Orecchiette With Fennel and Sausage Recipe (2024)

I am now staying at home because of COVID-19 and did not have mascarpone cheese and was certainly not going out just to get it. You can use cream cheese instead (didn't have that either) but sour cream, especially with a tablespoon of cream (I bet yogurt would do in a pinch) was what I used. This was extremely tasty and comforting!

I added a squeeze of lemon right at the end and it really brightened it up. I was skeptical that the fennel fronds were necessary but they were also a really nice addition.

Really, really good. Used more sausage and mascarpone and a fewer noodles. Delicious.

I followed the cooking notes (more mascarpone and pasta water, added red pepper flakes and white wine, finished with a spritz of lemon juice) and this turned out really good! My one addition not suggested by other notes was a handful of frozen baby peas. I used lots of the fresh parsley and fennel fronds, so I didn't even need to grated pecorino. Since I had difficulty finding orecchiette, I substituted a funky radiatori. Tasty, easy to prep, quick meal.

loved this. would recommend just adding a bit more mascarpone and a dusting of additional spices like crushed red pepper, oregano, etc.

Made this tonight, very tasty. Deglazed the pan with a little white wine before adding the sausage back in and added a squoze of lemon at the end to up the acid. Also put a shake of red pepper flakes in with the veggies because who doesn’t love a little extra kick!

I used tarragon instead of parsley and found it to be a very suitable substitute.

Loved this dish! Such a pantry/fridge use up for me this week. I ended up taking the sausage out of the casing instead of chopping it up after cooking but it still ended up being great. The cheese was soooo needed and made a great sauce. My husband loved it!

Used shells, red onion, and dried parsley b/c that is what I had. I did not have any pecorino and it did not matter. Really delicious and easy. This will be a repeat!

Pandemic note: Grocery store did not have funnel, so I used 2 leeks, some ground fennel seed in addition to the whole seed, less pasta and more mascarpone. Great!

Didn’t have mascarpone so used creme fraiche instead which worked well. Think I should have added a squeeze of lemon at the end, would have been a nice lift. Delicious but quite rich.

This recipe as written you is perfect. Huge hit here on a cold rainy night. AND dinner came in at around 10$ with leftovers. During this unemployed time, I'm a big fan.

I made this with Hot Italian Beyond Sausage (vegetable protein) and followed recommendations to increase the marscapone and add a squeeze of lemon. It was awesome comfort food on a cold, rainy day.

I made this during pandemic and loved it became part of the regular rotation at our house. Just use the whole package of the mascarpone.

Delicious! I used the full pound of orecchiette and doubled the mascarpone, used basil instead of parsley because it’s what I had, and substituted Beyond hot Italian “sausage”. Will definitely make this again, great recipe!

Hubby esp. liked. Used hot It sausage. Generous servings. Used feta instead of mascarpone. Lacked parsley.

Fiddled with proportions: 8oz pasta, 2 fennel bulbs (3 cups), 1/2# sausage (loose)…everything else the same. Feeds 4.

Added basil instead of parsley. Also more mascarpone.

I cut the pasta down to 10oz for 4 people and that was enough. Also I tripled the mascarpone so it was richer/creamier.

So tasty! I used Banza cavatappi, my favorite gf pasta. Like others, I added the juice of half a lemon. I wish I’d held back more pasta water as leftovers will be a bit dry.

Used two fennel bulb

This was delicious! Using what I had on hand, made the following updates:- Turkey sausage, loose- 1.5 Tbls fennel seed- Broccoli, cut into small florets, instead of fresh fennel- 3/4 tsp crushed red pepper- 1/2 cup mascarpone- 1/2 cup dry white wineBrowned sausage, added the garlic, onion, fennel seeds, and crushed pepper, cooking until fragrant. deglazed pan with white wine & 1/2 cup of pasta water. Added broccoli, put lid on pan & let steam until bright green. Continue with recipe.

Followed the notes and doubled onion and fennel, deglazed with 1/2 cup white wine, 1/2 c crème fraiche instead of marscapone, and added 8 oz baby spinach with the herbs at the end. Delicious

With broccolini!

Mild. I should have tried the squeeze of lemon!

More marscapone, tarragon for parsley, red pepper flakes, my god

I made this today and I learned that if I followed the recipe to boil the pasta later to use right away, they wouldn't stick to each other the way mine did! Nevertheless, this is a very good recipe. I am sure we added more mascarpone than what the recipe called for but it made the dish so rich and tasty. I also threw in some toasted pine nuts for extra flavors! All and all, a good recipe and one I will use over and over. Thanks Florence!

I didn’t realize this called for link sausage, and I used bulk hot Italian, and cream cheese mixed with a little sour cream in place of the creme fraiche. It was delish! And easy for a weeknight.