Pasta Shell Risotto With Broccoli Rabe Recipes

SHELLS WITH BROCCOLI RABE & PANCETTA

Steps:

• Bring a large (11 by 5 1/2-inch) pot of water to a boil and add 1 tablespoon salt. Remove and discard the bottom third of the broccoli rabe and slice the rest crosswise in 2-inch pieces. When the water boils, cook the broccoli rabe for 2 to 3 minutes, until just tender. With a wire skimmer or tongs, lift the broccoli rabe (don't drain the pot!) into a large bowl and set aside. Bring the water back to a boil, add the shells, and cook al dente according to the directions on the package. Reserve 1 cup of the cooking liquid, drain the pasta, and set aside.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large (12-inch) sauté pan, add the pancetta, and cook over medium heat for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the pancetta is browned. Add the garlic and cook for one minute. Add the broccoli rabe and red pepper flakes and toss well. Add the cooked shells, 1 teaspoon salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper and toss. Cook over medium heat for a few minutes, until all the ingredients are heated through, adding enough of the reserved cooking water so the pasta isn't dry. Serve hot in large shallow bowls with a large dollop of ricotta and drizzled with olive oil, and with grated Parmesan on the side.

PASTA-SHELL RISOTTO WITH BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring broth, water, and 1 teaspoon salt to a boil in a medium saucepan, then reduce heat and keep at a bare simmer.
• Trim tough stem ends from broccoli rabe, then cut remaining stems crosswise into 1-inch pieces and reserve. Coarsely chop florets and leaves.
• Heat oil in a 5- to 6-quart heavy pot over medium-high heat until it shimmers, then sauté onion with 1/2 teaspoon salt until softened, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and sauté 1 minute, then add pasta, broccoli rabe stems, and 3/4 cup hot broth and simmer briskly, stirring constantly, until broth is absorbed. Continue simmering and adding hot broth, about 3/4 cup at a time, stirring frequently and letting each addition be absorbed before adding the next, until pasta is almost al dente and creamy-looking, 12 to 13 minutes. Stir in remaining broccoli rabe and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, until pasta is al dente and broccoli rabe is just tender, 2 to 3 minutes. (If needed, add more hot broth to moisten; there will be some broth left over.) Stir in cheese and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with more cheese on the side.

BROCCOLI RABE RISOTTO

Steps:

• Blanch the broccoli rabe, and then immediately shock in an ice bath. Remove from the ice and set aside.
• Heat the chicken stock in a medium saucepan and keep warm on the stove. Heat 1 tablespoon of the butter and the olive oil in a medium high-sided saute pan, and cook the garlic and shallots, sprinkling with salt and black pepper, until soft. Stir in the rice, tossing to coat, and cook 1 minute. Pour in the wine and cook until completely reduced.
• Add 2 cups of the hot stock and cook until absorbed. Continue adding 1 cup of the stock at a time, stirring often, until all the liquid is absorbed. (You may not need all of the stock.) Cook until the rice is al dente, about 20 minutes.
• Stir in the broccoli rabe to combine, and then stir in the Parmesan and remaining butter until melted. Adjust the seasoning and serve with the Piquillo Pepper Salsa alongside. Garnish with bull's blood, chervil sprigs and a sprinkle of Parmesan.
• Combine the piquillo peppers, olives, olive oil, parsley, vinegar and thyme in a small bowl. Season with salt and black pepper and serve with the risotto.

RISOTTO WITH BROCCOLI RABE AND ACORN SQUASH

Steps:

• In a saute pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the olive oil over medium heat and add the squash. Cook, shaking the pan frequently, until the squash is softened but not mushy, about 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and set aside.
• Place the stock in a saucepan on the back of the stove and adjust the heat so that it is just below a simmer.
• In large, heavy-bottomed pot, heat the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter over medium-high heat and add the onion. Cook, stirring, until the onion becomes translucent, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add the rabe and continue to cook for another few minutes until it is somewhat reduced in volume. Add the rice and toss until well coated. Add the wine and cook, stirring, until it is almost completely evaporated.
• One cup at a time, add 3 cups of the stock, letting the liquid all but evaporate between each addition and stirring constantly. (Lower the heat if necessary to keep the rice from sticking.) Add a fourth cup of stock along with the squash and continue to cook, stirring, until the mixture is almost completely dry.
• Lower the heat and stir in the lemon zest, Parmesan and final 1/2 cup of stock. Season to taste with salt and pepper and cook, stirring, for a minute or two more until the mixture becomes creamy. Remove from the heat and serve immediately with Parmesan on the side.

PASTA WITH GARLICKY ANCHOVIES AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until 1 minute shy of al dente. Use a coffee cup or measuring cup to save some pasta water, then drain pasta.
• While the pasta cooks, coarsely chop the parsley, 6 anchovy fillets, scallions, capers (if using) and a pinch of salt. You can chop it all together on a cutting board, or pulse everything briefly together in the food processor; just make sure to keep it coarse.
• Heat a large skillet over medium. Add oil, remaining 4 anchovies and half the garlic, and let cook, stirring, until anchovies start to dissolve, about 1 minute.
• Stir in broccoli rabe, tomato, about two-thirds of the parsley mixture and a pinch of salt to the pan. Sauté until the rabe is tender, 5 to 8 minutes, adding splashes of pasta water as the pan dries out. Taste and season with more salt if necessary.
• Add pasta to pan along with butter, lemon zest, remaining garlic and red-pepper flakes. Toss until the butter melts and the pasta is combined with the vegetables, adding more pasta water if the mixture seems dry. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
• Divide pasta among bowls and sprinkle with remaining parsley mixture. Drizzle with olive oil, and serve with ricotta, if you like.

RISOTTO WITH BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Put your stock or broth into a saucepan, and bring it to a simmer over low heat with a ladle nearby or in the pot. Make sure that the stock is well seasoned.
• Heat the olive oil over medium heat in a wide, heavy skillet or in a large, wide saucepan. Add the onion and a generous pinch of salt, and cook gently until it is just tender, about three minutes. Do not brown.
• Add the rice and the garlic, and stir until the grains separate and begin to crackle. Add the wine, and stir until it has been absorbed. Begin adding the simmering stock, a couple of ladlefuls (about 1/2 cup) at a time. The stock should just cover the rice and should be bubbling, not too slowly but not too quickly. Cook, stirring often, until it is just about absorbed. Add another ladleful or two of the stock, and continue to cook in this fashion, stirring in more stock when the rice is almost dry. You do not have to stir constantly, but stir often. After 10 minutes, stir in the diced broccoli stems. Continue to add broth and stir the rice for another five minutes. Stir in the thinly sliced flowers. Continue to add broth and stir the rice for another 10 minutes or so. When the rice is tender all the way through but still chewy, it is done. Taste now and adjust seasoning, adding salt and pepper to taste. Add another ladleful of stock to the rice, along with the Parmesan and the parsley, and remove from the heat. The mixture should be creamy (add more stock if it isn't). Stir for about half a minute, then serve in wide soup bowls or on plates, spreading the risotto in a thin layer rather than a mound.

SPAGHETTI WITH BROCCOLI RABE, TOASTED GARLIC AND BREAD CRUMBS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. When oil is warm, cook garlic just until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add bread crumbs and red pepper flakes and cook until bread crumbs are golden, 5 minutes or so. Remove and set aside.
• Cook broccoli rabe in boiling water until it is soft, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain well and chop. Cook pasta in same pot.
• Meanwhile, add remaining oil to skillet over medium-low heat. Add broccoli rabe and toss well; sprinkle with salt and pepper. When it is warm add garlic and bread crumbs and mix well.
• When pasta is done, drain it, reserving a little cooking water. Toss pasta in skillet with broccoli rabe mixture, moistening with a little reserved water if necessary. Adjust seasonings and serve with freshly grated Parmesan.