Sweet Sausage and Smoked Mozzarella Pasta

Smoked mozzarella is very different from fresh ones.  The taste is intense and very meaty, whereas the fresh ones are sweet and very clean tasting to the palette.

The combination of dried tomatoes packed in olive oil and sweet sausages is amazing.

I like my smoked mozzarella to be cubed because this way some will still be in chunks.  The taste of this cheese is unlike all the other cheeses I have tasted.  This is now one of my favorite pasta dish because of the flavors.  These are all strong flavored ingredients but they somehow all work well together in this dish.


Ingredients

• 1/2 pound Penne
• 1/2 cup smoked mozzarella, cubed
• 6 dried tomatoes in olive oil, chopped
• 4 cooked sweet sausages, sliced
• 1 bunch broccoli 
• 1 cup milk
• 1/2 cup pasta water
• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon flour
• 3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Cook pasta as instructed, add the broccoli the last 2 minutes before the pasta is cooked.
2. Melt butter then add flour and cook for about 1 minute to get the raw flour taste out.
3. Slowly stir in milk and pasta water. Keep whisking until the flour is dissolved.
4. Add smoked mozzarella and simmer for about 6 minutes until half the cheese are melted.
5. Add dried tomatoes, sausages, parsley and broccoli. Cook for 2 minutes to combine the flavors
6. Add pasta and combine everything. Serve right away.