Ingredients
500g good quality Italian pork sausages
extra virgin olive oil
salt flakes
freshly ground black pepper
3 sticks celery, finely sliced
4 cloves garlic, finely sliced
1 brown onion, finely diced
1 fresh bay leaf
250ml dry white wine
1 litre good quality chicken stock (unsalted)
6-8 preserved artichokes, cut in half (see recipe below)
500g conchiglie or other short pasta
1/2 bunch mint, picked
1/2 cup fresh or frozen peas
100g pecorino, finely grated
Method
1. Remove the skins from the sausages and roll the meat into balls about the size of a 20-cent piece to make polpette.
2. In a wide-based pan, add a good slug of oil and brown the polpette well all over, about five minutes. Season lightly and lift out of the pan.
3. Add the celery, garlic, onion and bay leaf to the pan (with a splash of oil if necessary) and cook until well caramelised, about 15 minutes.
4. Return the polpette to the pan, add the wine, stir through and reduce by two thirds. Add the stock and 500ml of water and simmer quickly for 30 minutes.
5. Add the artichokes and simmer for another 20 minutes - the liquid should be reduced by two thirds.
6. Cook the pasta until just al dente, drain quickly and add to the pot. Tear in the mint and add the peas, stir through and cook for about one minute. Check the seasoning, add half the cheese, mix through and serve with the remaining cheese on the side.
Drink: A richly styled verdicchio
