I modified this recipe by including greens from my CSA box in addition to the broccoli rabe: 4 baby bok choy, red kale, and beet greens. I also increased the amount of garlic, vinegar, and chicken sausage. This recipe is from Everyday Food. It is a healthier version of this traditional dish because it has more greens, chicken sausage, and less pasta. It is a great quick meal.
- Prep Time 20 minutes
- Total Time 35 minutes
- Yield Serves 4
- Coarse salt and ground pepper
- 2 bunches (2 pounds total) broccoli rabe, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
- 8 ounces orecchiette or other short pasta
- 2-5 precooked Italian chicken or turkey sausages (6 ounces total), cut into 1/4-inch slices
- 2-3 tablespoons red or white-wine vinegar
- 1-4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add broccoli rabe, and cook until bright green, about 1 minute. Using a wire skimmer or small sieve, transfer to a colander set over a bowl to catch drips (a few bits may remain in cooking water); set aside. Return water to a boil. Add pasta, and cook until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain and return to pot.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high. Add sausage; cook, without turning, until browned, about 4 minutes. Add broccoli rabe, vinegar, and garlic. Cook until broccoli rabe is tender, scraping up browned bits in skillet, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add pasta and oil to broccoli rabe mixture. Season with salt and pepper; toss to combine. Serve.
Broccoli rabe is a slightly bitter-tasting cousin to cabbage and is a good match for Italian recipes, especially pasta. Quickly boiling it tones down its bite without losing many nutrients.
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