Broccoli Rabe with Pasta and Sun Dried Tomatoes

Broccoli rabe, blanched then sautéed in olive oil with garlic and chili pepper flakes. Tossed with sun dried tomatoes, pasta, and Parmesan.

By
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise Bauer
Elise founded Simply Recipes in 2003 and led the site until 2019. She has an MA in Food Research from Stanford University.
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Updated May 24, 2022
Elise Bauer
Broccoli Rabe with Pasta and Sun-dried Tomatoes
Elise Bauer

Have you ever had broccoli rabe (pronounced "rahb" or "rah-bee" depending on where you are from)?

I have sort of a love hate relationship with it. It looks like broccoli, but it doesn't taste like it.

Broccoli rabe can sometimes be so bitter, even with blanching, there's no amount of vinegar or bacon that can save it.

But bitterness heightens flavors (hence the purpose of parsley). Your tongue can distinguish 4 basic tastes—sour, bitter, sweet, and salty—so if you combine the somewhat bitter rabe with strong tastes from the other groups, the result can be like happy fireworks in your mouth.

Broccoli Rabe
Elise Bauer

Rabe combined with sun-dried tomatoes is a deli classic, the tomatoes offering a sweet intense counter-note to the rabe. Still, it's not for everyone, so be warned.

This recipe tosses lightly sautéed broccoli rabe with sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, Parmesan cheese and penne pasta. So good! We devoured it.

Broccoli Rabe with Pasta and Sun Dried Tomatoes

Prep Time 15 mins
Cook Time 15 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Servings 4 servings

Feel free to toss in a few salty black olives, toasted pine nuts or walnuts, and or a dash of lemon juice.

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (large bunch) broccoli rabe, rinsed, cut into 1 1/2- to 2-inch pieces

  • Salt

  • 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

  • 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (depending on how spicy you like things)

  • 1 large clove garlic, chopped (about 1 to 2 teaspoons chopped)

  • 2 ounces sun-dried tomatoes (packed in oil), roughly chopped

  • 8 ounces penne pasta (or other favorite short pasta)

  • 1/2 ounce Parmesan cheese, freshly grated

  • Salt, to taste

  • Freshly ground black pepper

Method

  1. Blanch the broccoli rabe:

    Bring two large pots (4-quart pots filled at least half-way) of water to a boil, one pot for blanching the broccoli rabe, the other for the pasta.

    Whichever pot comes to a boil first, into it place the broccoli rabe. Blanch only for one minute, then use a slotted spoon to remove the rabe from the hot water to a large bowl of ice water to stop the cooking.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer

    Drain the rabe and pat dry with paper towels.

  2. Cook the pasta:

    Typically penne pasta takes about 10 minutes to cook to al dente. So start the pasta before you start sautéing the rabe.

    When the water comes to a rolling boil, add a tablespoon of salt to it, let the salt dissolve, then add the pasta.

    Once the water returns to a boil, start the timer. Let the pasta cook, at a rolling boil, uncovered, for whatever time is necessary to cook it to al dente, cooked through but still a little firm.

  3. Sauté the blanched broccoli rabe with garlic and chili flakes:

    Once the pasta is in the water, heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large sauté pan on medium to medium high heat.

    Add the chopped garlic and the red chile flakes. Cook until the garlic just begins to brown at the edges.

    Elise Bauer
    Elise Bauer

    Then add to the pan the blanched broccoli rabe. Toss to coat with the olive oil, chile flakes, and garlic. Sprinkle with salt.

  4. Add sun dried tomatoes, pasta, and Parmesan:

    Cook the broccoli rabe about 5 minutes, until just tender. Stir in the chopped sun dried tomatoes.

    Elise Bauer

    When the pasta is done, drain it and add it to the rabe.

    Sprinkle everything with black pepper and the grated Parmesan cheese. Toss to combine.

    Serve immediately.

Broccoli Rabe with Pasta and Sun-dried Tomatoes
Elise Bauer
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
222 Calories
11g Fat
25g Carbs
9g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 222
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 11g 14%
Saturated Fat 2g 10%
Cholesterol 3mg 1%
Sodium 431mg 19%
Total Carbohydrate 25g 9%
Dietary Fiber 5g 18%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 9g
Vitamin C 38mg 188%
Calcium 168mg 13%
Iron 4mg 20%
Potassium 489mg 10%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.