I love, love, love broccoli rabe!  And I love to serve it with bolognese sauce. It is a perfect pairing. And to give it that extra deliciousness, I melt mozzarella over the top. 

​

I do believe that if you can find something already made that is as good or better than yours, go for it.  In the video, as in life, I often use Eataly's housemade bolognese. It is delicious!  It also makes this a very quick and easy dinner.  However, I have included my recipe for bolognese below.  

​

So deliciously satisfying, you won't miss the spaghetti!

​

​

​

Serves 2 (can freeze leftover sauce if there's any)

​

Components

• 1 bunch broccoli rabe

• 1 ball fresh mozzarella, cut into 1/4 " cubes

• parmesan Reggiano grated for garnish

• basil chiffonade for garnish

​

The Sauce

​

Ingredients

• 1 bunch broccoli rabe

• 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

• 1 lb lean ground beef (preferabley grass fed)

• 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes

• 3 - 4 cloves garlic, finely chopped

• 2 shallots, chopped

• 1/2 cup dry white vermouth or white wine

• 1 carrot coarsely chopped

• 1 celery stalk, coarsely chopped

• 1tsp dried oregano (I like to crush oregano buds from Burlap & Barrel) or a bit more fresh oregano chopped

• 1 red finger pepper, seeds removed (or not) finely diced

• 2 - 3 tbsp butter

• Maldon salt or any sea salt or kosher salt you like

• ground black pepper

• 1 ball fresh mozzarella cheese, cut into 1/4 " cubes

​

In a large skillet heat the olive oil. When almost smoking, add the shallots and sauté over medium heat until they become very soft, about 8 minutes. Add the celery, carrot and and red finger pepper and sauté for 5 minutes. Add garlic and oregano and sauté for another minute.

 

Raise heat to high and add the ground beef. Sauté, stirring frequently and breaking up any large lumps and cook until meat is no longer pink, about 10 minutes. Add vermouth and cook down for a minute or so. Add the tomatoes and cook over medium low heat until the sauce thickens. Season with salt and pepper. This will take approximately 1/2 hour. 

​

Stir in butter.

​

The Rabe

​

Ingredients

• broccoli rabe

• 2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced

• extra virgin olive oil

• water

​

Wash broccoli rabe, cut about 2" off the stalks.

​

Heat large sauté pan over medium/high heat.  Coat the bottom thickly with olive oil.  Add garlic and sauté until slightly brown, a few minutes. Add broccoli rabe and about 1/2" of water to pan and cover. Cook over medium heat until rabe is soft, about 15 minutes.

​

Place rabe in bowls. Generously spoon sauce over.  Place mozzarella cubes over (you will probably use half a ball on each dish), and place in microwave for about 2-3 minutes until cheese is melted. Depending on your microwave, it may take less time or longer. Better to start lower and add more time as needed.  Garnish with black pepper, grated parmesan and basil.

​

​

​

​

​