Home

Rigatoni with Spinach, Sausage, and Robiola

17/11/2023

Rigatoni with spinach, sausage, and Robiola is a creamy and flavorful first course that expertly blends the rustic flavors of meat and the creaminess of the cheese with the freshness of spinach. Here is the recipe:

Ingredients

  • 320 g of rigatoni
  • 200 g of fresh sausage
  • 150 g of Robiola cheese
  • 200 g of fresh spinach (or frozen if not available fresh)
  • 1 clove of garlic
  • Extra virgin olive oil
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Grated Parmesan (optional)
  • Nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

  1. Start by cleaning the spinach: if using fresh, wash them under running water and dry them. If opting for frozen spinach, follow the instructions on the package to defrost and heat them.

  2. Heat a large pan with a drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and a clove of garlic. Once browned, you can remove the garlic and add the crumbled sausage.

  3. Sauté the sausage until it becomes crispy, then add the spinach. If needed, add a pinch of salt, pepper, and grated nutmeg. Let it cook for a few minutes so the spinach can flavor.

  4. While preparing the sauce, bring a pot of salted water to a boil to cook the rigatoni. Follow the instructions on the package for cooking time, to drain them al dente.

  5. Once the sausage and spinach are ready, reduce the heat and add the Robiola, stirring until you get a smooth and homogeneous cream.

  6. Drain the rigatoni al dente and transfer them to the pan with the sausage, spinach, and Robiola sauce, stirring everything over medium heat to allow the flavors to blend.

  7. If necessary, add some pasta cooking water to make the sauce more fluid.

  8. Serve the rigatoni hot, with a sprinkling of grated Parmesan on top if desired.

Curiosity

Robiola is a soft and spreadable Italian cheese that is well suited to creamy recipes like this one. Its origin is ancient, dating back to Roman times, and it is typical of the regions in Northern Italy, particularly Piedmont and Lombardy. Its creamy texture and delicate flavor make it perfect for creating a beautiful cream without the use of heavy cream, for a lighter result that is equally flavorful.

Rigatoni with Spinach, Sausage, and Robiola