Sausage & fennel orecchiette

• leek↗1

  halved and finely sliced

• fennel bulb↗1 small

  halved and finely sliced, fronds reserved

• broccoli↗250g long-stemmed g

  larger stalks finely sliced

• orecchiette300g g

  or any short pasta

• olive oil↗1 tbsp tbsp
• sausages↗6
• garlic cloves↗2

  finely chopped

• fennel seeds2 tsp tsp
• tomato purée↗1 tbsp tbsp
• carrots↗2

  grated

• chopped tomatoes400g can g

Step-by-step instructions

1. 1

   Boil a large pan of salted water, turn the heat down to medium, then add the leek, sliced fennel and broccoli, and simmer for 3 mins until tender. Lift the veg out of the water using a slotted spoon, drain and set aside. Keep the pan of water on the heat, add the orecchiette and cook for around 11 mins, or until tender but still retaining some bite.

2. 2

   Meanwhile, put a large frying pan over a high heat, add the olive oil and squeeze the sausagemeat out of the skins, tearing it into small pieces in the pan using a wooden spoon. Fry for 3-4 mins until golden brown and almost cooked, then add the garlic, fennel seeds and tomato purée, and fry for 30 seconds until aromatic. Add the blanched veg and grated carrot, and cook for another 4 mins. Tip in the tomatoes, bring to the boil, then simmer for around 4 mins until reduced slightly.

3. 3

   Drain the pasta, reserving a cup of pasta water, and toss the pasta in the pan with the sausage and tomato sauce, adding a splash of pasta water to loosen. Season and serve with the reserved fennel fronds scattered over the top.