Roasted Broccoli Rabe (Rapini) Recipe: A Chef's Simple Side Dish
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Easy recipe to get your greens in! This roasted broccoli rabe side dish is quick and delicious, and brings a little something different to the dinner table.
It is a loosely-guarded chef's secret that roasting makes almost anything taste better. Roasting may also be one of the easiest ways to cook vegetables, and as such, I find myself roasting veggies at least a few times a week. Broccoli is a favorite, but when I want something a little different, I serve up this Roasted Broccoli Rabe.
What is Broccoli Rabe?
Broccoli rabe, or broccoli rapini, is a dark green leafy vegetable with clusters of small broccoli-like florets. The stems, leaves, and florets are all edible, and have a more bitter flavor than broccoli with a slight nuttiness. And even better, broccoli rabe is seriously good for you. Packed with vitamins A, C, and K, it's also a good source of folate, potassium, fiber, and calcium.
Chef Molly's Secret: Taming the Bitterness of Broccoli Rabe
Traditionally, broccoli rabe is blanched in boiling water, drained, and then sautéed with any number of savory accompaniments in order to tone down the bitter flavor. But I find roasting tames its bitterness as well, while crisping its leaves like addictive kale chips.
Rapini Ingredient Tips
- Olive Oil: For this and all roasting recipes, use a medium-range basic olive oil. I like Whole Foods' 365 Everyday Value Olive Oils and California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil. These are not too pricey, and you can use them for almost everything—they're great in a basic vinaigrette like my Meyer Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette as well. If you splurge on some really great olive oil, save it for a special salad dressing or a finishing drizzle on some ripe tomatoes.
- Broccoli Rabe: Look for dark green bundles without yellowing leaves or flowering florets. Bundles with smaller leaves are generally younger plants, which may be more mild in flavor and tender when cooked.
- Crushed Red Pepper: I find that a little bit of heat is a great pairing with the slight bitterness of the broccoli rabe, but feel free to omit this or replace it with regular black pepper.
Broccoli Rabe vs. Broccolini
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between broccoli rabe and broccolini? Or if there is one? In truth, they are completely different plants. Broccolini, like its close cousin broccoli, is a member of the cabbage family. It's actually a hybrid of broccoli as we know it and Chinese broccoli. The taste of broccolini is similar to broccoli, and you can eat the florets, leaves, and stems without having to peel the stems. Broccoli rabe, on the other hand, is most related to the turnip plant, which explains its slightly bitter greens (similar to turnip greens or mustard greens).
How to Cook Broccoli Rabe
- First, preheat your oven to 425 degrees.
- Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Rinse one bunch of broccoli rabe (about 1 pound total). Cut off the very bottom of each stalk, then cut the stems into 1-2 inch chunks. Leaves and florets can be left whole.
- Toss the broccoli rabe with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, ½ teaspoon of salt, and ¼ teaspoon of red pepper flakes (if desired) in a large bowl.
- Spread out into one layer on sheet pan.
6. Roast broccoli rabe for 15 minutes, or until stems are tender and leaves are crispy.
Expert Broccoli Rabe Tips
- You might wonder whether you can roast the broccoli rabe stalks whole, rather than cutting them into bite-sized chunks. You certainly can, though the fibrous stems are harder to cut once the rapini is roasted. Chopping it in advance means you can just pop the pieces in your mouth once they're on your plate.
- Depending on the size of your broccoli rabe bundle, you may want to spread out over 2 sheet pans instead of 1. Keeping the broccoli rabe in one thin layer ensures that it roasts rather than steams, so you get crispy leaves and lightly browned stems and florets.
- Want to do this recipe in a hurry? Try air frying instead! Just choose a low heat for your air fryer (no more than 325°F), and watch it carefully. The roasted broccoli rabe leaves can go from perfectly crispy to blackened in a hot second.
Flavor Variations & Serving Suggestions
The crushed red pepper in this recipe is only one option for a flavor variation. You might add a different spice in with the olive oil, such as a little chili powder or smoked paprika. Everything Bagel seasoning is another fun idea, best added after the broccoli rabe has been roasted. You can also top the roasted broccoli rapini with lemon zest and serve with a lemon wedge to squeeze over it.
Roasted broccoli rabe makes an excellent side dish for so many different pairings. I love to serve it on the side of my Crab Quiche or my Mushroom Quiche. Add it to a grain bowl along with my Crispy Baked Tofu. Or serve with crab cakes or baked salmon fillets. This dish is also part of my regular lunch repertoire. After roasting, I serve with an over-easy egg topped with chili crisp!
Other Delicious Roasted Vegetable Recipes
Did I mention that roasting makes everything taste better? That's one of my main techniques with working with almost any vegetable. If you have kids in the house, you might want to try my simple and kid-friendly Roasted Broccoli or Oven Roasted Carrots. Or try some of my other favorites:
And, with this recipe or any of these other roasted vegetable recipes, you can add another level of deliciousness by serving them with this Truffle Aioli on the side.
If you try this roasted broccoli rabe recipe, I would love to hear from you! Please rate this recipe and leave a comment below—your feedback is invaluable to me.
And please follow along on Instagram, Pinterest, and Facebook or subscribe to my newsletter. I’d love to inspire you with more delicious, healthy, and seasonal recipes!
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Roasted Rapini (Broccoli Rabe)
Ingredients
- 1 bunch broccoli rabe (about 1 pound)
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper if desired
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees.
- Line a sheet pan with aluminum foil or parchment paper.
- Rinse broccoli rabe, cut off the very bottom of each stalk, then cut the stems into 1-2 inch chunks. Leaves and florets can be left whole.
- Toss the broccoli rabe with the olive oil, salt, and red pepper flakes in a large bowl, then spread out into one layer on sheet pan.
- Roast broccoli rabe for 15 minutes, or until stems are tender and leaves are crispy.
Notes
Nutrition
Instagram Users: Now that you've made this broccoli rabe recipe, tag me @vanillabeancuisine or #vanillabeancuisine because I’d love to see your results!
More About Molly
Cooking healthy(ish) meals with seasonal ingredients is my passion. Trained as a French pastry chef, I spent over 10 years as a personal chef. Here you'll find well-tested recipes that you and your family will love!
Once again, excellent!!
Thanks so much!
I made this tonight and it came out excellent. Better than boiling and sautéing. 5 stars!
Glad to hear it! I'll never go back to boiling and sautéing!