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Pasta alla norcina
Sausage and cream pasta
Pasta alla norcina: Norcia's pork sausage and cream pasta with pecorino
ItalianNorcia, in the mountains of eastern Umbria, has been famous for centuries for its pork butchers, so much so that across central Italy a pork butcher's shop is still called a norcineria. Their pasta is a celebration of the local pork sausage, crumbled and fried, then simmered with a little cream and finished with pecorino. In winter it often comes with shaved black truffle from the same hills. It is quick, rich and very filling. Alcohol is used here: a splash of white wine, which you can swap for pasta water. Chef's tip: take the sausage out of its casing and fry it in small crumbs until really browned; those caramelised bits are where the flavour is.
- Total time
- 30 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp coarse saltfor the pasta water
- 12 ½ oz good pork sausagesskins removed
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ small onionfinely chopped
- ¼ cup dry white wineor extra pasta water
- ¾ cup double cream
- 1 ¾ oz pecorinograted
- ½ tsp black pepper
- ⅓ oz black truffle (optional)shaved, or a few drops of truffle oil
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Method
0/6 doneStep 1: Bring a large pan of water to the boil with 1 tbsp coarse salt.
Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a wide pan over a medium-high heat. Crumble in 12 ½ oz good pork sausages and cook for 6–8 minutes, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned, with no pink left and at least 160°F. Common mistake: stirring too much; let it sit so it browns.
8 minStep 3: Add ½ small onion and cook for 3 minutes, until soft. Pour in ¼ cup dry white wine, if using, and let it bubble for 1 minute. The alcohol cooks off; use pasta water if you'd rather.
4 minStep 4: Cook 14 oz short pasta such as rigatoni, penne or strozzapreti until al dente. Keep a mug of pasta water.
11 minStep 5: Stir ¾ cup double cream into the sausage and simmer for 2 minutes, until slightly thickened.
2 minStep 6: Toss in the drained pasta with a splash of pasta water, then off the heat stir in 1 ¾ oz pecorino and ½ tsp black pepper until creamy. Top with ⅓ oz black truffle, if using, and serve.
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 720 kcal
- Protein
- 30 g
- Carbs
- 76 g
- Fat
- 34 g
- Fibre
- 3 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does pasta alla norcina take?
- About 30 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 20 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- What can I use instead of small onion?
- 2 shallots per onion.
- What can I use instead of dry white wine?
- Stock with 1 tsp white wine vinegar per 120ml (½ cup).
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