When people think pesto, they think basil. But I like to mix pesto up and use broccoli rabe—one of my very favorite vegetables. Broccoli rabe makes a delicious starting point for pesto. Add some sharp cheese and pistachios and you’ve got an amazing way to transform an old classic. I stick with a traditional combo—bitter rabe and sweet sausage over orecchiette (translated as “little ear”)—but I tweak it just enough to make it fresh and fabulous!

　　

Ingredients

serves: 4 to 6

　　

for the pesto

Kosher salt

　　2 bunches of broccoli rabe, tough lower stems removed, coarsely chopped into 1-inch lengths

　　1/2 cup chopped pistachios

　　3/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano

　　Extra virgin olive oil

　　1/4 cup mascarpone

　　

for the pasta

Extra virgin olive oil

　　1/2 pound Italian sausage, sweet or spicy, casings removed

　　1 pound orecchiette

　　Big fat finishing oil

　　Freshly grated Parmigiano

　　

FOR THE PESTO

Step 1

Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Drop the rabe into the water, give it a swish, and remove it immediately, saving the water to cook your pasta in later.

　　

Step 2

Reserve a cup of the rabe. Toss the rest in a food processor and pulse, pulse, pulse until you have a coarse paste. Add the pistachios and Parm and purée until smooth. If it seems dry, drizzle in a little olive oil while the machine is running. Add the mascarpone and pulse until combined; taste for seasoning. It should be slightly bitter, nutty, and creamy at the same time. Reserve.

　　

FOR THE PASTA

Step 3

Coat a large sauté pan with olive oil and bring to medium-high heat. Add the sausage, using a spoon to break it up, and cook until brown and crumbly, 8 to 10 minutes.

　　

Step 4

Bring your broccoli rabe water back to a boil and toss in the pasta, cooking for 1 minute less than the package recommends. Drain the pasta and add it, along with 1/2 cup reserved pasta cooking water, the reserved rabe, and two-thirds of the pesto, to the pan with the sausage. Stir to combine and cook until the water evaporates and the pesto is clinging to the pasta. Remove from the heat, drizzle with some big fat finishing oil, sprinkle with more Parm, and stir vigorously to combine. Divide among bowls and serve immediately.

　　Cook Like a Rock Star