How to cook Broccoli Rabe (Rapini)… in no time! This notoriously bitter vegetable can be sweetened with a few quick tricks.
Do you like bitter foods? Some people are particularly sensitive to bitter substances. If this is you: well, stop here! You probably won’t like Broccoli Rabe. But: If you drink your coffee black and like to eat kale, then you’ll probably like this notoriously bitter vegetable! Alex and I love bitter flavors, so we enjoyed this recipe for Broccoli Rabe, aka Rapini. Remember that it is best to keep the bouquet as young and delicate as possible to preserve a smooth taste. Sprinkled with lemon and grilled with some garlic: This is really delicious! Here’s how to cook it.
A friendlier leafy green to cook with? Head to amazing sautéed kale. (You will love it: I promise!)
A little bit about Broccoli Rabe (Rapini)
Here are some fun facts about broccoli rabe to get us started!
- Broccoli Rabe is actually not broccoli at all. It is more closely related to a turnip than to a broccoli (or broccolini). However, they are all part of the same large family called cruciferous vegetables. This family includes kale, collards, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli, among others.
- Raven is pronounced “Rob”. Yes, like a man’s name!
- It is popular in Italian cuisine: the Italian name is I was kidnapped. You’ll find it in cooking as pasta, stir-fried with sausages, on a pizza or sandwich, or in soups and stews.
- The taste is quite bitter. As we noted at the beginning, if you don’t like bitter flavors, avoid broccoli! If you like bitter, you will love this recipe. Broccoli also balances well with sweeter, salty, or tangy flavors.
Here’s how to make it less bitter: before you even start cooking.
Now we’ve learned a few tricks to reduce the bitterness of broccoli before you even start cooking.
- Find young and tender plants that are not too mature. When shopping, you may not have many options. But go for the Broccoli Rabe, which is younger and more tender. Very mature plants can be even more bitter. And there’s no way of knowing…until you eat it!
- Don’t chop too much: just remove the bottom stem! Chopping the broccoli can make the plant more bitter. So just remove the very hard bottom bar. Don’t chop the leaves or flowers!
How to cook broccoli rabe… the quick way!
Alex and I did a lot of research on how best to cook broccoli. Most sources blanch it in boiling water to remove bitterness, then sauté for a long time. As so often we asked ourselves…is there an easier way to do this? We came across Cook’s Illustrated “A New Way to Cook Broccoli Rabe,” which suggested that grilling this vegetable for a few minutes would do the trick. We tried it and it worked! Here’s what to do:
- Cut the tough stalks off the broccoli (leave the florets and leaves – see above!).
- Mix with olive oil and salt and some garlic powder.
- Grill for a total of about 4 minutes! 2 minutes, then stir and another 2 minutes until wilted and cooked through.
- Stir in the lemon (which also neutralizes the bitterness)! Serve immediately.
Would you like to learn how to cook more vegetables? Go to How to Cook Vegetables.
Another great broccoli rabe recipe
If you’re worried about eating this bitter vegetable on its own, give it a try as part of a recipe! Can we suggest that White beans on toast Recipe? It combines hearty, garlicky kidney beans and aged parmesan with broccoli crab, perfectly complementing the bitterness.
This broccoli rabe recipe is…
Vegetarian, vegan, plant-based, dairy-free and gluten-free.
The description
How to cook Broccoli Rabe (Rapini)… in no time! This notoriously bitter vegetable can be sweetened with a few quick tricks.
- 2 Bouquets of Broccoli Rave (1 at 1 1/2 kg)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- Ground fresh pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh lemon juice
- Brush the baking sheet with olive oil. Preheat a grill.
- Wash the broccoli rabe in cold water and then dry with a clean towel. Cut the flower from the stems, leaving the leaves and flowers intact. (You can throw away the stems.)
- Place the broccoli Rabe in a bowl with the olive oil, garlic powder, and kosher salt and toss until well combined. Place it on the baking sheet.
- Grill for 2 minutes, then remove foil and stir. Grill an additional 2 minutes until fully collapsed.
- Stir in the lemon juice and zest. Taste and season with salt or freshly ground black pepper.
- Category: garnish
- Method: Goal
- Kitchen: Italian
Keywords: How to cook broccoli Rabe, Rapini
Other best side dish recipes!
Broccoli Rabe is one of the best vegetables you can eat. Here are some of our favorite ways to eat them with veggies:
- Best Sauteed Kale Ever The best way to eat this healthy leafy green! Flavored with garlic and cooked in olive oil until tender, you’ll want to eat it every day.
- Roasted broccoli tastes so good you won’t be able to stop biting! It is charred until tender and then drizzled with lemon juice.
- Best Sauteed Mushrooms Ever Here is THE perfect sautéed mushroom recipe! It brings out the best savory flavor with lemon and fresh herbs.
- Peas with lemon 5 minutes! Cooking frozen peas with garlic and lemon makes them taste amazing.
- Sauteed Spinach (which tastes amazing) Wow, this sautéed spinach tastes absolutely amazing! It is flavored with garlic and lemon.
