Best Spicy Broccoli Rabe Recipes

PASTA WITH SPICY SAUSAGE, BROCCOLI RABE AND CHICKPEAS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Roughly chop the broccoli rabe, add it to the pot, and cook for 3 minutes. Use a sieve or slotted spoon to lift the broccoli rabe from the water and place it in a colander to drain.
• Bring the water back to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente, reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
• Meanwhile, in a large Dutch oven or deep, 12-inch skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned, 3 to 5 minutes. (Don't worry if the sausage is not completely cooked through.) Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds.
• Add the wine and cook, scraping any bits from the bottom of the pan, until the wine is reduced by half, about 1 minute.
• Add the broccoli rabe, chickpeas, 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper to the skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring often, until the sausage is cooked through and the broccoli rabe is very tender, about 3 minutes.
• Add the pasta and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water, toss well, and cook over low heat until the sauce comes together, about 1 to 2 minutes. Add additional pasta water, a few tablespoons at a time, if needed for moisture.
• Remove the pan from the heat, add the butter, Parmesan, lemon zest and lemon juice, and toss until the butter is melted. Divide pasta among shallow bowls and top with additional cheese sprinkled on top.

SPICY WHITE BEAN STEW WITH BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Tear broccoli rabe or kale leaves into bite-size pieces and set aside. Chop the stems into about 1/4-inch pieces; set aside.
• Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add garlic and onion, and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and sizzled at the edges, 4 to 6 minutes.
• Add harissa (or tomato paste and a pinch of red-pepper flakes), and stir to coat in the oil. Cook until the harissa is a nice brick red color, the sugars start to caramelize and the oil turns a nice vibrant fiery orange color, about 2 minutes.
• Add beans, and season with salt and pepper. Using a wooden spoon or spatula, crush a few beans to release their creamy interior.
• Add the broth and reserved stems, and season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer and cook until you've reached your desired consistency (less time for a brothier soup, more time for a thicker stew), 15 to 20 minutes.
• Add broccoli rabe or kale leaves and preserved lemon or lemon juice, and stir to wilt the greens. Season with salt, pepper and more red-pepper flakes if you want it spicier.
• Serve with feta and parsley, and with eggs, if you like.

ORECCHIETTE WITH SPICY SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli rabe and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Strain the broccoli rabe, reserving all the cooking liquid. Set the broccoli rabe aside. Cook the orecchiette in the same pot of boiling salted water until tender but still firm to the bite, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Drain, reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, in a large, heavy skillet, heat the oil over a medium flame. Add the sausage and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until the sausage is brown and juices form, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and sauté until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli rabe and toss to coat. Add the pasta and enough reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten. Stir the Parmesan cheese, salt to taste, and pepper into the pasta mixture. Transfer to pasta bowls and serve.

ORECCHIETTE WITH SPICY SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Add the broccoli rabe and cook until crisp-tender, about 1 minute. Strain the broccoli rabe, and reserve all the cooking liquid. Set the broccoli rabe aside.
• Cook the orecchiette in the same pot of boiling water until tender but still firm about 8 minutes, stir occasionally. Drain reserving 1 cup of the cooking liquid.
• In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium heat.
• Add the sausage and cook breaking up with a spoon until the sausage is brown and juices form, about 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and saute until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the broccoli rabe and toss to coat.
• Add the pasta and enough reserved cooking liquid, 1/4 cup at a time, to moisten.
• Stir in the parmesan cheese, salt to taste, and pepper into the pasta mixture. Serve immediately or at room temperature.

SPICY SAUSAGE BROCCOLI RABE PARMESAN

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with lightly salted water and bring to a rolling boil over high heat. Once the water is boiling, stir in the rotini, and return to a boil. Cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the pasta has cooked through, but is still firm to the bite, about 6 minutes. Drain well in a colander set in the sink.
• Place a steamer insert into a saucepan, and fill with water to just below the bottom of the steamer. Cover, and bring the water to a boil over high heat. Add the broccoli rabe, recover, and steam until just tender, about 2 minutes depending on thickness.
• Place the Italian sausage into a large skillet over medium heat, and cook until browned and no longer pink inside, about 5 minutes. Remove sausage from pan and set aside; drain excess grease, leaving about 1 tablespoon of sausage drippings in the pan. Sprinkle in the garlic, and cook until it starts to brown, about 1 minute; stir in half the broccoli rabe. Cook and stir until the rabe has wilted, and add the remaining rabe and the diced tomatoes. Cook until all the rabe is tender, about 5 minutes; sprinkle with salt and black pepper.
• Return the sausage to the skillet, and cook just until the meat is hot; sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, crushed red pepper flakes, and a drizzle of olive oil. Serve over hot rotini.

SPICY BROCCOLI RABE WITH PARMESAN AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to boil over high heat. Fill a large bowl with ice water.
• Add the rabe to the boiling water and cook until bright green, about 2 minutes. Drain and submerge in bowl of ice water until cool, about 2 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil. Add the garlic, red pepper flakes, and anchovies, stirring and breaking up the anchovies with a wooden spoon. Cook until garlic is fragrant and light golden in color, 1 minute.
• Add the rabe to the pan with any residual water. Cook, tossing occasionally, until the mixture starts to wilt, about 2 minutes. Add the salt and pepper and cook until rabe is crisp tender, about 3 minutes more.
• Remove from heat and stir in lemon juice. Taste and adjust seasoning. Spoon onto plates or a platter and top with parmesan and pine nuts.

SPICY STIR-FRIED BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a bowl, combine the lemon juice, soy sauce, basil, oil, vinegar, and lemon zest. Lay the tofu slices in a baking dish that can hold them in a single snug layer. Pour the marinade over the tofu. Bake for 30 minutes, or until the tofu is nearly dry and well browned.
• To make the broccoli rabe, chop the tender stalks and greens into 2-inch pieces and soak them in a large basin of cold water.
• In a heavy, wide saute pan over medium heat, warm the oil. Add the garlic and saute gently for 3 to 5 minutes, until golden. Add the red pepper flakes and tofu and saute for 1 minute. Scoop the greens from the water and add them to the pan. Raise the heat and turn the greens over in the oil with a pair of tongs. When the greens begin to simmer, reduce the heat to low and cover. Cook for 10 to 15 minutes, until the greens are tender.
• Season with salt and pepper and serve drizzled with some of the liquor and garnished with the lemon wedges and garlic cloves.

PASTA WITH SPICY BROCCOLI RABE AND PINE NUTS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to the boil. Add the broccoli rabe and blanch for 1 minute. Drain and pat dry. Bring another large pot of salted water to the boil. Add the penne and cook until al dente, about 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 teaspoons of the olive oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium heat. Add the pine nuts and cook, tossing frequently, until lightly toasted, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and cook, stirring constantly, for 30 seconds. Add the broccoli rabe, the water and the red pepper flakes and cook until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Drain the pasta and add the broccoli rabe mixture, the remaining 2 teaspoons olive oil, the lemon juice, salt and pepper to taste. Toss to combine. Divide among 4 plates and serve immediately.

ORECCHIETTE WITH BROCCOLI RABE AND SPICY SAUSAGE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil with the salt. Add the broccoli rabe and cook for 6 to 8 minutes, or until soft. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
• Return the same pot of water to a boil, add the orecchiette and cook for 10 minutes, or until slightly undercooked. Drain, reserving the cooking water.
• Split the sausages lengthwise down the middle and remove from their casings.
• Heat the olive oil in a high-rimmed skillet over medium heat. Add the sausage meat, breaking it up as finely as possible. Add the broccoli and continue cooking and stirring until the broccoli breaks down to a saucelike texture.
• Add the chicken stock and orecchiette. Finish cooking the pasta in the sauce, being careful it doesn't stick. You may have to keep adding a little pasta water, additional stock or tap water until the pasta is soft yet chewy (al dente), making sure not to over-cook it.
• Finish the pasta by folding in the cheese, a few squeezes of lemon juice and the optional breadcrumbs.

SPICY GARLIC BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Fill a Dutch oven two-thirds full with water; bring to a boil. Trim ½ in. from broccoli rabe stems; discard any coarse or damaged leaves. Rinse broccoli rabe in cold water and cut into 2-in. pieces. Add to boiling water. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, until crisp-tender, 1-2 minutes. Drain., In a large skillet over medium heat, cook garlic in oil for 1 minute. Add pepper flakes; cook and stir 30 seconds longer. Add broccoli rabe and salt; heat through.

GNOCCHI WITH SPICY SAUSAGE, CARAMELIZED ONIONS, AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil to a boil; add broccoli rabe and cook until stems are tender, about 2 minutes. Meanwhile, prepare an ice-water bath. Drain broccoli rabe and transfer to ice-water bath. Drain and set aside.
• Bring another large pot of salted water to a boil. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-low heat. Add onions and cook, stirring occasionally until caramelized, about 10 minutes. Add sugar and red wine vinegar; cook until vinegar is completely evaporated, 1 to 2 minutes more.
• Add sausage to skillet, along with onions, using a wooden spoon to help break sausage up into small pieces. Cook, stirring, until sausage is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Stir in reserved broccoli rabe and 1/2 cup water; keep warm until ready to serve.
• Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add butter and cook until melted; continue cooking until butter becomes lightly browned and fragrant, taking care not to let it burn, 2 to 3 minutes. Reduce heat to low and stir in parsley.
• Meanwhile, add gnocchi to boiling water. When gnocchi begins to float to the top, let cook 2 minutes more. Using a slotted spoon, transfer gnocchi to skillet with brown butter; toss to coat and season with salt and pepper.
• Divide gnocchi evenly among four serving bowls; top with sausage mixture and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with olive oil and serve.

SPICY GARLIC BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Cook broccoli rabe in boiling water 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Drain and plunge broccoli rabe into ice water; drain. Squeeze dry.
• Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large non-stick skillet over medium heat. Add garlic to pain; cook 1 minute. Add broccoli rabe, juice, and pepper to pan; cook 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.
• Drizzle with remaining 2 teaspoons oil and sprinkle with fleur de sel.

SPICY BAKED PASTA WITH CHEDDAR AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°F. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, then add a generous amount of salt. Cook pasta, stirring occasionally to keep it from sticking together, until just barely al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Drain pasta, reserving 1 cup pasta cooking liquid.
• While you are cooking the pasta, get the broccoli rabe going. Heat 5 Tbsp. oil in a large Dutch oven or other heavy pot over medium-high. Add leeks and season with salt and black pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until leeks are softened (but not so much that they don't have any texture left) and starting to brown, 8-10 minutes.
• Add red pepper flakes to leeks and stir to incorporate. Add broccoli rabe by the handful, stirring to combine and allowing each addition to wilt before adding more. Season with salt and black pepper. Once all of the broccoli rabe has been added, cook, stirring occasionally, until bright green and wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove pot from heat and set aside.
• Add pasta to reserved broccoli rabe mixture along with cream, three-quarters of the cheese, ½ cup chives, and reserved pasta cooking liquid; mix well. Season with salt and black pepper and add more red pepper flakes if you prefer more heat (keep in mind that the saltiness and spiciness will increase as the pasta bakes).
• Transfer pasta to a 3-qt. baking dish (or, if your Dutch oven is ovenproof, just leave it in there). Toss breadcrumbs and remaining 3 Tbsp. oil in a medium bowl until coated; season with salt and black pepper. Scatter over pasta, then sprinkle evenly with remaining cheese. Bake until pasta is bubbling across the entire surface and breadcrumbs are deep golden brown, 30-35 minutes. Let cool slightly.
• Scatter remaining chives over pasta just before serving.

WHOLE-WHEAT FETTUCCINE WITH SPICY BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Lightly dust a sheet of pasta with semolina flour, then loosely roll lengthwise into thirds lengthwise, like folding a letter. Cut noodles in 1/2-inch increments with a sharp knife. Shake off the excess semolina, and repeat with remaining pasta sheets. Form pasta into small nests (about 3 ounces per portion) on the prepared baking sheets.
• Set a large frying pan over medium-high heat and add 3 tablespoons olive oil. When it shimmers, add onion and a pinch of salt. Reduce heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes, until onions are tender and lightly golden.
• Trim woody ends from broccoli rabe and discard. Slice the stems and leaves into 1/2-inch pieces.
• Add broccoli rabe, red pepper flakes, a generous pinch of salt and 2 tablespoons water. Use tongs to turn greens until evenly wilted. Cook, stirring occasionally, until water cooks away and broccoli rabe is tender, sweet, and starting to brown, about 15 to 20 minutes. As broccoli cooks, set a large pot filled with 5 quarts of water over high heat, cover, and bring to a boil. Add 6 tablespoons fine sea salt or 1/2 cup kosher salt. Set a colander in the sink.
• Move broccoli rabe to the edges of the pot and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add garlic and allow it to gently sizzle until it releases an aroma, about 20 seconds. Before the garlic has a chance to start browning, stir it into the greens.
• Add 4 portions pasta to the water and stir. Cook about 2 to 3 minutes, until al dente, and drain.
• Add pasta and 1/4 cup cooking water to the broccoli rabe and toss. Continue cooking over medium heat for 1 minute, tossing continuously with tongs. If the pasta looks dry, add a little more pasta water. It should be slightly wetter than you are comfortable with, because the pasta will continue to absorb sauce even after you pull it from the heat. Taste and adjust salt as needed. Serve immediately, with grated ricotta salata.

SPICY COCONUT BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Cook 1 bunch chopped broccoli rabe in boiling salted water until tender, 2 to 3 minutes; drain. Toast 1/4 cup chopped salted peanuts, 2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut flakes and 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes in 3 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe and 2 sliced garlic cloves; toss. Season with salt.

PORK CHOPS WITH POTATOES AND SPICY BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Cut the potatoes into 1/2-inch cubes. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large cast-iron skillet over high heat, 3 minutes. Add the potatoes; cook, stirring, until tender and browned, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Meanwhile, bring a pot of generously salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli rabe and cook until just tender, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain and transfer to a medium bowl. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil, the lemon zest and the chiles and their oil.
• Season the pork chops with salt and pepper. Push the potatoes to the edge of the skillet, reduce the heat to medium high and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the middle of the pan. Add the pork chops and cook until browned, about 2 minutes per side, turning the potatoes as needed. Transfer the skillet to the oven and bake until a thermometer inserted into the center of the pork registers 145 degrees F, 4 to 5 minutes. Transfer the pork chops to plates.
• Season the potatoes with 1/2 teaspoon salt and stir to coat in the pan drippings. Serve the pork chops with the potatoes, broccoli rabe and lemon wedges.

SPICY ROASTED SHRIMP AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. In a large bowl, toss broccoli with 2 tablespoons olive oil, the sesame oil if using, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/8 teaspoon chile flakes. In a separate bowl, combine shrimp, remaining 1 tablespoon oil, the orange zest, remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and remaining 1/8 teaspoon chile flakes.
• Spread broccoli and shrimp in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast, tossing once or twice halfway through, until shrimp are just opaque and broccoli is tender and golden around the edges, about 10 minutes. Serve with orange wedges.

SPAGHETTINI COOKED IN RED WINE WITH SPICY BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook broccoli rabe foor 3 min. Transfer to baking sheet and spread to cool. In the same boiling water, cook spaghettini, stirring occasionally for 2 til al dente. Reserve 1 C of pasta water, then drain and set aside. Return the empty pasta pot to stove. Add wine and sugar to pasta pot. Bring to boil over high heat and reduce by 1/2. Add pasta to pot and gently stir./ Boil over high heat, stirring occasionally, until most of the liquid is absorbed and pasta is al dente. While pata cooks in the wine, heat a large, deep saute pan over high heat. Add oil, reduce heat to med low and saute garlic, about 3 min. Add chile paste, blanched broccoli rabe, & salt and pepper. cook, stirring occasionally, for 1 to 2 min. Stir in 1/2 C of pasta water. Add broccoli rabe misture to pasta, toss and transfer to platter to serve. Sprinkle with cheese

SPICY SAUTEED BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil over medium-high heat; season generously with salt. Blanch broccoli rabe until bright green and tender, about 3 minutes.
• Heat the oil in a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add garlic, and cook until lightly golden. Add blanched broccoli rabe; season with red-pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper; toss to combine. Transfer to a serving bowl. Serve immediately.

SPICY TEMPEH AND BROCCOLI RABE WITH ROTELLE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of salted water to boil, add the pasta and cook according to the package directions, usually about 10 minutes. Drain the pasta, toss with a teaspoon or two of olive oil and keep covered either in a large covered serving bowl or the cooking pot. While your pasta is boiling, prepare the other ingredients/.
• Tempeh: Place the tempeh in a large, nonstick skillet. In a measuring cup, whisk together the vegetable broth, tomato paste, soy sauce, garlic, fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, and oregano. Pour over the tempeh, stir to coat, and cook over medium heat until the liquid starts to simmer. Cover the pan and steam the tempeh for 8 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed and the tempeh is tender. Stir a few times while tempeh is steaming.
• Transfer the tempeh to a bowl and crumble about half the cubes with the back of a spoon.
• Wipe down the skillet to remove any leftover tempeh sauce, return the skillet to medium heat and add 2 tablespoons olive oil. To test the heat, drop a bit of tempeh into the oil- when it sizzles, the oil is hot enough. Add the tempeh and stir-fry for 4 to 5 minutes, until it begins to brown. Remove from heat, add to the pasta, and keep covered.
• Broccoli rabe: Pour the remaining olive oil into the pan and add the sliced garlic. When the garlic begins to sizzle, stir and cook it for about a minute. Add the broccoli rabe, stir to coat it with the oil, sprinkle with a little salt, and cover the pan. Cook for about 2 minutes. Sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of the white wine and steam for 8 to 10 minutes, until the broccoli rabe is bright green and its stems are tender (you may need to do this in 2 batches, just add the second batch of broccoli rabe when the first batch has wilted enough to leave room in your pan).
• Remove the cover and continue to saute for an additional minute or two, until any excess liquid is evaporated. Pour the cooked broccoli rabe onto the tempeh and pasta, sprinkle with red wine vinegar, season with salt and pepper, and toss everything to mix.