{"id":4981,"date":"2020-07-29T06:00:54","date_gmt":"2020-07-29T11:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.slimmingeats.com\/blog\/?p=4981"},"modified":"2026-05-20T12:52:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T17:52:22","slug":"orecchiette-with-smoked-turkey-sausage-and-vegetables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.slimmingeats.com\/blog\/orecchiette-with-smoked-turkey-sausage-and-vegetables","title":{"rendered":"Orecchiette with Smoked Turkey Sausage"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Orecchiette with Smoked Turkey Sausage - delicious bites of smoked sausage in rich tomato sauce with vegetables and orecchiette pasta. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Orecchiette<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Smoked Sausage Pasta<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Smoked sausage pasta is one of the kids favourites, they love the little bites of smokey sausage with a yummy sauce and pasta. To keep it slightly healthier I opt for smoked turkey sausage which is lower in calories and fat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You don't need much either just 2 or 3 sausages depending on their size is plenty for a recipe to serve people when you slice them up to make a pasta dish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Orecchiette Pasta <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

What is orecchiette pasta? It's the name of a particular shape of pasta. Looks like little curled up pasta coins (or ears as some call them) and the size is perfect bite pieces, so popular with kids and adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It can be harder to source than just regular pasta, but is well worth it if you can get some. Regular dried pasta that you purchase at the grocery store often has other ingredients like fortified vitamins and minerals. Dried Orecchiette pasta is usually in the pricier range of pasta and has just basic ingredients of durum wheat, water (and sometimes eggs). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Substitutes for Orecchiette Pasta?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hunted high and low and can't find orecchiette anywhere but would like to try this recipe? Don't worry, any pasta will work. A bite size kind is best, so that you get similar sized pieces of smoked sausage and pasta throughout the dish. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some other varieties I like to use in this recipe are fusilli or penne or even the bow pasta is great too. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Substitutes for Smoked Sausage?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Smoked sausage is usually readily available, turkey however might be harder to source, but a reduced fat smoked sausage will work fine too, just make sure you calculate by whatever smoked sausage you use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regular sausages can be used in this recipe also, I just remove the skin and break up as I cook, but to get that smokey flavour I recommend  adding a pinch of some smoked paprika. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This will also work with some pieces of sliced boneless skinless chicken thighs or shrimp (prawns).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Fresh Herbs or Dried?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Luckily this time of year I have lots of fresh herbs on hand in my garden, as I grow all the main ones that I use regularly in a planter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the colder months though when here in Canada we can often have snow on the ground I have to resort to store bought fresh herbs and I know they can end up pricey if you have to buy a whole bunch for one recipe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fresh will always taste better, but  if you are on a budget and don't want to have added expense, dried herbs will still add those flavours required in the dish. Where I use a tablespoon of fresh you want no more than a teaspoon of dried. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sides for Smoked Turkey Sausage Pasta<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Wondering what sides to serve with this pasta dish? I pretty much always serve any pasta dish with a mixed salad in the middle of the table, that way everyone can help themselves to how much they want.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For this pasta dish I went for the following:<\/p>\n\n\n\n