Tuesday, January 20, 2009

Broccoli Rabe Pasta, with Sausage, Roasted Tomatoes and Beans!

Rapini, or otherwise known as, Broccoli Rabe, is a relative of the turnip family, and loaded with many healthy benefits.

Who couldn't use a little extra vitamin C, K, Potassium, Calcium, and Iron! Not to mention, it's very high in phytochemicals, which have the potential for reducing the risk of cancer.


Wikipedia describes it as "nutty, bitter, pungent, an acquired taste". It is a little bitter, but that's what makes it so good! I find that blanching it in water for a couple minutes takes some of that bitterness away.


Pairing it with some spicy Italian sausage gives it the perfect balance!



Normally this dish is made with orrecciette pasta, but I like to try it with some of the other specialty pasta's that are out there.


INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. of Spicy Italian Sausage, cut up into bite size pieces
1 lb. of Cooked Broccoli Rabe
1lb. Specialty Pasta
Roasted Tomatoes ( Recipe Here)
4 Cloves of Crushed Garlic
1/4 Cup of Garlic Flavored Olive Oil
1 Can of Cannelloni Beans
Grated Romano Cheese
Reserved Broccoli Rabe Water, or a touch of Stock

DIRECTIONS:

1. Saute your sausage in the garlic oil along with the crushed garlic, till no longer pink.
2. Add in about a 1/2 cup of the broccoli rabe water or stock. ( you might need a little more)
3. Add beans, and cooked broccoli rabe.
4. Cook pasta al dente, and toss in.
5. Gently toss in some roasted tomatoes, (as many as you want).
6. Season with salt, pepper, and the grated romano, and maybe a little extra olive oil.


Something good to eat while we're all watching the Presidential Inauguration ceremonies today!

Buon Appetito!!

32 comments:

Lucy said...

This is a family favorite to be sure and I love that pasta!!! Great dish, Marie!!! ;-)

Mila said...

I lvoe the way that pasta looks! So pretty and unique!

Ciao Chow Linda said...

Wow - this looks great. One of my favorite pasta dishes. I've made it without the beans, but they are a great addition. Your photos are beautiful too!

Maria said...

The pasta looks excellent! What a tasty meal!

lorraine@italianfoodies said...

One of my favourites too, great for this cold weather:)

Barbara said...

The maccheroni look like a good pick for this pasta dish, Marie. I love broccoli rabe!

Theresa said...

As Lucy said, this is a family favorite of ours too. Love broccoli rabe!

Elra said...

Simple recipe, excellent ingredients, delicious result!
Cheers,
Elra

Laurie said...

This looks so healthy Marie! I love broccoli rabe and pair it often with sausage.. but I usually bake them in a panzi. :)
"Yeah".. I have enjoyed todays events as well honoring our new President and looking forward to what the future holds. I can only imagine the excitement in Chicago!!
Hugs to you..

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Hi Marie

We all adore broccoli rabe and I often saute it in olive oil with garlic, a little S&P and add a can of cannelini beans, and serve it as a side dish. YUM!

Is that pasta Calabrian? It looks like one that is popular there.

Paula said...

Hope you are feeling better! This broccoli rabe dish would be so welcomed on my plate tonight. I love the beans in there, too. Can you believe that I've not had garlic flavored olive oil?!! That specialty pasta is lovely, too! YUM!

Maryann said...

I notice you are making macaroni! LOL
Marie, I have always loved broccoli rabe. I can make a meal out of a dish of rabe cooked in oil and garlic with a squueze of lemon..and and some crusty bread.
Your dish is wonderful!

Nina Timm said...

I have never seen this kind of pasta, but will keep looking in the stores....I love the combination of flavors you have used here....a tasty plate of food indeed!

Cynthia said...

Even the simplest things you make so outrageously delicious.

Michelle said...

I love vegetables! Thanks for giving me a way to use broccoli rabe in Pasta.

The Food Hunter said...

I love broccoli rabe and pasta. This looks wonderful.

Scintilla said...

Pairing fresh italian sausage with broccoli rabe (or cime di rape, as they call it here) is a typical winter favourite on the Amalfi Coast. I love it !
I must try this pasta!

casalba said...

You've done it again! I'll have a plate of that, please.

(And, thanks for your message. Sorry I messed up. Went a bit wobbly there. No way would I stop visiting either your or Maryann's sites.)

Jen of A2eatwrite said...

This looks gorgeous, Marie. Just the sort of thing I'm craving these days!

Aggie said...

I LOVE broccoli rabe...up until this past year my nonno used to grow them in his backyard and we had plenty to eat every winter!! I love the bitter taste too...and paired up with sausage and pasta is perfect!! Great recipe!

My grandparents also used to make maccheroni too...it is my favorite kind of pasta!!!

The Inn at Crippen Creek Farm said...

One of my all time favorite dishes. Your presentation is especially beautiful.

Don

Cathy said...

Well, shoot, I missed this in time to have some while watching the inauguration, so I will just have to have some while watching the inauguration on tivo later! I love everything about this dish. And the fact that this has your roasted tomatoes gives me all I need to know -- it's fabulous!

Karen said...

Looks light and healthy. I like the addition of the Cannelloni beans in this dish.

BabyBlue said...

it looks delicious! just in case: the right spelling is "orecchiette", not "orrecciette"

The Summer Kitchen Interiors said...

It is a bummer...we can't get broccoli rabe in NW Ohio, so every time we head to NJ (once a year), my request to my husband's aunt is "broccoli rabe" please!!
Yum!

Bunny said...

I've never had this before, you make everything look soooo good! Your picture is great!

glamah16 said...

Love, love, love broccoli rabe.This dish lloks wonderful. Good pasta choice.

Navita said...

oh now i hve to but rabe pasta...awesome!

lovelt recipe n love roasted tomatoes!

Peter M said...

Another fun pasta shape and the sausage must surely offer some balance to the bitter rabe.

Kevin said...

I like that pasta shape and the dish looks tasty!

Bella Baita View said...

Broccoli Rabe is one of my all time favorites, I never ran across it in Colorado, but funnily enough discovering it here in Italy, it reminds me of the mixed green I grew up on in Southern Illinois.(without the bacon fat!)

Nicole said...

Beautiful. I like the look of that pasta! yum. and the squash above with the basil brown butter... heavenly!