Sausage, Mozzarella, and Broccoli Rabe with Shells

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 large onion chopped
• 3 sprigs thyme
• coarse salt and ground pepper
• 2 garlic cloves chopped
• 3 links spicy Italian sausage (3/4 pound total) casings removed
• 1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
• 1 can (28 ounces) whole peeled tomatoes
• 8 ounces medium shell pasta
• 1 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1 pound) coarsely chopped
• 6 ounces fresh mozzarella cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan

Instructions

1. 1
   Preheat oven to 400 degrees. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add onion and thyme; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until onion is golden brown, about 15 minutes (reduce heat if browning too quickly).
2. 2
   Add garlic and sausage. Cook, breaking meat up with a wooden spoon, until browned, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, 30 seconds. Add tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon. Cook sauce until slightly thickened, 5 to 8 minutes; season with salt and pepper. Discard thyme.
3. 3
   Meanwhile, in a large pot of boiling salted water, cook pasta 4 minutes less than package instructions. Add broccoli to pot and cook 15 seconds. Drain pasta and broccoli and return to pot. Stir in sausage mixture. Transfer to a 3-quart baking dish or divide among four 16-ounce gratin dishes. Top with mozzarella and Parmesan. Bake until cheese has melted and liquid is bubbling, about 15 minutes.