This is my favorite thing I’ve cooked for this project so far!! I originally chose it because we had all of the ingredients besides the broccoli, but I’m glad I did. It was really easy to make and so delicious! It uses broccoli rabe or rapini instead of normal broccoli, which I find much easier to prepare and cook with, so totally okay with me.
This picture doesn’t do it justice
It’s from this book:
Lidia’s Family Table by Lidia Matticchio Bastianich
This one is originally Steven’s and I guess is from a PBS cooking show of the same name. Unlike the other Italian cookbooks I’ve found in our bookcase so far, it has a lot more than just recipes. There’s lots of information about techniques, pairing pastas and sauces, stocking the kitchen, and background on different Italian styles. I hope the rest of the recipes are as tasty and easy as this one was!! I will definitely be making it again.
I guess it’s good that so far I haven’t discovered any cookbooks I want to get rid of! Well, except maybe the gimmicky coke one.
Broccoli di Rape with Ceci (Chickpeas) and Bacon
1/2 cup olive oil
7 or 8 fat garlic cloves, sliced
6 oz. bacon, cut in stripes width-wise
1/2 tsp red hot pepper flakes
1 can of chickpeas, drained and rinsed
2 lbs broccoli rabe trimmed, washed, cut into 1-inch lengths
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup cheese
1 lb tubular pastaStart cooking pasta in boiling salted water before beginning the sauce.
Pour 1/3 cup of olive oil into big skillet. Toast the red pepper flakes for 30 seconds, then stir in garlic and bacon. cook for another 2.5 minutes until bacon is crisping, stirring often.
Pour the chickpeas into skillet, and ladle 2 cups of hot noodle water over them. Stir and bring liquid to a boil.
Dump the broccoli rabe pieces on top of other ingredients, cover pan, and steam for a minute.
Uncover and stir, adding another 1.5 tbs of olive oil. Lower heat to active simmer and cook, covered 6-8 minutes.
Uncover, salt to taste, raise heat if necessary depending on desired consistency. Add pasta when ready, toss in cheese and remaining olive oil just before serving.