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Recipes

Mark Gowen’s Casarecce in Cavolo Nero Sauce with Chorizo

Home cook Mark Gowan shares his winter-inspired pasta, a cozy mix of cavolo nero, chorizo and fresh pasta that proves how easy it is to adapt ingredients into a rich and flavorful meal.

10:00 AM EST on November 25, 2025

Mark Gowen's Casarecce pasta in a creamy cavolo nero sauce topped with sliced chorizo and peas

Mark Gowen’s Casarecce pasta in a creamy cavolo nero sauce topped with sliced chorizo and peas.

Today's stories are presented by
Lioni Holiday Comforts banner
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Lioni

Lioni is a brand famed for its fresh mozzarella, produced in the United States and loyal to Italian cheese-making traditions. Founded in Italy, the family-owned business moved to Brooklyn in 1980, growing into the eminent source of fresh, whole milk mozzarella cheese, beloved by chefs and home cooks from coast to coast.
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This is a recreation of a self-catering meal I cooked when I was on holiday on the Isle of Wight in the middle of winter. I’ve included it here to show you how easy and fun it can be to adapt recipes using the ingredients you have on hand. If I’d been able to find it, I would have used ‘nduja and made a drizzle to add to the finished pasta, but there wasn’t any to be found anywhere so chorizo was the next best alternative.

The chorizo was from UK supermarket Marks & Spencers, and the onions and cavolo nero were from the fantastic Harvey Browns food hall in Arreton on the Isle of Wight. I’ve become slightly addicted to tracking down more local farm shops and markets when I’m on holiday, where you can often find a great selection of locally sourced meat and vegetables along with international staples.

Casarecce in Cavolo Nero Sauce with Chorizo

Recipe by Mark Gowen
0.0 from 0 votes
Servings

4

servings
Prep time

30

minutes
Cooking time

40

minutes

Ingredients

  • 7 oz. 7 cooking chorizo

  • 1 1 medium onion

  • 8 8 leaves of cavolo nero / kale

  • 5.3 oz. 5.3 lager

  • large handful of frozen peas

  • parmesan

  • extra virgin olive oil

  • 17 oz. 17  fresh casarecce

Directions

  • Begin by chopping the onion finely and frying gently in EVO. When it’s tender, set it aside.
  • Fry the chorizo in some beer and then cut it into small slivers.
  • Remove the stalks from the cavolo and boil the leaves for a couple of minutes, then fish them out and pat them dry.
  • Boil the pasta and half way through the cooking time, throw in some frozen peas.
  • Blend the cavolo and onions with a handful of parmesan and some EVO and a little of the pasta water to make a sauce. 
  • Transfer the cooked casarecce and peas to a tossing pan with the sauce and toss to combine.
  •  Plate with the chorizo sprinkled on the top of each portion.

Notes

  • MANTECATURA: light

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Today's stories are presented by
Lioni Holiday Comforts banner
Lioni ad

Lioni

Lioni is a brand famed for its fresh mozzarella, produced in the United States and loyal to Italian cheese-making traditions. Founded in Italy, the family-owned business moved to Brooklyn in 1980, growing into the eminent source of fresh, whole milk mozzarella cheese, beloved by chefs and home cooks from coast to coast.
Learn More →

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