Charred Broccoli Rabe Food

SAUTEED BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Working in batches, cook the broccoli rabe in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp tender, about 1 minute per bunch. Transfer the broccoli rabe to a large bowl of ice water to cool. Reserve about 1/4 cup of the cooking liquid. Strain the cooled broccoli rabe and set aside.
• Heat the oil in a heavy large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes, and saute until the garlic is golden, about 1 minute. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add the broccoli rabe and toss to coat. Add the reserved cooking water, the raisins, and cook until the broccoli rabe is heated through and the stems are tender, about 4 minutes. Season with salt, to taste. Just before serving, toss the mixture with the pine nuts.

CHARRED BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Whisk 2 tablespoons each soy sauce and rice vinegar with 4 teaspoons each sesame oil and honey; season with salt and pepper. Thinly slice 2 cups shiitake mushroom caps and 1 shallot; add to the dressing. Toss 2 heads chopped broccoli with vegetable oil; cook on a hot grill pan, 2 minutes per side. Season with salt and pepper. Toss with the dressing, some sesame seeds and a thinly sliced red jalapeno.

ROASTED BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425 degrees. Toss broccoli rabe with olive oil, salt and red pepper flakes. Toss garlic cloves into rabe and spread on a sheet pan.
• Roast rabe for about 10 minutes. It's done when the stems are tender and the leaves are crisp at the edges.

CHARRED BROCCOLI WITH LEMON AND CHILE FLAKES

Steps:

• Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon olive oil. When the oil is heated, add the broccoli, flat sides down, in an even layer, and sprinkle with 1/2 teaspoon salt. Let the broccoli cook undisturbed for 2 minutes. Flip the broccoli and continue cooking until the broccoli is tender-crisp, an additional 2 to 3 minutes. Remove the broccoli to a plate and set aside.
• Turn the heat down to low and add 1/2 tablespoon olive oil. Add the garlic, shallot and chile flakes and cook, stirring frequently, until tender, 2 to 3 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the lemon zest and juice and stir to combine.
• Spoon the lemon-shallot mixture over the broccoli and serve.

CHARRED BROCCOLI RABE

Steps:

• Prepare a grill or grill pan for medium-high heat.
• Place the broccoli rabe on a sheet of aluminum foil that is large enough to fold over and seal in the rabe. Drizzle the broccoli rabe with the olive oil and sprinkle with the salt and red pepper flakes. With your hands, toss gently to coat. Fold the foil over the broccoli rabe and crimp all sides to seal. Place the sealed packet on the grill and allow to steam for 8 minutes.
• Open the packet, being careful not to burn yourself with the steam that escapes. Using tongs, place the broccoli rabe directly on the grill. Cook on the first side until lightly charred in spots, about 2 minutes, then turn over and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Remove to a platter to serve.

CHARRED BROCCOLINI WITH HOMEMADE RICOTTA

Steps:

• Heat a cast-iron skillet or griddle over high heat until smoking. In a medium bowl, drizzle the broccolini with olive oil and season with salt. Toss to coat. Place the broccolini on the hot pan or griddle but do not crowd (if using a 12-inch cast iron you can do two batches) Allow to sear, undisturbed, for 3 to 4 minutes. Flip and cook on the other side for 2 to 3 minutes, until the edges of the florets are a deep brown and the stems are tender and bright green with charring on the edges. Turn off the heat. Return the broccolini to the bowl. Season with a couple turns of black pepper. Add the grated garlic and lemon zest and toss to coat. Season to taste.
• To serve, spoon some Ricotta (recipe follows) in the center of a plate. Arrange the broccolini around the cheese, sprinkle with crushed red pepper flakes, if using, flakey salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve with lemon wedges.
• Line a colander or large sieve with 1 layer of very fine cheesecloth (or 2 to 3 layers of more porous cloth) and set over a large bowl.
• To make the cheese, combine the milk and salt in a non-reactive pot over medium heat. Heat the mixture, stirring occasionally until it reaches 175 degrees F, 20 to 25 minutes. Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice. Gently stir with a wooden spoon or rubber spatula until chunks form and separate from the whey (this happens within 30 seconds or so). Don't stir too often or vigorously or the curds will break. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the curds into the prepared cheesecloth-lined sieve. Allow to sit and strain for 20 minutes. Serve immediately at room temperature or transfer the ricotta cheese into an airtight container and refrigerate until ready to serve.

CHARRED BROCCOLI

Steps:

• Make the bread crumbs: Heat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium saucepan over low heat, melt the butter. Add the panko and mix well. Spread on a baking sheet and bake until toasted, mixing occasionally, 5 to 7 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.
• In a small pan over medium-low heat, heat the fat or oil until shimmering. Add the anchovies and sauté until browned, about 2 minutes. Transfer anchovies to paper towels to drain. Scrape the anchovies into a bowl. Add the shallots, panko and salt and mix well; set aside.
• Make the aioli: In a small saucepan, combine the garlic and oil. Place over very low heat and allow garlic to cook until softened but not browned, 20 to 30 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.
• Transfer garlic to a blender, reserving the oil. Add the eggs, 1 tablespoon fish sauce, vinegar, caper juice and lemon juice. Pulse until foamy. With blender at medium speed, slowly stream in the reserved oil until mixture has the consistency of thin mayonnaise. If more saltiness is desired, add fish sauce to taste. Transfer to a covered container and refrigerate; the aioli will thicken when chilled.
• Make the broccoli: Place a heavy-bottomed pan over high heat until very hot. Add the grapeseed oil and place broccoli, cut side down, in the pan. Lightly season with salt.
• Sear broccoli until browned, about 1 minute, then quickly flip to sear the raw side for 30 seconds. Promptly remove from heat.
• To serve, arrange broccoli on a platter or individual plates. Brush with garlic aioli, and sprinkle liberally with the seasoned panko. Serve immediately.