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 di rape (pronounced "wrap-Ay")

INGREDIENTS

2 pounds broccoli rabe, trim bottoms, cut 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 cook over medium-low heat, until rabe is done to your liking. Good with pasta, ziti is a good choice. Add a full flavored meat such as lamb chops or steak. I recently went a cafe and ordered the chicken breast with sauteed rabe sandwich shown on the menu. It was excellent.

Makes about 6 servings.



Broccoli Rabe and Pasta Salad

You can halve this recipe and make a pasta salad. Cook pasta according to package directions. While cooking the pasta, prepare the rabe by mixing all remaining ingredients. Cook pasta just it 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. The book is old (2004)so look for it at your library or Amazon as shown in this link or other online book stores. Yes, broccoli is on this "nutrition powerhouse" list. While not a recipe book, there are good recipes in this book. 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.