How to Cook Broccoli Rabe

This broccoli rabe recipe is bold, garlicky, and full of character. It’s simple to prepare, and the garlic beautifully balances the natural bitterness of the broccoli rabe, creating a flavorful side dish that really shines. This is an easy, delicious way to cook broccoli rabe so it tastes its very best.

In my opinion, broccoli rabe is an underused vegetable. Is it the bitter flavor that makes people not want to try this vegetable? Or is it that they don’t know how to cook broccoli rabe?

Why broccoli rabe

• It makes a delightful and delicious side dish. The leaves and buds are tender, and the stems have a slight bite to them.
• The veggie is loaded with the vitamins and minerals.  For example, A, C, K, calcium, iron and folate.
• It also has plenty of fiber, antioxidants and phytochemicals which have been shown to prevent heart disease, reduce the risk of cancer and lower cholesterol.
• Since broccoli rabe has a lot of water in it, it will keep you not only stay hydrated, but the fiber content will keep you full longer and help you with elimination.
• Broccoli rabe takes around 5 minutes to cook.  As soon as it begins to darken to a deep green color, it’s done.
• Did you know that this vegetable is also known as rapini?

Here is a great article to read supporting what I stated above.

The broccoli rabe Family

One thing that genuinely surprised me about broccoli rabe is that it’s related to the turnip. I know, shocking. Turnips and I have never been friends, so I never expected to enjoy anything in that family. The only real similarity I notice is the bitterness, which can come through depending on how you prepare it.

That bitterness, though, is exactly what I love about broccoli rabe. It’s bold, assertive, and incredibly flavorful, everything you want in a vegetable side dish. The way I cook it tames the sharp edge just enough, but leaves behind a hint of bitterness that makes it interesting and crave-worthy. I find myself loving that contrast more and more every time I eat it.

Broccoli rabe is definitely a vegetable that grows on you. If the first bite gives you pause, try it again. Chances are, you’ll come back for more and wonder how you ever doubted it in the first place.

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Want a bit of spice to your vegetable? Add a few shakes of red pepper flakes and it will give you the taste you’re looking for.

How to wash broccoli rabe

• Cut the ends of the stalk off and toss them.
• Place the rabe in a colander and run cold water over the vegetable.
• Lay out a few paper towels and place the rabe on them.  Pat the broccoli rabe with another paper towel drying them as best you can.
• Cut the remaining stalks and florets in one-inch long pieces.  Try to keep the florets intact by isolating them and cutting them away from the stalks.

How to cook broccoli rabe

Step one

Wash the broccoli rabe and dry it as best you can. (A)

Step two

While waiting for the rabe to dry a little more, mince the garlic. You could also use garlic paste, which will save you the trouble of mincing.

Step three

Cut the ends of the rabe and then cut the vegetable in 1 – 2 inch pieces. Be careful to keep the flower part whole.

Step four

Take out your wok, sauté pan, or large skillet and turn the heat on medium. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil and let it heat up before adding the rabe to the pan. (B)

Step five

Stir the rabe around to coat it with oil. Sauté for approximately 4 minutes. The color will deepen and the leaves will get softer.

Step six

Add the garlic, salt and pepper and cook for additional 1 minute.

Look at all that garlic in the sautéed broccoli rabe. Yum.

If you are using a cast iron pan, take the vegetable out of it once it has finished cooking because it will continue to cook if you leave it in. You want the stalks to have a little crunch to them.

I transfer the cooked vegetable to the bowl I’m going to serve it in.

I made some delicious gnocchi with butter sage sauce as the main course for this post.

YUM. Broccoli rabe is a perfect complement to gnocchi or to any pasta dish.

I hope you enjoyed this post on how to cook broccoli rabe!

Other vegetables dishes

• Asparagus and shallots
• Baked vegetables
• Roasted acorn squash
• Squash souffle
• Creamed spinach
• Scalloped potatoes

And as always, may all your dishes be delish!

If you’ve tried this or any other recipe on the blog, I’d love the hear what you thought about it in the comments below.  I love hearing from you!  You can also FOLLOW ME on FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM and PINTEREST  to see more of my delicious food and delightful cocktails!

Originally published in November 2016.