If you have not tried this vegetable you are missing a real treat. Broccoli rabe, broccoli di rabe or simply rabe is generally served unadorned; just garlic and onion are added. Try this peppery first cousin to regular broccoli, and you are sure to become a rabe fan. You may also see it listed as broccoli rape (pronounced "wrap-Ay")
Ingredients
2 pounds broccoli rabe, trim bottoms and cut or broken into bite sized pieces
1/4 cup of virgin olive oil
2 garlic cloves finely chopped
1 medium sized onion, chopped fine
A sprinkle of hot pepper flakes
Salt to taste
Directions
In hot pan with olive oil, saute the onions and garlic a few minutes until garlic looses its raw flavor and the onions wilt. Add your rabe, stir to mix, cover pan and steam vegetables over medium heat for 5 or 6 minutes. Good with pasta, ziti is an choice. Add a full flavored meat such as lamb chops or steak.
Makes about 6 servings.
Broccoli Rabe and Pasta Salad
You can halve this recipe and make a pasta salad, ziti or Rotini. Just cook pasta according to package directions. Cook just past al dente because you want the flavor of the garlic cloves, onion and olive oil to be absorbed by the pasta. Drain pasta and add the broccoli rabe mixture while the pasta is hot. Mix gently and allow to chill before serving. This salad is good with fresh tomato wedges mixed in or thick tomato slices on the side.
Recommended: Broccoli is one of my favorite vegetables so I was delighted to find it listed in Dr. Steven Pratt and Kathy Matthews book, SuperFoods Rx: Fourteen Foods That Will Change Your Life
. Yes, broccoli is on this "nutrition powerhouse" list. While this is not a recipe book, there are good recipes in it. It is separated into three parts, Part I Superfoods Rx: The basics; Part II The Superfoods: (a list of superfoods)and Part III The Superfoods Rx Menus and Nutritional Information. 
