Best Sicilian Broccoli Recipes

SICILIAN PASTA AND BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Heat the water for your pasta while you prepare the broccoli.
• In a shallow, 10-inch saute pot, heat the 1 cup olive oil over medium-high heat (see Cook's Note). Add the broccoli to the oil and season it with salt. Saute the broccoli for about 4 minutes, or until it takes on a toasty color. The broccoli will absorb a lot of the oil, so if you find your pot getting dry, just add a little more oil to it. Throw in the garlic and cook for about another minute, until it's slightly brown. Don't burn the garlic! Take the broccoli off the heat and set it aside.
• Prepare the penne according to the package directions. Drain the pasta and toss it in the pot with the broccoli, garlic, and olive oil. If the mixture seems dry, add a little more oil.
• Toss in the Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese, stir, and garnish with the parsley.

SICILIAN-STYLE BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Cut thick, lower stems off broccoli rabe and peel. Reserve florets and leaves.
• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes; saute until fragrant, about 45 seconds. Add stems; saute until coated with oil, about 45 seconds. Pour in water; continue cooking until stems are mostly tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Stir in florets, leaves, and salt. Cover skillet and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Transfer broccoli rabe and its juices to a serving bowl. Top with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil.

SICILIAN BROCCOLI AND DITALINI

Steps:

• Place in a dutch oven or a large deep frying pan:.
• Chopped onion and garlic and saute in the olive oil for approximately 10 minutes but do NOT brown. (just a slightly golden color will be good).
• Clean and trim broccoli and cut into 2" pieces.
• Add cut broccoli to garlic and onion.
• turn down flame and add 6 cups very hot water and bullion cubes, & salt & pepper.
• Simmer until broccoili is still slightly crunchy and add pasta.
• Add more water if needed while pasta is cooking with the broccoli as it can absorb alot of the water.
• cook until pasta and broccoli are both tender and most of the water is absorbed.
• turn off the heat and sprinkle a small amount of extra virgin olive oil and approximatly 1/2 cup parmegiano cheese. Toss and serve.
• You can garnish with lemon if you like.

SICILIAN PASTA WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Stir in 1 pepper.
• Cut an "x" shape in the bottom of each tomato. Add tomatoes and broccoli to water. Simmer until broccoli has softened slightly and the tomato skins have separated from the pulp, about 5 minutes. Remove the tomatoes and broccoli with a slotted spoon. When tomatoes are cool enough to handle, remove and discard skins.
• Bring the water to a boil again. Cook pasta in the boiling water, stirring occasionally until tender yet firm to the bite, about 1 minute less than time indicated on package or 6 to 7 minutes total. Drain.
• Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a skillet. Add the broccoli, remaining sliced cayenne pepper, and tomatoes. Stir in drained pasta and cook over medium heat until heated through and blended.
• Top with cheese and extra-virgin olive oil before serving.

SEARED SWORDFISH WITH STEWED SICILIAN-STYLE BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• In large skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes.
• Add the thicker broccoli rabe stems and wine, cover and cook until half-tender, 5 to 6 minutes.
• Add rest of the broccoli rabe and cook, covered, for 6 more minutes, until very tender.
• Uncover pan, add olives, and cook for a few more minutes to evaporate remaining liquid.
• Stir in lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with another tablespoon of olive oil and set aside to keep warm, or heat gently just before serving.
• Heat large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Season swordfish steaks with salt and pepper.
• Drizzle each with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil per side (4 tablespoons total). Place the fish in the hot skillet and cook for 4 to 6 minutes on each side.
• Serve immediately, with the broccoli rabe.

SICILIAN BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Fill medium saucepan half full of water and cover and bring to boil on high for the broccoli.
• Stir broccoli into the boiling water and boil 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally, or until desired tenderness; drain broccoli thoroughly.
• Return saucepan to the stove; reduce heat to medium-high.
• Place olive oil in pan and swirl to coat.
• Add onions and garlic and cook 2-3 minutes to brown.
• Stir in broccoli until coated with oil.
• Cook 3-4 more minutes, stirring occasionally, until flavors are well blended.
• Season with salt and pepper; sprinkle the cheese over the broccoli and serve.

SICILIAN "DROWNED" BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Cut stalks from broccoli. Peel stalks, cut into 3-inch segments and thinly slice lengthwise. Separate broccoli crowns into florets. Heat olive oil in heavy large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add broccoli stalks and florets, sliced onions and chopped fresh parsley and sauté until onions are tender, about 10 minutes. Mix in cheese, chopped olives and anchovy fillets. Stir mixture 2 minutes. Add dry red wine and stir mixture to blend well. Reduce heat to low, cover Dutch oven and simmer 45 minutes.
• Uncover Dutch oven and cook broccoli until very tender and wine evaporates, about 15 minutes longer. Season broccoli to taste with salt and pepper and serve.

SEARED SWORDFISH WITH STEWED SICILIAN-STYLE BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• In large skillet over medium heat, warm 1 tablespoon of the oil. Add garlic, red pepper flakes, a large pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. Cook until fragrant, about 1 1/2 minutes. Add the thicker broccoli rabe stems and wine, cover and cook until half-tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Add rest of the broccoli rabe and cook, covered, for 6 more minutes, until very tender. Uncover pan, add olives, and cook for a few more minutes to evaporate remaining liquid. Stir in lemon juice, and season with salt and pepper. Drizzle with another tablespoon of olive oil and set aside to keep warm, or heat gently just before serving. Heat large skillet over medium-high heat for 2 minutes. Season swordfish steaks with salt and pepper. Drizzle each with 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil per side (4 tablespoons total). Place the fish in the hot skillet and cook for 4 to 6 minutes on each side. Serve immediately, with the broccoli rabe. Note: Instead of swordfish, you could substitute 1-inch-thick tuna or mahi-mahi steaks -- just make sure your fish is firm and tight-fleshed, with no fishy odor.