Brown Rice Fusilli with Broccoli Rabe or Greens

Name: Brown Rice Fusilli with Broccoli Rabe or Greens
Total time: 20 min
Yield: Serves 4
Ingredients: 1 bunch broccoli raab (about 1 pound), washed in 2 changes of water; Salt to taste; 2 tablespoons olive oil; 2 garlic cloves, minced; 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (to taste); 3/4 pound brown rice fusilli; 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, or a mix of pecorino and Parmesan

By Martha Rose Shulman

Total Time: 20 minutes
Rating: 4(33)
Comments: Read comments

This is based on a classic dish from Puglia, in Southern Italy. I love the bitter flavor of the broccoli raab (my 10-year old son and his friends did not). Broccoli raab is a member of the brassica family and brings to the dish the cancer fighting phytonutrients that this family of vegetables is famous for, plus a substantial wallop of calcium, potassium, folate, and vitamins C, K, and A.

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Ingredients

Yield:Serves 4

1bunch broccoli raab (about 1 pound), washed in 2 changes of water
Salt to taste
2tablespoons olive oil
2garlic cloves, minced
¼ to ½teaspoon red pepper flakes (to taste)
¾pound brown rice fusilli
½cup grated Parmesan, or a mix of pecorino and Parmesan

Ingredient Substitution Guide

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Preparation

Step 1
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Trim off the bottoms of the broccoli raab stems and slice the remaining part of the stems about ½ inch thick. When the water comes to a boil, season generously with salt and add the broccoli raab. Cook for 4 minutes, or until tender, and transfer using a spider or a slotted spoon to a bowl of ice cold water. Let sit for a few minutes and drain. Squeeze out water and chop fine. Set aside the water for the pasta.
Step 2
Heat the oil over medium heat in a large nonstick skillet and add the garlic and red pepper flakes. Cook until the garlic smells fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute, and add the broccoli raab. Toss together for a minute, season to taste with salt, and remove from the heat but keep warm.
Step 3
Bring the water back to a boil and add the fusilli. Cook al dente, about 9 minutes. Stir ½ cup of the pasta water into the greens. Drain and toss the pasta with the greens and cheese. Serve at once.