Shell Pasta with Sausage and Greens

Shell pasta with sausage and greens, made with shell pasta, Italian sausage, and kale or broccoli rabe.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
Learn about Simply Recipes' Editorial Process
Updated May 27, 2022
Elise Bauer
Shell Pasta with Sausage and Greens
Elise Bauer

My father loves to watch cooking shows and is often inspired to try out a new dish he sees prepared on a show. For this recipe he drew inspiration from Chef Joanne Weir, from her cooking program on public television KQED in San Francisco. Joanne Weir used to work at Chez Panisse and now teaches cooking classes in the city.

This simple recipe of pasta, sausage, Parmesan cheese and rabe or kale is very easy to prepare and delicious. We all agreed that it is a keeper!

Shell Pasta with Sausage and Greens
Elise Bauer

Ms. Weir's original recipe calls for broccoli rabe, but kale makes a perfectly fine substitution. Kale can be quite bitter on its own, but included in this dish there is no trace of bitterness. The kale accents the flavors of the sausage and cheese.

Shell Pasta with Sausage and Greens

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 30 mins
Total Time 45 mins
Servings 4 to 6 servings

For extra tang, squeeze a little lemon juice over everything before serving.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450g) shell or conchiglie pasta

  • Salt

  • 1 1/2 cups (350ml) water or chicken stock

  • 12 ounces (340g) Italian sausage, sweet or hot, or a mixture of both

  • 12 ounces (340g) kale, broccoli rabe, or other green, chopped (if using kale, or leafy green, remove and discard center stem)

  • 2 green onions, chopped

  • 6 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon hot red pepper flakes

  • 1/4 cup (25g) fresh Parmesan cheese, grated

Method

  1. Cook pasta in salted water:

    Bring 2 quarts of salted water to a boil (1 tablespoon of salt for 2 quarts of water). Add the pasta and cook as directed on the package, until al dente.

  2. Cook the greens in salted water:

    While pasta is being prepared, heat 1 1/2 cups of water with 1/2 teaspoon of salt in a saucepan until simmering. (Can use chicken stock instead for added flavor). Add the kale or rabe and cook for 8 minutes, or until tender. Strain and set aside.

  3. Lightly brown the sausage:

    While greens are cooking, remove the sausage from their casings (if in links) and crumble onto a large sauté pan. Heat on medium heat and gently cook until lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage from the pan to a bowl, set aside.

  4. Cook green onions and garlic:

    Add the chopped green onions to pan, sauté until soft. Add garlic and cook for a minute more.

  5. Combine pasta, onions, sausage, greens, Parmesan:

    When pasta is done, drain and add to the pan with the green onions. Add the sausage and kale (or rabe) to the pan and toss to combine. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Add chile pepper flakes to taste.

    Note: You might want to try experimenting with adding some sautéed bell pepper.

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
374 Calories
18g Fat
33g Carbs
19g Protein
Show Full Nutrition Label Hide Full Nutrition Label
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4 to 6
Amount per serving
Calories 374
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 18g 23%
Saturated Fat 7g 34%
Cholesterol 38mg 13%
Sodium 693mg 30%
Total Carbohydrate 33g 12%
Dietary Fiber 3g 10%
Total Sugars 3g
Protein 19g
Vitamin C 25mg 127%
Calcium 104mg 8%
Iron 3mg 14%
Potassium 431mg 9%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.