Broccoli

Pasta + Garlicky Broccoli Rabe

Return to This Week’s Menu

Pasta + Garlicky Broccoli Rabe

Serves 4  | Prep Time: 5 minutes | Cook Time: 15 minutes

A quick and brilliant one pot pasta.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta, whatever shape you like (but chunky ones will match up better with the rabe)
    1 pound broccoli rabe, heavy stems removed, remaining stems and leaves cut into 1- to 2-inch sections (I attempt to match my pasta in length)
    1/2 cup olive oil
    5 garlic cloves, peeled and minced or micro planned
    1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or more or less to taste
    About 1 heaping teaspoon Kosher salt (or more to taste)
  • To serve: Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese (omit, of course, if keeping the dish vegan)

Chef Tips

Preparation

Step 1

Bring a huge pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and five minutes before its cooking time is up, add the broccoli rabe. It will seem like too much for the water, but with a stir or two, the rabe should wilt and cook alongside the pasta.

Step 2

Save a cup of the pasta water. Drain rabe and pasta together and pour into a serving bowl. In the same pot or a tiny one, heat the olive oil with the garlic, pepper flakes and Kosher salt over moderate heat, stirring frequently for 3 to 4 minutes, or until the garlic becomes lightly golden. Pour mixture over pasta and toss to evenly coat. Shower with freshly grated cheese and eat at once.