Garlic Rapini Recipe (Broccoli Rabe)
This easy recipe for sautéed broccoli rabe (rapini) with garlic and oil is a classic Italian side dish that takes just 5 simple ingredients and 15 minutes to prepare.
Servings: 4 servings
Calories: 134kcal
Ingredients
- Kosher salt as needed
- 1 bunch broccoli rabe washed, ends trimmed and roughly chopped into 2-inch pieces
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2-3 cloves garlic thinly sliced
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes optional
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water up to a boil. Add the broccoli rabe to the boiling water and cook for 2 minutes, then drain.
- While the rapini is boiling, prepare an ice bath by filling up a large bowl of ice water. As soon as the broccoli rabe is drained, add it to the ice bath so it stops cooking immediately.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1-2 minutes until softened and just starting to turn golden around the edges, then add the chili flakes and stir.
- Drain the broccoli rabe and squeeze out as much excess liquid as possible, then add it to the pan and toss for several minutes until heated through. Taste and season with salt as desired, then serve.
Notes
- Be sure to trim off the tough ends of the stems of the broccoli rabe before chopping.
- Do not skip the blanching part of the cooking process - both the boiling and the ice bath. Blanching helps to tame the bitter taste, tenderizes the tough stems and gives it a bright green color. Sautéing the raw greens will not produce the same results.
- I like my rapini chopped, but you can also leave the stems whole if you prefer - just make sure you remove the bottom of the stems of the broccoli rabe first.
- I add lots of garlic, but use as many or as few garlic cloves as you like - if you prefer a less garlicky flavor, instead of slicing it, give the clove a smash with the side of your knife, then remove it from the pan after sautéing.
- Use a really high quality extra-virgin olive oil for the best flavor.
Nutrition
Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 10g | Sodium: 21mg | Potassium: 119mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 0.2g | Vitamin A: 1519IU | Vitamin C: 12mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 1mg
