Grilled Sausage Fennel And Baby Artichoke Spring Pasta Food

ARTICHOKE AND FENNEL CRUDO

Steps:

• Whisk together the olive oil and lemon juice in a small bowl. In a separate medium bowl, place the arugula. Spoon a small amount of the dressing onto the arugula and toss to coat. Spread a bed of arugula on a plate and set aside.
• In a large bowl, combine the sliced artichokes, fennel, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper with the remaining dressing. Mix well to coat. Mound the artichoke mixture on top of the arugula. Top with the shaved Parmesan and serve.

FUSILLI WITH SAUSAGE, ARTICHOKES, AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Heat the oil reserved from the tomatoes in a heavy large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the sausages and cook until brown, breaking up the meat into bite-size pieces with a fork, about 8 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a bowl. Add the artichokes and garlic to the same skillet, and saute over medium heat until the garlic is tender, about 2 minutes. Add the broth, wine, and sun-dried tomatoes. Boil over medium-high heat until the sauce reduces slightly, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the fusilli in boiling water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring often, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta (do not rinse). Add the pasta, sausage, 1/2 cup Parmesan, basil, and parsley to the artichoke mixture. Toss until the sauce is almost absorbed by the pasta. Stir in the mozzarella. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper. Serve, passing the additional Parmesan cheese alongside.

PASTA WITH GRILLED SAUSAGE, PEPPERS AND EGGPLANT

Steps:

• Light a grill and preheat for at least 10 minutes or preheat a grill pan. Arrange the grill so half cooks over high heat and the other half can cook over moderately low heat. Meanwhile, soak 1 small bamboo skewer for 10 minutes.
• Prick the sausage links in a few places with a fork. Brush the peppers and eggplant slices all over with olive oil and season with salt and pepper.
• Oil the grill grates, then grill the sausage over moderate heat, turning frequently, until browned and cooked through, about 15 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and let cool slightly.
• Meanwhile, grill the peppers over high heat, turning occasionally, until blackened all over, 10 to 15 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and let cool slightly.
• Grill the eggplant over high heat until dark brown grill marks form, about 4 minutes. Flip and grilled until charred and the eggplant is tender, 3 to 4 minutes longer. Transfer to the cutting board.
• Slice the sausages about 1/3 inch thick and transfer to a large serving bowl. Dice the eggplant and add it to the sausage. Peel the peppers, then discard the stems and seeds; slice into bite-sized strips and add it to the sausage and peppers.
• Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the cooking water and drain. Add the pasta and the 2 tablespoons olive oil to the bowl and toss. Add the 1 ounce of cheese and toss again, adding pasta water, little by little, if you need to loosen the pasta sauce. Season with salt and pepper, add the basil and transfer to bowls. Serve the pasta, passing more cheese at the table.

"ANTIPASTO" PASTA WITH SAUSAGE, ARTICHOKE HEARTS, AND SUN-DRIED TOMATOES

Steps:

• Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling salted water, stirring occasionally, until al dente. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid; return pasta to pot.
• Toast pine nuts in a small dry skillet over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned, 3-5 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium skillet over medium-high. Cook sausage and tomato paste, stirring, 1 minute. Stir in artichokes and sun-dried tomatoes and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Remove from heat.
• Add sausage mixture and 3/4 cup pasta cooking liquid to pot with pasta; season with 1/4 tsp. pepper. Toss to coat and add remaining 1/4 cup pasta cooking liquid, if needed, to loosen.
• Divide pasta among plates. Season with pepper and top with peperoncini.

ITALIAN SAUSAGE WITH ARTICHOKES AND FETA

Steps:

• In a large skillet, cook sausage, onion and garlic over medium heat 6-8 minutes or until sausage is no longer pink and onion is tender, breaking up sausage into crumbles; drain., Stir in artichoke hearts, tomato sauce, wine and Italian seasoning; heat through. Gently stir in cheese. Serve with pasta. If desired, sprinkle with parsley.Freeze option: Freeze cooled sausage mixture in freezer containers. To use, partially thaw in refrigerator overnight. Place sausage mixture in a saucepan; heat through, stirring occasionally and adding a little broth or water if necessary.