Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Wagon Wheel Pasta With Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

What a fun pasta!!!! Who use to play with their food?

Does anyone remember these? Or still use them. Wagon Wheel Pasta (Or Rotelle Pasta) was a childhood favorite in our household.
The only thing missing is that warm hot crusty Italian Bread! A glass of dry white wine will go nice with this dish.

Fresh tomatoes, tomato paste and white wine simmered to perfection!
The kids will love these~


The flavors of Broccoli Rabe sauteed in extra virgin olive oil, garlic with the sausage and beans give this a wonderful robust flavor to the sauce.


Wagon Wheel Pasta was a fun favorite as a kid, mom used to use these in soup all the time. Half of them would get wheeled around the table.



I love using fresh tomatoes, but if you can't use them canned is fine, pick all-natural for the best flavors or with added spices.







1 16 oz box of Wagon Wheels pasta
2 cans Northern White Beans (or prepared Fresh Beans )
1 clove of minced garlic
1 pound Italian sausage links sliced
1 pound can of diced tomatoes with basil and oregano added (or add your own spices about 1/2 teaspoon each) or 4 fresh plum tomatoes and add your own spices to taste)
1 can of tomato paste


1 cup water
1/2 cup white wine
1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
1/4 teaspoon cayenne, black pepper, and salt
fresh basil
2 cans of chicken broth
1 lb of Broccoli Rabe( washed, stalk cut off, boiled till tender, water squeezed out set aside.)
In a large frypan saute broccoli rabe, sausage in olive oil, and minced garlic. After the sausage is almost brown add beans to get garlic to flavor the beans. Add the tomatoes, wine, chicken broth, tomato paste, and water, add extra water if this gets too thick let simmer for 30 minutes.
Meanwhile cook wagon wheels pasta in boiling salted water, separately to package instructions al denti.
Pour the tomato sauce mixture over the wagon wheels, and serve with grated cheese, and fresh basil.