Sauteed Rapini with Garlic

5 from 1 vote

Rapini is a classic Italian vegetable sauteed with garlic and lemon. Also called broccoli rabe, this vegetable is known for its bitterness and intense flavor.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American, Italian

Servings: servings

Calories: 103kcal

Author: Vincent DelGiudice

Cost: $5

Equipment

1 dutch oven or large pot

Ingredients

3 tablespoon olive oil
1 head rapini (broccoli rabe)
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper
½ lemon, juiced
3 tablespoon water
1 teaspoon salt

Instructions

Chop off the ends of the rapini, rinse, and strain. In a dutch oven, add the olive oil over medium heat. Stir in the garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.
Add the crushed red pepper and saute for another 30 seconds to a minute. Add the rapini and stir well. Add the water and cover the pot for 5 minutes.
Remove the cover and stir until the rapini is covered in the sauce. Continue to saute for another 2-3 minutes or until the rapini has softened but the stalks remain slightly stiff. Squeeze in the lemon juice. Remove and serve.

Notes

Make sure to stir the rapini well when you first add it to the pot. The lemon will brown the leaves if you let it sit too long.
Rapini is known for its bitterness. If you don't like that flavor, overcooking the recipe won't make it better. It's supposed to have a slight bitter flavor.

Nutrition