Bring a large pot of well-salted water to the boil.

Cut off and discard the lower part of the broccoli rabe stems, leaving the broccoli about 8 inches long. Remove any large tough leaves. If the stems are very thick, you can peel the lower part with a vegetable peeler. Removing the peel takes out some of the bitterness. Cut the stems into roughly 2-inch lengths. Wash the broccoli and set it aside to dry in a salad spinner or colander.

Remove the casings from the sausage and crumble it. In a large skillet heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage meat and cook until the sausage is no longer pink, about 7 - 10 minutes. When the sausage is brown and just cooked through, remove it with a slotted spoon onto a plate and set aside.

If there’s fat in the pan, pour it out and add a couple of tablespoons of olive oil. Add the garlic, pepper flakes and beans and cook until the garlic is fragrant, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Add the pasta to the boiling water, stir well and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, according to the package directions.

In the skillet with the garlic, add the broccoli rabe and toss it until it begins to wilt. Cover the pan and steam the broccoli until wilted and bright green, about 4 minutes. Taste and season lightly with salt and pepper. (if the broccoli is getting too dry and starting to brown, add a few tablespoons of the pasta water).

When the pasta is ready, drain it, but reserve about a cup of the cooking water. Add the pasta to the broccoli mixture and add back the sausage and about a 1/2 cup of grated cheese. Stir and toss well over low heat to combine, adjusting the consistency by adding some of the cooking water, a little at a time, as needed.

Divide the pasta among bowls, top each portion with a sprinkle of cheese and a little drizzle of your best olive oil.