Broccoli Rabe Lasagna Recipes

POLENTA AND BROCCOLI RABE LASAGNA

Steps:

• Place the lasagna noodles in a large bowl of cold water to soak (if you are using no-boil noodles, you can skip this step). Lightly oil a 9- by 13-inch baking pan.
• Heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and chili flakes; cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Stir in the tomatoes and simmer over medium-low heat for 10 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt and the basil. Remove from heat.
• Remove the tough lower stem ends of the broccoli rabe. Cut the remaining stems, leaves and florets into 1-inch pieces. Fill a pot with 8 cups water and 2 tablespoons salt. Bring water to a boil and add the broccoli rabe. Cook 30 seconds, then use a slotted spoon to transfer broccoli rabe to a bowl.
• Slowly whisk the polenta into the water. Simmer until polenta is thick and creamy, 5 to 10 minutes. Add the mascarpone or ricotta, 1/2 cup parmesan and the butter, and stir until combined. Stir in the broccoli rabe.
• Heat the oven to 400 degrees. Arrange a single layer of lasagna noodles in the bottom of the pan. Tear or break any pieces as needed to fit them in one layer, with no overlapping. Top with a third of the polenta mixture, half the tomato sauce and a third of the mozzarella. Arrange a second layer of lasagna noodles over the mozzarella. Repeat layering of polenta, sauce and mozzarella. Arrange a final layer of noodles over the cheese and finish with the remaining polenta and mozzarella. Scatter 1/2 cup parmesan and the black pepper over the top.
• Transfer casserole to the oven. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbling, 30 to 40 minutes. Let stand 20 minutes before serving. Serve with more chili flakes scattered on top, if you like.

SPICY ONE-SKILLET LASAGNA

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• In a 12-inch high-sided skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it into bite-size pieces with a wooden spoon, until cooked through and browned, about 7 minutes. Add the shallots and garlic and cook until translucent and slightly fragrant, another 3 minutes. Add the lemon zest and red pepper flakes and cook for additional 2 minutes to toast. Stir in the broccoli rabe and salt; cook until the rabe is wilted, 2 minutes. Remove the mixture to a medium bowl and return the pan to the stove over low heat.
• Spoon a small amount of the marinara sauce in the bottom of the skillet. Mix the remaining marinara with the sausage mixture in the bowl. Layer half of the lasagna noodles on top of the marinara, breaking them up as needed to fit the pan. Cover with half of the sausage mixture. Add 3/4 cup of the Parmesan and half the mozzarella. Layer with the remaining noodles. Cover with the remaining sausage mixture and top with the rest of the Parmesan and mozzarella and the Gruyere.
• Bake until bubbly and golden on top, about 40 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes before serving.

BROCCOLI RABE WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Cut off and discard the tough ends of the broccoli rabe and cut the rest of into 2-inch pieces. Place the broccoli in a colander and rinse. Drain well. Heat the olive oil in a large pot. Add the garlic and cook over low heat, stirring occasionally, for 4 to 6 minutes, until golden brown. Remove the garlic with a slotted spoon, and set aside. Add the broccoli to the hot oil. Add the red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper and cook, covered, over medium to low heat for 5 to 10 minutes, turning occasionally with tongs, until the stalks are tender but still al dente. Add the reserved garlic, check the seasonings, and serve hot.

LASAGNA WITH ROASTED BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Slice the broccoli crowns 1/3 inch thick, letting the florets on the edges fall off. Peel any large pieces of stem by gently pulling away the thick skin, then toss the slices and the unattached florets with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Place on the baking sheet in an even layer. Roast, stirring and flipping the large slices over (tongs are a good tool for this) after 8 minutes, until the broccoli is tender when pierced with a knife and the tops are nicely browned, about 15 minutes total. Remove from the oven and set aside. Turn the oven down to 350 degrees.
• Blend the ricotta cheese with the egg, water, cinnamon, salt and pepper.
• Chop the anchovies and stir into the tomato sauce. Oil a rectangular baking dish and spread a spoonful of tomato sauce over the bottom. Top with a layer of lasagna noodles. Spoon a thin layer of the ricotta mixture over the noodles. Top with a layer of broccoli, then a layer of tomato sauce and a layer of Parmesan. Repeat the layers until the ingredients are used up, ending with a layer of lasagna noodles topped with tomato sauce and Parmesan.
• Cover the baking dish tightly with foil and place in the oven. Bake 40 minutes, until the noodles are tender and the mixture is bubbling. Uncover and, if you wish, bake another 10 minutes, until the top begins to brown. Remove from the heat and allow to sit for 5 minutes before serving.

SAUSAGE, BROCCOLI RABE, AND TOMATO LASAGNE

Steps:

• In a small bowl soak tomatoes in boiling water 30 minutes and drain in a sieve set over a bowl, reserving soaking liquid. Chop tomatoes fine.
• In a large non-stick skillet cook onions in 1 1/2 tablespoons oil over moderate heat, stirring, until soft. Add sausage, stirring to break up, and simmer 5 minutes. Discard excess fat.
• In a saucepan melt butter over moderately low heat and whisk in flour until smooth. Cook roux, whisking, 3 minutes. Add reserved soaking liquid and milk in a stream, whisking, and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, whisking occasionally, 5 minutes, or until thick. Stir in sausage mixture and tomatoes. Sausage sauce may be made 3 days ahead, cooled completely, and chilled, covered.
• In cleaned skillet heat remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons oil over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking and sauté broccoli rabe, stirring, until wilted. Add 1/4 cup water and salt and pepper to taste and simmer, covered partially, until broccoli rabe is crisp-tender and almost all liquid is evaporated, about 2 minutes. Remove skillet from heat and remove lid.
• Preheat oven to 375°F.
• Pour 1 cup sausage sauce into a baking dish, 13 by 9 by 2 inches (sauce will not cover bottom completely), and cover with 3 lasagne sheets, making sure they do not touch each other. Stir broccoli rabe into remaining sausage sauce. Spread about 1 1/2 cups sausage broccoli rabe sauce over pasta and sprinkle with 3/4 cup mozzarella . Make 2 more layers in same manner, beginning and ending with pasta. Spread tomato sauce over pasta, making sure pasta is completely covered, and sprinkle with remaining mozzarella.
• Cover dish tightly with foil, tenting slightly to prevent foil from touching top layer, and bake in middle of oven 30 minutes. Remove foil and bake lasagne 10 minutes more, or until top is bubbling. Let lasagne stand 5 minutes before serving.