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Spaghetti with Sausage, Fennel Seed and Broccolini

Spaghetti with Sausage, Fennel Seed and Broccolini

By Diane UngerApril 7, 2020

  • Makes
    4-6 servings
  • Cook Time
    40 minutes
  • Active time plus cooling
    15 minutes active
  • Rating

For this one-pot pasta dish, use either hot or sweet Italian sausage, or a mixture if you prefer. And you can up the red pepper flakes for added spice. To give the pasta a meatier, more savory quality, substitute 1 quart of low-sodium chicken broth for 4 cups of the water, but in that case, reduce the salt to ¼ teaspoon. The broccolini is added at the very end, so to be efficient, prep it while the pot comes up to pressure.

Tip

Don't forget to break the spaghetti in half so the strands lay flat in the pot. And when adding the pasta, make sure no pieces poke above the surface of the liquid. All of the pasta must be submerged to cook properly.

Ingredients
  • 1

    pound hot or sweet Italian sausage, casing removed

  • 2

    tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided, plus more to serve

  • 6

    medium garlic cloves, finely grated

  • 2

    tablespoons fennel seeds

  • ½

    teaspoon red pepper flakes

  • Kosher salt and ground black pepper

  • 1

    pound spaghetti, broken in half

  • 8

    ounces broccolini, trimmed and finely chopped

  • 1

    ounce Parmesan cheese, finely grated (½ cup), plus more to serve

Step 1

In a medium bowl, combine the sausage with ⅓ cup water. Stir with a fork until well combined. On a 6-quart Instant Pot, select More/High Sauté.

Add 1 tablespoon of oil and the sausage and cook, stirring and breaking the meat into small pieces, until the sausage is no longer pink, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the garlic, fennel seeds and pepper flakes, then cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add 5 cups water and 1 teaspoon salt; stir to combine, then distribute in an even layer.

Add the pasta, placing the strands horizontally so they lay flat, then press them into the liquid until submerged.

Step 2

Press Cancel, lock the lid in place and move the pressure valve to Sealing. Select Pressure Cook or Manual; make sure the pressure level is set to High. Set the cooking time for 3 minutes.

When pressure cooking is complete, quick-release the steam by moving the pressure valve to Venting. Press Cancel, then carefully open the pot.

Step 3

Using tongs, toss and stir the mixture to separate the strands of pasta, then stir in the broccolini. Re-cover without locking the lid in place and let stand until the broccolini is tender and the pasta is al dente, about 5 minutes.

Stir in the Parmesan and the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Taste and season with salt and pepper, then transfer to a serving dish. Drizzle with oil and serve with additional Parmesan on the side.