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    Home » Vegetarian » How to Cook Broccoli Rabe

    How to Cook Broccoli Rabe

    Last updated on May 3, 2021. Originally posted on April 21, 2019 By Elaine 36 Comments

    290 shares
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    This broccoli rabe is both garlicy and brazen. It is easy to make and the garlic compliments the bitter broccoli rabe nicely, giving it delicious flavor. That’s why I’m showing you how to cook broccoli rabe in this post!

    Rabe with some gnocchi and sausage in a white deep dish. There is another dish and wok in the background

    In my opinion, broccoli rabe is an underused vegetable. Is it the bitterness 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 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.

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

    I love broccoli rabe and eat it just about every week. Christopher was starting to get tired of it, so I try not to make it every week, but it is hard.

    The broccoli rabe Family

    One of the things that surprised me about broccoli rabe is that it’s related to the turnip. Say what? Turnip? I hate turnip. Yes, it’s a different vegetable, but I didn’t think I’d ever like anything related to the turnip. The only thing that might remind me of its relation to broccoli rabe is the bitterness, depending on how you prepare it.

    The rabe’s bitterness actually is very appealing to me which makes it bold, beautiful and delicious. Just what you want from a vegetable side dish. I feel that the way I prepare it lessens the bitterness, but truthfully, there is something about the remaining bitterness that I dig. In A Big Way.

    I have found that broccoli rabe is a vegetable that you must try more than once because it grows on you.

    This post may contain affiliate links, which means I get a small commission, at no additional cost to you, if you click the link and buy something. You can read my disclosure here.

    How to wash 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

    I couldn’t resist putting the bunch of broccoli rabe into a vase and displaying it. Isn’t it cute?

    Step one

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

    Head of rabe in a vase looking all flowery and pretty

    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 or sauté pan and turn the heat on medium. Add a few tablespoons of olive oil and let the oil get hot before placing the rabe in the pan.

    Cut up broccoli in a yellow wok

    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.

    Cooked broccoli rabe in my yellow wok

    Look at all that garlic.  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.

    Here is the broccoli in the serving bowl.

    A bowl of garlicy rabe ready to be served

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

    A close up view of the broccoli in a plate with some sausage and gnocchi

    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!

    And don’t forget to leave me a comment.  What is your favorite vegetable?  I’d love to know!!

    Other vegetables dishes

    • Asparagus and shallots
    • Baked vegetables
    • Roasted acorn squash

    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!

    Rabe with some gnocchi and sausage in a white deep dish - square

    How to cook Broccoli Rabe

    This fun and tasty Broccoli Rabe recipe makes a lovely side dish to any meal.
    5 from 18 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Vegetable
    Cuisine: Vegetarian
    Keyword: broccoli rabe, how to cook broccoli rabe, leafy green vegetable
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 5 minutes
    Total Time: 10 minutes
    Servings: 3 cups
    Calories: 109kcal
    Author: Elaine Benoit

    Ingredients

    • 1 broccoli rabe (1 bunch, washed, dried and cut in 1 inch long pieces) (keeping florets whole)
    • 4 cloves garlic (minced)
    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • ½ teaspoon salt (or to taste)
    • ⅛ teaspoon pepper (or to taste)

    Instructions

    • Heat up wok or large sauté pan on medium heat
    • Add olive oil and let it heat up.
    • Add broccoli rabe and stir to coat it with oil
    • Sauté for 4 minutes or until it starts to deepen in color
    • Add garlic, salt and pepper
    • Cook for 1 more minutes
    • Remove promptly from pan to a bowl
    • Place broccoli rabe on plate along with a piece of meat or some noodles
    • Serve
    • Smile
    • Enjoy

    Equipment

    wok
    See all my favorite tools and gift ideas at my Amazon Store page!Check out Elaine’s Amazon Store!

    Notes

    Reasons why you should learn how to cook this vegetable:
    • It makes a delightful and delicious side dish.
    • 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.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1cup | Calories: 109kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 310mg | Potassium: 122mg | Fiber: 1g | Vitamin A: 1480IU | Vitamin C: 12.4mg | Calcium: 66mg | Iron: 1.3mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. wendi

      May 19, 2016 at 5:27 pm

      OK _ well, that is about exactly how I prepared mine and it was so bitter I couldn’t even eat it. I am wondering if there is more/less bitter depending on how fresh it is? Mine probably wasn’t as fresh as it could be because of where I bought it. Oh well, maybe I’ll give it another go.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 20, 2016 at 12:22 pm

        Wendi,

        I do think it has to be super fresh!! But, yes, it does have a bitter taste. (at first I thought we were talking about cauliflower. Eeek.) Some people just don’t like the bitterness, maybe you’re one of them?

        Elaine

        Reply
    2. Danielle Wolter

      April 22, 2019 at 1:51 pm

      Love green veggies like this with a simple saute! Sometimes I add a pinch of sugar and some garlic to cut the bitterness. It’s a great simple to make and nutritious side dish!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 23, 2019 at 11:03 am

        Thanks Danielle. I have heard other people add sugar but I prefer it bitter. 🙂

        Reply
    3. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer

      April 22, 2019 at 6:57 pm

      I *finally* got my husband to eat broccoli rabe and now he loves it! I love how simple and fresh you kept the recipe too! It all looks really yummy!

      Reply
    4. Sharon

      April 22, 2019 at 8:41 pm

      I see broccoli rabe often and always wondered how to cook it and add to recipes. Thank you so much for this how-to.

      Reply
    5. Gloria | Homemade & Yummy

      April 22, 2019 at 9:18 pm

      What a great post. It took me a long time to try broccoli rabe. This is such a great and easy way to prepare this totally delicious veggie.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 23, 2019 at 11:03 am

        Thanks Gloria!! Once I tried rabe, I wanted it every week!

        Reply
    6. Deanne

      April 22, 2019 at 9:48 pm

      I love how you’ve broken this all done for people like me. I think I’m going to tackle it this week! Thanks!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 23, 2019 at 11:02 am

        I hope you enjoy it, Deanne. And thanks for your sweet comment.

        Reply
    7. Kristina

      April 22, 2019 at 10:20 pm

      What great knowledge you have passed on to us for this underused vegetable! It looks absolutely delicious and I think I’m going to have try this real soon!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 23, 2019 at 11:02 am

        I hope you enjoy it when you do try it, Kristina. Thank you for your comment.

        Reply
    8. Veena Azmanov

      April 22, 2019 at 10:32 pm

      This is a never tried recipe. Looks crunchy and delicious and I need to make this dish for my family.

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 23, 2019 at 11:01 am

        It is somewhat crunchy and delicious! I hope you enjoy it when you make it Veena!

        Reply
    9. Beth Pierce

      April 22, 2019 at 11:05 pm

      This will make a great side dish for dinner this week! I will have to learn how to do this the right way; it looks great!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 23, 2019 at 11:01 am

        Thank you so much Beth!!

        Reply
    10. Patty

      April 23, 2019 at 5:32 am

      What a great post Elaine, I had no idea as to how to cook broccoli rabe, I’ll add a little bit of sugar to cut the bitterness though, can’t wait to try it!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 23, 2019 at 11:00 am

        Thanks Patty! I really love it.

        Reply
    11. Loreto and Nicoletta

      April 23, 2019 at 10:46 am

      We love broccoli rabe and eat a lot of them! That mild bitterness is the best part. Thanks for sharing the tips on how to cook them!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 23, 2019 at 10:59 am

        Thanks Loreto and Nicoletta! I adore rabe myself!

        Reply
    12. Kylie | Midwest Foodie

      April 23, 2019 at 11:41 am

      Would you believe I’ve never MADE broccoli rabe before?!?!? I’ve enjoyed it at restaurants many times but now I feel confident that I could cook it at home! Love the simple preparation!! Thanks for a great recipe Elaine!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 24, 2019 at 11:21 am

        Thanks, Kylie! I appreciate it. Easy peasy and cooks under 5 minutes!

        Reply
    13. Denise

      April 25, 2019 at 3:44 pm

      I love the simple ingredients to enhance a yummy vegetable! Garlicky and crunchy is quite often a delicious combo!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 29, 2019 at 10:10 am

        I totally agree, Denise! Thanks 🙂

        Reply
    14. Analida Braeger

      April 26, 2019 at 5:18 pm

      Those homemade gnocchis look awesome, along with the rest of the dish of course 😉 I don’t believe I have heard of broccoli rabe before though ,but it does looks delish !

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 29, 2019 at 10:06 am

        Thank you Analida. And I love gnocchi, especially homemade!

        Reply
    15. Amanda

      April 27, 2019 at 9:40 pm

      Talk about the perfect spring side dish! I love how easy yet delicious this broccoli rabe is. The fresh garlic and olive oil are the perfect accents. Thanks for sharing!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 29, 2019 at 10:05 am

        Thanks so much Amanda!

        Reply
    16. Amanda Mason

      April 28, 2019 at 11:37 am

      I’m loving this simple recipe and these simple ingredients! I’m guilty of not eating enough broccoli but i’ve never had broccoli rabe. Looks like Ive been missing out!! Cant wait to make this amazing recipe!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 29, 2019 at 10:04 am

        Thanks Amanda! It’s a bitter vegetable but so delicious!

        Reply
    17. Saima

      April 28, 2019 at 11:10 pm

      A simple and healthy recipe your broccoli rabe is! I would love to make this as a delicious side with most meals. I can think of so many!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 29, 2019 at 10:03 am

        Thank you so much Saima!

        Reply
    18. Jagruti Dhanecha

      April 29, 2019 at 3:00 am

      Garlic goes so well with broccoli and we love it, usually, I serve it with pasta. Loving your informative post and gosh that colour, simply wow!

      Reply
      • Elaine

        April 29, 2019 at 10:03 am

        Awww, thanks Jagruti! And I totally agree, garlic is perfect with broccoli!

        Reply
    19. Daniela

      April 30, 2019 at 11:30 pm

      Awesome post on broccoli rabe! And it sounds so delicious with the garlic combo! You’re super clear explanations make this dish so easy to make! Thanks for sharing :).

      Reply
      • Elaine

        May 01, 2019 at 12:04 pm

        Thanks so much Daniela! I appreciate it!

        Reply

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