Rope Sausage with Roasted Peppers & Broccoli Rabe
Photography by Kate Mathis
Recipe by Rachael Ray
- 4Servings
Ingredients
4 large red field peppers (rectangle-shaped red bell peppers) or other sweet red bell peppers
Salt
2 bunches broccoli rabe, tough ends trimmed by 2 to 3 inches
1 1/2 to 2 lb. sweet Italian chicken or pork thin-rope sausage (the kind sold in spirals) with fennel
5 tbsp. olive oil
1 small red or white onion, thinly sliced
4 cloves garlic, peeled and thinly sliced
1 tbsp. Calabrian chile paste or 1 tsp. crushed red pepper
1/2 cup white wine, dry (white) vermouth, or chicken stock
Preparation
1. Preheat the broiler to high or turn a stovetop gas burner to high. Char the peppers, turning occasionally, until blackened all over, 10 to 12 minutes. Place in a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Let rest until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, in a large deep skillet, bring a few inches of water to a boil. Prepare a large bowl of ice water. Salt the boiling water and add the broccoli rabe. Cook until crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Drain and add to the ice water. Let cool. Drain, then spread out the broccoli rabe on a kitchen towel to dry. Wipe out and reserve the skillet.
3. Nest the rope sausage in another skillet. Add a thin layer of water (about 1/8 inch). Add 1 tbsp. oil, one turn of the pan. Using a fork, pierce the sausage casing a few times. Bring the water to a boil over high. Reduce heat to medium-high. Cook until the water evaporates, about 5 minutes. Continue cooking the sausage, carefully turning once, until cooked through, browned, and crisp, about 16 minutes.
4. Meanwhile, in the first skillet, heat the remaining 4 tbsp. oil, four turns of the pan, over medium to medium-high. Add the onion, garlic, and chile paste. Cook, stirring often, until softened, about 3 minutes. Add the wine. Cook until reduced by half, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe and cook, tossing to coat, until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes. Season with salt.
5. Using a paper towel, rub the skins off the peppers. Quarter and seed the peppers.
6. Arrange the broccoli rabe on a platter. Tuck in the peppers. Top with the sausage.
Rach’s Tip: Peeling the peppers with a paper towel helps prevent getting charred skins under your nails.
