Broccoli Rabe Pasta Recipe

This Broccoli Rabe Orecchiette Pasta recipe is a classic example of how simple ingredients come together perfectly to create a great Italian pasta dish.

It is well known that Italian cuisine exemplifies regional cooking and traditional Italian pasta dishes are the perfect examples.

There are hundreds of different shapes and each pairs with the perfect sauce. Furthermore, this “perfect” association can be linked to the local ingredients found in particular regions of Italy.

Some great examples are pasta dishes like this lemon pasta with fettuccine, sauteed broccoli and cavatelli recipe or this recipe for Spaghetti Pasta Recipe with veggies, to name a few.

Is there a pasta shape for every sauce… or is it a sauce for every shape? ‘

Regardless, there is a method to this madness and today, all eyes are on this rapini pasta with orecchiette recipe. 

Mise en place

Prep the garlic:  Crush about 4-6 garlic cloves with the side of your knife. Remove the papery skins and cut off the tips. Give them a coarse chop and set them aside. Feel free to adjust this amount based on your personal preference. 

Prep the rapini: Trim the stems of 2 bunches to remove as much of the tough stalk as possible, anywhere from 1-2 inches. Then, rinse it under running water. 

Instructions

Over high heat, bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. 

Add the broccoli rabe and cook until tender. This should take 4-5 minutes.

Strain and gently squeeze out excess moisture. Coarsely chop and set aside.

Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Please note that you can use the same water to cook your noodles. My personal preference is to start with a fresh pot of water.

Add 1 pound of orecchiette and stir. Cook according to package directions or until almost al dente. About 1-2 minutes shy of the recommended cooking time.

While the pasta is cooking, heat ⅓ cup of olive oil in a large frying pan over medium-low heat.

Add the chopped garlic and 2 anchovy fillets. Do not allow the garlic to brown.

Mash the anchovy with the back of a spoon for about 1-2 minutes.

If using, add chili flakes and stir for 30-60 seconds. 

Carefully add the cooked broccoli rabe and stir to combine. Adjust seasonings and heat through. Add 1 ladle of pasta water and occasionally stir for 4-5 minutes. Add more water if the mixture dries out.

When the orecchiette is almost al dente, drain, reserving 2-3 ladles of the water.

Add to the pan along with some of the water and continue to cook. Taste for doneness. 

Turn off the heat. Add a ¼ cup of grated Parmigiano-Reggiano Cheese and a ¼ cup of grated Pecorino Romano Cheese and toss everything together. 

Continue to shake the pan back and forth until a sauce forms. 

Plate and garnish with more grated cheese, if desired.

Serve immediately.

Tips

• This recipe has so few ingredients, so ensure they are high quality.
• Although anchovies provide lots of character and flavor to this dish, it is an optional ingredient.
• Tossing the water with the cheese in the skillet creates a silky sauce. 
• Replace orecchiette with any short pasta that can scoop up the sauce. Cavatelli and small shells are great alternatives. 
• Broccoli rabe can easily be replaced with broccolini, swiss chard or even broccoli.

How to prevent orecchiette from sticking together

Orecchiette. Little ears. They are immediately recognizable and associated with the Puglia region of Southern Italy, aka, the heel.

The little cavity of orecchiette provides the perfect space to collect just the right amount of sauce from the garlic-infused olive oil and the rapini.

Unfortunately, this wonderful pasta also has a reputation for sticking together and everyone knows orecchiette are almost impossible to separate once that happens.

Here’s how:

• gradually add the pasta to the boiling water; allow the orecchiette to escape slowly from your fingers;
• immediately stir the orecchiette once it hits the boiling water;
• purchase pasta with little ridges on the exterior… this helps in preventing the orecchiette from nestling together.

If you still have this issue with a particular brand, I recommend you switch brands. Just for the record, it has been my experience that fresh orecchiette does not stick together.

Broccoli rabe recipes we love

• Italian-Style Broccoli Rabe aka Rapini
• Pizza Rolls with Sausage and Broccoli Rabe
• Broccoli Rabe Cavatelli Pasta
• Broccoli Rabe Soup

Recipe Origins

This traditional dish has its origins in the beautiful Puglia region of Italy. It is referred to as Orecchiette con le cime di rapa and usually includes a topping of toasted bread, like in St. Joseph’s Spaghetti recipe. 

As I have previously mentioned, my mom loved to cook.

During my youth, she often made a variation of Puglia’s signature dish with my dad’s homemade Italian sausages. 

Feel free to adapt it to your preferences.

Do you have a special version of this Puglian specialty?

I would love to hear about 🙂

THANKS SO MUCH for following and being part of the She Loves Biscotti community where you will find Simple & Tasty Family-Friendly Recipes with an Italian Twist.

Ciao for now,

Maria 

★★★★★ If you have made this pasta with broccoli rabe recipe, I would love to hear about it in the comments below and be sure to rate the recipe!

Recipe

This post was originally published on November 7, 2017, and republished on March 19, 2020, with updated content and photos. Thanks for sharing!