Thursday, January 6, 2011

Rapini with Sun-dried Tomatoes, Pine Nuts & Feta



This well-versed green will make a rapini artist out of anyone. Rapini. Broccoli rabe. Broccolini. This multi-monikered star is the P. Diddy of the veggie stage. Or is it Puff Daddy? I can’t keep track. Regardless of what you call it, this dark, leafy green has a pungent, full-flavored bite and is packed with B vitamins.

If you're not in a flashy mood, you can simply sautée it in olive oil and garlic, but here I’ve adorned it with some savory bling. Sun-dried tomatoes, pine nuts and feta cheese make for a bejeweled performance, and you can also trick it out with cannellini or ganbanzo beans. It’ll wear many ingredients well. And the best part? After you’ve scarfed down the whole pan yourself, no one will even notice in those baggy, low-riding pants. Here’s a little R. ditty to get you in the mood:

Rapini Rap

Just ate the whole plate ‘a greens yo, dawg

But you better not think 'a callin’ me a hawg

‘Cause I’m packin’ a weapon, hear what I say?

My mean garlic breath gonna blow you away

Recipe

1 large bunch rapini, including stalks, roughly chopped

1 TBSP olive oil

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1/3 cup sun-dried tomatoes, julienned

2 TBSP toasted pine nuts

¼ cup feta cheese, crumbled

Salt and pepper to taste

If the tomatoes are packed in oil, rinse and drain well. Sautée garlic for a minute in oil and add the rapini stalks. Sautée for a couple of minutes and add the rest of the greens. Put the lid on and let it cook over low to medium heat for about 7 to 10 minutes, but check it along the way. When it’s almost done, season with salt and pepper, and add the tomatoes, pine nuts and cheese. Cook another couple of minutes until the rapini is fork-tender.

Makes about 3–4 servings as a side dish or 2 main courses

10 comments:

  1. I think it's P Diddy these days :) I'll think of the Rapini Rap next time I devour a pot, I mean a plate, of rabe. Loving the tomato-feta-pine nut combination.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Love the flavah. So funny. Thanks for making my day.

    ReplyDelete
  3. My stomach started growling when I was looking at these photographs. I guess she knows a tasty thing when she sees it, and isn't shy about saying so. Feta and sun dried tomatoes. Yum.

    ReplyDelete
  4. haha I like your rapini rap :) Looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  5. No worries, all my jeans are skinnies & eating all these greens should keep me in them , yes?? xo

    ReplyDelete
  6. Yum! Perfect for the new year and trying to eat more veggies!

    ReplyDelete
  7. haha! love that little rap you concocted along with this dish! I am crazy "folle" about greens, but guess what? have never tried these; and they look mighty good to me! off to the store

    ReplyDelete
  8. thanks, you just made me laugh out loud... i needed that. after looking at the pic i could totally taste those greens, sweet tomato and creamy cheese- fantastic

    ReplyDelete
  9. LOL!! I love the Rapini Rap!!!

    Nice "bling" BTW.... every kitchen should have some!!!

    ReplyDelete
  10. There is nothing that speaks to my soul more than the phrase "cheese stuffed grape leaves." Must figure that one out before too long....

    Lovely!

    ReplyDelete