Pear Alfredo with Crispy Sausage

DinnerLambVegetarianOne-PotBreakfast & Brunch

Mar 7

This is the ultimate cozy dinner: al dente orecchiette pasta tossed in a creamy, pear-infused Alfredo sauce with a hint of rosemary. Topped with crispy Italian sausage and wilted kale, this dish is a perfect balance of sweet, savory, and hearty.

Pear Alfredo with Crispy Sausage

Servings: 4

Prep Time: 10 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Ingredients:

1 pound orecchiette pasta
2 tablespoons butter
2 firm Bartlett pears, peeled and diced (½″)
2 sprigs fresh rosemary, chopped
1 teaspoon coarse salt
½ cup white wine
2 cups heavy cream
¾ cup Pecorino Romano, grated
Ground black pepper, to taste
2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
8 oz Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
2 cups kale, chopped

Instructions:

Cook the Pasta: In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook the orecchiette according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
Cook the Sausage & Kale: Heat a large frying pan over medium-high. Add garlic and cook until fragrant (30–60 seconds). Add sausage and cook until browned and crispy (8–10 minutes). Stir in chopped kale and cook 2–3 minutes until wilted. Remove sausage-kale mixture and drain on paper towel-lined plate.
Make the Sauce: In the same pan, melt butter over medium-high. Add pears, rosemary, and salt; sauté for 2–3 minutes. Pour in white wine and cook until reduced. Add cream and simmer 8–10 minutes until thickened. Turn off heat and stir in Pecorino Romano.
Combine: Return pasta to pot and pour cream sauce over. Toss to coat, adding reserved pasta water as needed to achieve creamy consistency. Serve topped with sausage-kale mixture, black pepper, and extra cheese if desired.