Italian Artichoke & Sausage Pasta

This Italian Artichoke & Sausage Pasta is tasty, quick and easy dinner idea. The perfect pasta recipe for weeknight or weekend.

People ask Pasta or Pizza and believe me that’s a tricky question. I honestly love them both. But there is nothing like a quick and easy Pasta dish or a Creamy Baked Pasta or even a Traditional Lasagna!

How to make it

In a large pan add the olive oil, garlic, artichokes, spices and water.

Cook covered until almost all the water evaporates and the artichokes are almost tender. Add the chopped Italian sausage a little water and cook on medium heat until cooked through.

Add the cooked al dent pasta and a little pasta water, cook tossing constantly on high heat for about 30 seconds.

Serve immediately sprinkled with parmesan cheese if desired.

What is Italian Sausage?

It is a sausage made with pork. It comes in a sweet, mild and hot types. Sweet and mild are usually flavoured with fennel and garlic. Hot Italian sausage also contains the same spices but includes a little hot pepper.

Fresh or frozen artichokes?

You can use either fresh or frozen artichokes in this recipe, just be sure to quarter the artichokes, if you use fresh you can also use the stems if they are tender, chop them into smaller pieces before using.

How to clean fresh artichokes

1. Artichokes can darken your hands, so you can either wear gloves or rub your hands with lemon juice.
2. Before you start to clean the artichokes, fill a large bowl with cold water, and the juice from one lemon.
3. Then remove the tougher outer leaves, until you reach the more tender ones.
4. Cut the top, removing about 1 inch or 2-3 cm off the top.
5. Cut off the stem and trim to about 2-3 inches, clean with a sharp paring knife by removing the outer tough peel (place clean artichokes and stem in the bowl of water as you go).
6. Depending on what you are making with the artichokes, you can remove the choke either by slicing them in half and removing it with a sharp paring knife, or leaving them whole and using either a spoon or knife to remove it. For this recipe I quartered the artichokes.
7. As this point you can proceed with the recipe or place the cleaned artichokes in freezer bags and freeze.

How to cook pasta

Always cook the pasta in enough water, you will need 4 cups (1 litre) for 3 1/2 ounces (100 grams) of pasta. Be sure to choose the correct size pot, you don’t want the water to reach the rim and overflow, because pasta, when cooked, can increase in volume up to three times. Always cover the pot when boiling the water, but remove it once the pasta has been added.

Calculate about 7 g of salt for every litre of water. Add the salt only when the water has reached a boil and never before.

After adding the pasta to the pot, bring it back to a boil and keep it at a boil while the pasta is cooking. This allows the pasta to achieve an even cooking, be sure to stir frequently while it is cooking.

Never pass the freshly drained pasta under running tap water. You should never stop the cooking, even when you are making a cold pasta salad, let it cool by adding a drizzle of olive oil to prevent it from sticking.

Drain the pasta al dente, this is done by tasting, if it has a bite to it it’s ready, nothing worse than mushy pasta. If you have to toss the pasta in a pan with sauce (like this recipe) then cook it at least one minute less (pasta very al dente). And be sure to leave some pasta water to add to the pan.

Calculate dry to cooked pasta

For my pasta recipes I indicate cooked pasta. Therefore 1 cup (200 grams) of cooked pasta is approximately 1/2 cup (50 grams) of dry pasta.

How to store it

In Italy pasta is served at lunch, therefore I always make enough for leftovers, I store it in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days. You can re-heat it on the stove, adding a little water (pasta water if available) and heat through.

So if you are looking to make something with a few in season artichokes or frozen, then I hope you give this Italian Artichoke & Sausage Pasta a try and let me know how it goes. Buon Appetito!