Rapini (broccoli rabe)

[madamejames]

Hi all,
I just bought a bunch of this stuff. I've never used it, but it looked intriguing and healthy. Any ideas for preparation? All I'm finding is to boil it, then sauté it in olive oil with garlic, etc. Does anyone have an out-of-this-world recipe to share?

 

[Robo410]

It is a bitter green and benefits from a boiling salt water blanche and then a shock in ice water to set the green color. Traditionally sauteed with garlic and olive oil and also chili flakes and Italian sausage. Sometimes served as such with pasta and some grated cheese. Its flavor retains just a hint of bitterness and a really great nutty broccoli flavor without the boredom of modern broccoli. I think it is awesome stuff! good in soups and stews too.

 

[madamejames]

Rapini

Thanks Robo410. It sounds good. Especially the pasta and grated cheese idea. I have some wonderful Comté cheese that I bet will be GREAT with it. (No pun intended, sorry!)

 

[Maverick2272]

This is the first I have heard of this stuff, what exactly is it and is it readily available at the local fruit and veggie mart? I have some familiarity with greens but not much, my wife has just recently gotten into soul food and taken off with the greens.
Thanks!

 

[StirBlue]

It is a bitter green and benefits from a boiling salt water blanche and then a shock in ice water to set the green color. Traditionally sauteed with garlic and olive oil and also chili flakes and Italian sausage. Sometimes served as such with pasta and some grated cheese. Its flavor retains just a hint of bitterness and a really great nutty broccoli flavor without the boredom of modern broccoli. I think it is awesome stuff! good in soups and stews too.

When do you add it to soups & stews? Most peppers will become bitter the longer they cook. I generally add broccoli to soups like cheddar just before serving. (I peel, chop and steam the stems till tender and use them to round out some soups that don't have much texture.)

 

[Aera]

I have used this with pasta dishes. It does get boiled. Its been a while but I believe it was for a very short time. After I boil it I remove it from water and strain, then in the same boiling water that is now tinted somewhat green, I would boil the pasta. When pasta was done I would mix pasta and rabe together along with some olive oil, crushed garlic, fresh grated parmesan cheese, sundried tomatoes and sliced kalamata olives. I thought it was pretty tasty, and you can just about put any ingredients that you like or any favorite pesto you may have.

 

[BreezyCooking]

Ahhh - one of my all-time favorite vegetables, & one that I grow several Italian varieties of every year in my garden. In fact, at this moment I have a nice big crisp bunch of it I picked up at the market the other day. It needs more of a "blanch" then a "boil". Just trim the ends, slice the rest into 1"-2" pieces & add to boiling water for 2-3 minutes, depending on the thickness of the stems. Sometimes I'll add the stem pieces for the 1st two minutes, & then add the more leafy pieces & the florets for the last minute. Drain & then proceed with your recipe.

Here's my own favorite recipe for using it:

BROCCOLI RAAB (aka Rapini) WITH PASTA & SAUSAGE (or shrimp)

One bunch broccoli raab, trimmed of tough stalks & roughly chopped
One box Farfalle (bowtie) pasta
One package hot Italian turkey sausage, sliced into bite-size pieces -or- one pound shrimp, shelled
3-4 cloves of garlic, peeled & roughly chopped
Extra-virgin olive oil
Crushed red pepper flakes & salt to taste
Grated parmesan cheese to taste (optional)

Bring large pot of water to a boil & add broccoli raab. Blanch for 2-3 minutes & remove with a slotted spoon or spider to a bowl & set aside. Add pasta to same water & cook according to package directions (al dente stage). Pour into colander to drain.

In a large skillet, heat a few dollops of olive oil & saute sausage slices (or shrimp) until just cooked thru. Add chopped garlic, stir a few times, then add in broccoli raab, crushed red pepper flakes, & salt to taste. Add in pasta & stir gently until combined & just heated thru. (If skillet isn't large enough to hold all the pasta, then use pasta cooking pot for final combining.) Serve with grated parmesan.

And here's another really good one we've enjoyed from Eating Well magazine:

Broccoli Rabe, White Bean & Fontina Pasta - Eating Well

And for even more ideas, check out the "Andy Boy" site. They provide pretty much all the broccoli raab in the markets here in Virginia:

Andy Boy: Products: Broccoli Rabe News

Enjoy!!

 

[madamejames]

Thanks Aera and BreezyCooking. Trying it tonight as I'm snowed in and want to serve a nice warm supper.

 

[BreezyCooking]

And not to ignore Maverick's question!!

Broccoli Raab - aka Rapini - is, in a way, a separate form of "sprouting broccoli", in that it doesn't form a large head, but little shoots, & in that the flavor is more intense. Also, the leaves & stems are a full part of the vegetable, unlike regular broccoli (although regular broccoli stems & leaves are edible too). It's a slightly bitter - but not severely so - vegetable.

Easy to grow in spring & fall (like other brassicas it likes cool weather & is best grown as a cool-weather "green"), it's a terrific & nutritious vegetable (although kids may not like it - lol). Check out the Andy Boy site I linked above for more info.

 

[Maverick2272]

Thanks so much!
I copied the recipe as well, and after skimming it just need to pick some up and replenish my stock of EVOO, I have everything else. When we go to the store in the next couple of days to replenish our salad stock we will pick some up and give it a try.