Slow-Cooked Broccoli Rabe (Cime di Rapa Fritte)

Notoriously bitter and tough, broccoli rabe becomes mellow and supple when cooked slowly in a bath of water and olive oil. Simply seasoned with garlic and chile flakes, this Italian home-cooking classic is true comfort food. This broccoli rabe recipe first appeared in our October 2011 issue along with Lesley Porcelli's story The Soft Approach.

  • Serves

    serves 4-6

Ingredients

  • 1 14 cups olive oil
  • 1 12 tsp. crushed red chile flakes
  • 12 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 14 lb. broccoli rabe, thick stems removed, cut into 2" pieces
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1

Heat 3⁄4 cup oil, chile flakes, and half the garlic in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add broccoli rabe and 1⁄2 cup water, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, place remaining oil and garlic in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Drain, and set garlic chips aside.

Step 3

To serve, season broccoli rabe with salt and pepper and top with reserved garlic chips.
  1. Heat 3⁄4 cup oil, chile flakes, and half the garlic in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add broccoli rabe and 1⁄2 cup water, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, place remaining oil and garlic in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Drain, and set garlic chips aside.
  3. To serve, season broccoli rabe with salt and pepper and top with reserved garlic chips.
Recipes

Slow-Cooked Broccoli Rabe (Cime di Rapa Fritte)

  • Serves

    serves 4-6

Slow-Cooked Broccoli Rabe (Cime di Rapa Fritte)
PHOTOGRAPHY BY MURRAY HALL; FOOD STYLING BY JESSIE YUCHEN

By SAVEUR Editors


Published on September 11, 2013

Notoriously bitter and tough, broccoli rabe becomes mellow and supple when cooked slowly in a bath of water and olive oil. Simply seasoned with garlic and chile flakes, this Italian home-cooking classic is true comfort food. This broccoli rabe recipe first appeared in our October 2011 issue along with Lesley Porcelli's story The Soft Approach.

Ingredients

  • 1 14 cups olive oil
  • 1 12 tsp. crushed red chile flakes
  • 12 cloves garlic, thinly sliced
  • 2 14 lb. broccoli rabe, thick stems removed, cut into 2" pieces
  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Instructions

Step 1

Heat 3⁄4 cup oil, chile flakes, and half the garlic in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add broccoli rabe and 1⁄2 cup water, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

Step 2

Meanwhile, place remaining oil and garlic in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Drain, and set garlic chips aside.

Step 3

To serve, season broccoli rabe with salt and pepper and top with reserved garlic chips.
  1. Heat 3⁄4 cup oil, chile flakes, and half the garlic in a 12" skillet over medium-high heat, and cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is lightly browned, about 2 minutes. Add broccoli rabe and 1⁄2 cup water, reduce heat to medium-low, and cover skillet; cook, stirring occasionally, until very soft, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
  2. Meanwhile, place remaining oil and garlic in a 1-qt. saucepan over medium-high heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is crisp and golden, about 5 minutes. Drain, and set garlic chips aside.
  3. To serve, season broccoli rabe with salt and pepper and top with reserved garlic chips.

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