Pasta With Ricotta And 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 WITH SAUSAGE AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Cut the broccoli rabe into 3 to 4 inch pieces, discarding the stems. In a large pot of rapidly boiling water, blanch the broccoli rabe until tender and cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Before you drain broccoli rabe, reserve 1 cup of cooking liquid. Drain and rinse the broccoli rabe with cold water until it has cooled off. Spread it out on a towel to finish draining.
• Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to package directions until al dente.
• While the pasta is cooking, place 2 tablespoons of water into a cold skillet with garlic and sausage and then turn heat to medium-low. Cook, stirring occasionally, until garlic is golden and sausage is cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Pour reserved broccoli water into pan with sausage.
• When the pasta is cooked, drain it and place back in pot you cooked it in and season with salt. Pour sausage sauce over pasta and stir in cooked broccoli rabe. Taste and adjust seasonings. Serve immediately.
• If the Queen's coming to dinner: Garnish with fresh bread crumbs and/or freshly grated pecorino Romano or parmesan cheese.

BROCCOLI RABE & GARLIC PASTA

Steps:

• Cook linguine according to package directions. Meanwhile, trim 1/2 in. from broccoli rabe stems; discard any coarse or damaged leaves. Rinse broccoli rabe in cold water and cut into 2-in. pieces; set aside., In a large skillet, saute garlic in oil for 1 minute. Add the broccoli rabe, salt, pepper, pepper flakes and 1/2 cup broth. Bring to a boil., Reduce heat; cover and cook for 3-5 minutes or until broccoli rabe is tender. Drain linguine; add to the pan. Stir in parsley and enough remaining broth to moisten the linguine. Sprinkle with cheese.

PASTA WITH BROCCOLI AND SAUSAGE WITH A RICOTTA SURPRISE

Steps:

• Place a large pot of water with a tight-fitting lid over high heat and bring to a boil. Once it comes to a boil, add some salt and the pasta. Cook according to package directions until al dente. Heads up: you will need to use about 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking liquid for the sauce before you drain the pasta.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, lemon zest, salt, and a lot of freshly ground black pepper. Reserve the ricotta mixture on the countertop and let it come to room temp. The flavors of the cheese and lemon will develop as the cheese warms up.
• Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the EVOO. Add the sausage and break it up with the back of a wooden spoon into small bite-size pieces. Really go at breaking the meat up; it will make a big difference in the end. Cook the meat until brown, about 4 to 5 minutes. While the sausage is browning, prepare the broccoli. Cut the broccoli tops into small florets. Remove the fibrous outer layer of the stem (just square it off using your knife), then thinly slice the tender center portion of the stem.
• Once the sausage is brown, remove it to a paper-towel-lined plate. Return the skillet to the heat and add all of the broccoli and the chopped onion. Spread the veggies out in an even layer in the pan, season with some salt and pepper, and let the broccoli brown up a bit before stirring, about 2 minutes. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and continue to cook 2 minutes more. Add the sausage back to the skillet along with the chicken stock. Ladle in some cooking water from the pasta and bring up to a simmer. Cook until the broccoli is tender and the liquids have reduced slightly, about 2 minutes. Add the lemon juice, parsley, and cooked, well-drained pasta. Toss to combine and simmer 1 last minute to allow the pasta to soak in the sauce and flavors. Turn the heat off, add the grated cheese, and toss to combine.
• To serve, place a large dollop of the pepper-lemon-ricotta mixture into each of 4 shallow bowls and bury it with hot pasta. Once you are at the table, mix it up with a fork to distribute the ricotta cheese. Serve with extra grated cheese.

BROCCOLI RABE WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Trim and wash the broccoli rabe, and cut into bite-sized pieces. Wash in cold water, and drain.
• In a large kettle, add enough salted water to cook the broccoli rabe. Bring to a boil, and cook until crisply tender. Do not overcook. Remove the broccoli rabe, and set aside. Reserve the cooking liquid in the kettle.
• Bring the kettle with the cooking liquid to a boil. Add the pasta, and cook according to the package instructions. Do not overcook. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a deep skillet, and add the garlic. Cook briefly, do not brown. Add the pepper flakes, the sweet pepper, rosemary and oregano, and cook, stirring briefly. Add the crushed tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Bring to a boil, and simmer for 8 minutes, stirring often.
• Add the drained pasta, the cooked broccoli rabe and the reserved cooking liquid, the remaining olive oil and the Parmesan cheese. Cook, stirring and tossing, for 1 minute. Check seasoning; serve immediately on hot serving plates.

FETTUCCINE WITH BROCCOLI RABE, TOMATOES AND RICOTTA

Steps:

• Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add broccoli rabe and cook until stalks are crisp-tender, about 3 minutes. Using 4- to 5-inch-diameter strainer, transfer to large bowl. Return water in pot to boil. Add pasta and boil until just tender but still firm to bite. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup cooking liquid.
• Meanwhile, heat 1/4 cup oil in heavy medium skillet over medium heat. Add half of garlic; sauté 1 minute. Add tomatoes; cook until very soft, stirring frequently, about 5 minutes. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Heat 1/4 cup oil in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Add anchovies and remaining garlic; sauté 2 minutes. Add broccoli rabe; sauté 2 minutes. Add pasta and reserved cooking liquid and toss to heat through. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Spoon pasta onto plates. Spoon tomato mixture around. Sprinkle with cheese and serve.

RACHAEL RAY'S PASTA WITH BROCCOLI AND SAUSAGE W/RICOTTA SURPRISE

Steps:

• Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente.
• Heads up, you will need to use about 1/2 cup of the starchy cooking liquid for the sauce before you drain the pasta.
• In a small mixing bowl, combine the ricotta cheese, lemon zest, salt, and a lot of freshly ground black pepper.
• Reserve the ricotta mixture on the countertop and let it come up to room temperature The flavors of the cheese and lemon will develop as the cheese warms up.
• Preheat a large skillet over medium-high heat with the EVOO.
• Add the sausage and break it up with the back of a wooden spoon into a small bite-size pieces.
• Really go at breaking the meat up; it will make a difference in the end.
• Cook the meat until brown, about 4 to 5 minutes.
• While the sausage is browning, prepare the broccoli.
• Cut the broccoli tops into small florets. Remove the fibrous outer layer of the stem (just square it off using your knife), then thinly slice the tender center portion of the stem.
• Once the sausage is brown, remove it to a paper-towel-lined plate.
• Return the skillet to the heat and add all of the broccoli and the chopped onion. Spread the veggies out in an even layer in the pan, season with some salt and pepper, and let the broccoli brown up a bit before stirring, about 2 minutes.
• Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and continue to cook 2 minutes more.
• Add the sausage back to the skillet along with the chicken stock.
• Ladle in some cooking water from the pasta and bring up to a simmer.
• Cook until the broccoli is tender and the liquids have reduced slightly, about 2 minutes.
• Add the lemon juice, parsley, and cooked, well-drained pasta.
• Toss to combine and simmer 1 last minute to allow the pasta to soak in the sauce and flavors.
• Turn the heat off, add the grated cheese, and toss to combine.
• To serve, place a large dollop of the pepper-lemon-ricotta mixture into each of 4 shallow bowls and bury it with the hot pasta.
• Once you are at the table, mix it up with a fork to distribute the ricotta cheese. Serve with extra grated cheese.

PASTA WITH RICOTTA AND BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• In a large pot of boiling salted water, boil broccoli rabe 1 minute; with a slotted spoon, transfer to a colander to drain. In same pot of water, cook pasta until al dente, according to package instructions. Drain pasta, and return to pot.
• Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add anchovy fillets (if using), garlic, and pepper flakes; cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 to 60 seconds.
• Add broccoli rabe; season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Stir in ricotta and milk; cook just until heated through, 3 to 4 minutes.
• Add contents of skillet to pasta; season with salt and pepper, and toss to combine. Serve immediately.