Roasted Broccoli Rabe

By
Molly Watson
Molly Watson
An award-winning food writer and cookbook author, Molly Watson has created more than 1,000 recipes focused on local, seasonal ingredients.
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Updated on 02/11/23
A plate of broccoli rabe

Molly Watson

Prep: 5 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 25 mins
Servings: 3 to 4 servings

The leafy greens of broccoli rabe (rapini) might not seem like an obvious choice for roasting, as they are more commonly sautéed or even stewed, but this preparation has a fabulous effect on these cruciferous vegetables. It reduces them down to more manageable stalks and bits, browns their ruffled edges, and tames their famously bitter edge with ease.

While this recipe assumes you have one bunch of broccoli rabe, this recipe is easy to double or triple, as long as you have the pans and oven space to do so. The real key, as is almost always the case with roasting vegetables, is spreading them in a single layer, so each piece has a chance to have lots of contact with the hot air of the oven and get tender and brown.

Roasted broccoli rabe is a lovely side dish on its own, but it also brings a vibrant bite to platters of assorted roasted vegetables. Its bitter flavor isn't everyone's bag, but for those of us who love it, the intense flavor is part of its appeal.

Ingredients

Steps to Make It

  1. Preheat an oven to 400 F (Anywhere in the 350 to 425 F range will work, so if you already have something in the oven, there is no need to wait before popping the broccoli rabe in).

  2. Trim the broccoli rabe and spread it on a baking sheet or in a roasting pan. Drizzle the greens with the olive oil. Use your hands or two spoons to toss the broccoli rabe around, so it is all lightly coated with the oil. Spread the broccoli rabe back out into as much of a single layer as possible and sprinkle it with salt.

  3. Roast the broccoli rabe until it is reduced in size by about 2/3 and is brown on the edges, about 20 minutes. Depending on your oven (and what else may be in it), this may take longer. Feel free to use tongs to toss the leaves around a bit every 10 minutes or so. Serve roasted broccoli rabe hot or warm.

Tips

  • A spritz of fresh lemon juice and some chili flakes are a nice addition, but others may prefer some fresh herbs or a dollop of creamy yogurt or crème fraîche.
  • Gratings or shavings of Parmesan cheese are a classic topper, and the salty bite it adds is a great counterpoint to the harsher taste of broccoli rabe.

 

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
22 Calories
2g Fat
0g Carbs
0g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 3 to 4
Amount per serving
Calories 22
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 2g 3%
Saturated Fat 0g 2%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 149mg 6%
Total Carbohydrate 0g 0%
Dietary Fiber 0g 1%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 0g
Vitamin C 2mg 10%
Calcium 11mg 1%
Iron 0mg 1%
Potassium 20mg 0%
*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.)