Egg Tagliatelle with Saffron, Asparagus & Hot Sausage
- 4Servings
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups chicken stock
- A fat pinch saffron (about 30 threads)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound bulk hot Italian sausage
- 1 pound asparagus, trimmed and thinly sliced on an angle
- 2 large shallots, quartered and thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons fresh thyme leaves, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon lemon zest
- Salt and pepper
- 1/2 cup dry white wine
- 1 tablespoon butter, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoon flour
- 1 pound egg tagliatelle
- EVOO, for drizzling
- Grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, for passing at the table
Preparation
In a small saucepan, bring the stock and saffron to a simmer over medium-high. Reduce the heat to low; let the saffron steep in the stock while you heat up the pasta water and start the sauce.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta.
In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp. olive oil, one turn of the pan, over medium-high. Add the sausage and cook, stirring often and breaking up with a spoon, until browned, about 6 minutes. Transfer the sausage to a paper towel-lined plate. Add the remaining 1 tbsp. oil, one turn of the pan, to the skillet. Add the asparagus and cook, stirring often, until lightly browned, 2 to 3 minutes. Add the shallots, thyme, garlic and lemon zest; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the shallots soften, 1 or 2 minutes more. Stir in the wine, then the saffron stock. In a small bowl, using a fork or your fingers, knead the butter and flour together until completely combined; whisk into the sauce. Return the sausage to the skillet, reduce the heat to low and let simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens, about 2 minutes.
Salt the boiling water, add the pasta and cook until almost al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking water; drain the pasta. Add the pasta and the cooking water to the sauce; toss to combine. Season, then drizzle with EVOO. Pass the cheese at the table for topping.
