper, dried parsley, mixed herbs & chilli flakes.
- 7
Add soft/cream cheese and loosen with the pasta water until you’re at the desired consistency.
- 8
Add your pasta and combine - adding more pasta water if needed before grating cheddar over the top.
- 9
Serve up with even more cheese & another sprinkle of chilli flakes.
💡 Pro Tips
- ✓Cook broccoli stems 2-3 minutes before adding florets since stems are 40% denser and need extra time to reach the same tenderness.timing2-3 minutes
- ✓Add pasta water to the cream cheese gradually at 165-175°F to prevent breaking - the starch content should be 0.5-1% for proper emulsification.technique165-175°F
- ✓Break up veggie sausages into 1/2-inch pieces maximum because smaller pieces create more surface area for browning and better sauce integration.technique1/2-inch pieces
- ✓Reserve 1.5 cups pasta water instead of 1 mug - veggie sausage proteins absorb 25% more liquid than meat, requiring extra starchy water for creaminess.ingredient1.5 cups
- ✓Add cream cheese off heat and whisk vigorously for 30-45 seconds to prevent curdling from temperature shock above 180°F.timing30-45 seconds