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Home » Recipes

Easy Sautéed Rapini Recipe

Mar 30, 2023Last Modified: April 1, 2023

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This page may contain affiliate links. So I receive a small commission at no cost to you when you make a purchase using my link. This post is about an Easy Sautéed Rapini Recipe!

Sautéed Rapini with garlic and red chili flakes in a bowl that has the word "nourish" on it and pictures of hearts.

The green and beautiful vegetable called rapini, makes for a perfect side dish. If you've never tried it before, I urge you to buy a bunch and make this delicious and easy sautéed rapini recipe as soon as you can!

Rapini is listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by the esteemed food writer Mimi Sheraton. Therefore it certainly deserves a place at your table. 😊

Let me give you a little info on this amazing food!

What Is Rapini?

Rapini, or more commonly known as broccoli rabe, is actually a member of the cabbage family and closely related to the turnip.

Another name for rapini is broccoli di rapa, which translates as "turnip broccoli."

This amazing vegetable is widely used in Mediterranean cuisine, and is known for being quite bitter, especially at the stalk. Blanching helps to neutralize some of the bitterness of rapini.

The florets, leaves, and stems or stalks are all edible, and broccoli rabe is also considered a superfood due to its many health benefits!

Why You Will Love This Easy Sautéed Rapini Recipe!

You will absolutely love this easy recipe for sautéed rapini because:

  • This recipe calls for quickly blanching the broccoli di rapa, which helps to mitigate some of the bitterness.
  • It's easy and quick! You can have this healthy dish ready in about 10 minutes.
  • You'll enjoy delicious and tender rapini as a perfect side dish or you can stir it into pasta and enjoy it as a main meal!

So now let me show you what you will need to prepare this wonderful vegetable!

🥘 Ingredients

Some rapini on a wooden cutting board and a label from the rapini that is pink and states it is the Andy Boy Brand.
Andy Boy Rapini
A bunch of rapini on a wooden cutting board along with small bowls containing salt and pepper, olive oil, chili flakes, and garlic cloves.
You only need 6 ingredients for this delicious recipe.

You only need a few simple ingredients for this easy recipe:

  • Rapini (broccoli rabe) - the star of the show! I was able to find Andy Boy rapini at my local grocery store.
  • Olive oil
  • Fresh garlic cloves
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Red chili flakes

By the way, the bunch of rapini that you buy make look quite large, but it does cook down quite a lot.

So now I'll guide you through the simple steps to get this delicious dish ready for your family to enjoy!

🔪 Instructions

Heat up a large pot on medium-high heat, and bring salted water (½ ts) to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, remove any yellowed or discolored leaves from your bunch of rapini, and wash it well.

Although the stalk is edible, it's best to trim the ends off just a bit. Take a sharp knife, and then trim the stalk about 2 inches from the end.

Rapini on a wooden cutting board. There is a knife poised over the stalk of the rapini approximately 2 inches from the bottom of the stalk.

Blanch The Rapini

By now your water should be boiling. I want to recommend that you try a small piece of rapini before you start cooking it. This is the best way to appreciate the bitter flavor of this vegetable. However, no worries if you prefer to skip this step. 😊

Blanch your trimmed rapini in the salted boiling water for 2 minutes, and then drain.

A bunch of rapini in water in a large saucepan which is being blanched.
Blanch the rapini in salted water.
Drained and blanched rapini in a colander.
Drain the rapini in a colander after blanching.

Sauté The Rapini

The next step is to sauté the blanched rapini in olive oil and garlic. You can use the same pot to sauté the rapini as was used to blanch this leafy green vegetable.

Set the stove to medium-low heat, and then add your olive oil. Once the olive oil is heated, add the garlic and sauté it for 2 minutes. Then add the blanched rapini and sauté for 5 minutes.

Olive oil and minced garlic in a pan with a blue spatula.
I love LOTS of garlic!
Blanched rapini, minced garlic and oil in a pan.
Add blanched rapini to the olive oil and garlic.

The last step is to add the remaining ¼ ts salt, pepper, and red chili flakes and stir to incorporate.

Sautéed Rapini, garlic, and oil in a pan with a white bowl containing red chili flakes, salt, and pepper being held by someone above the rapini in the pan.

Taste the seasoned rapini, and add additional seasonings if desired. Your tender and delicious broccoli rabe is now ready to serve!

Suggestions For Serving Your Rapini!

Sautéed Rapini with garlic and red chili flakes in a bowl that has the word "nourish" on it and pictures of hearts.

Sautéed rapini is perfect as a side dish to accompany any of your favorite mains. Add a little Parmesan cheese if you like, for added richness.

Broccoli rabe stirred into pasta is another delicious way to enjoy this wonderful vegetable! You can use orecchiette pasta, which is traditional. But I stirred it into some linguine and added slices of Italian sausage, which was absolutely perfetto!

One thing I know is that however you decide to serve rapini you will absolutely love it!

FAQ

Do you have to blanch rapini before cooking?

You don't have to blanch rapini before cooking it. However, blanching it helps to tame the bitterness of the vegetable.

What parts of the rapini can be eaten?

All parts of the rapini can be enjoyed including the stalk, leaves, and florets! However, it's best to cut off the ends of the stalks as they may be a little tough to eat.

Is rapini a superfood?

Rapini is considered a nutrient rich superfood! This vegetable is rich in vitamins A, C, and K, and helps improve digestion, boosts your immune system, and supports heart health! This information was sourced from AndyBoy.com, where you can find additional information on the health benefits of rapini.

1,000 Foods To Eat Project

In conclusion, Rapini, also known as Broccoli di Rapa, is listed in the book 1,000 Foods To Eat Before You Die, by Mimi Sheraton. I am working my way through the foods listed in this book. This is called my 1,000 Foods to Eat Project. Rapini is food #68 in my project! Please visit the 1,000 Foods To Eat Project page to see some other MUST TRY foods of the world that you may love to try!

Some Other Recipes You May Enjoy!

Here are some other recipes that you may enjoy:

  • Italian Peas and Ham Frozen Peas Recipe
  • Italian Broccoli Recipe With Garlic and Lemon
  • Roasted Carrots With Berbere Spice Recipe

Join Me On A Fun Food Journey!

I invite you to come along on this food journey with me! Please sign up to get the latest recipes and inspiration for you to expand your food comfort zone! It's an incredible journey, please join me by signing up here.

Cheers!

Grace

Sautéed Rapini with garlic and red chili flakes in a bowl that has the word "nourish" on it and pictures of hearts.

Easy Sautéed Rapini Recipe

Grace
This Easy Sautéed Rapini Recipe is delicious and is a perfect and healthy side dish to accompany your favorite mains!
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 4 minutes mins
Cook Time 5 minutes mins
Blanching time 2 minutes mins
Total Time 11 minutes mins
Course Side Dish, vegetable side dish
Cuisine Italian, Mediterranean
Servings 3 people
Calories 148 kcal

Equipment

  • large pot

Ingredients
  

  • 1 bunch rapini washed and trimmed
  • 3 tablespoon olive oil
  • ¾ ts salt split
  • ¼ ts pepper
  • ½ ts red chili flakes
  • 5 cloves garlic minced; can adjust the amount of garlic to suit your tastes

Instructions
 

  • Heat up a large pot on medium-high heat, and bring salted water (½ ts salt) to a boil. While waiting for the water to boil, remove any yellowed or discolored leaves from your bunch of rapini, and wash it well. Although the stalk is edible, it's best to trim the ends off just a bit. Take a sharp knife, and then trim the stalk about 2 inches from the end.
    Rapini on a wooden cutting board. There is a knife poised over the stalk of the rapini approximately 2 inches from the bottom of the stalk.
  • By now your water should be boiling. Blanch your trimmed rapini in the salted boiling water for 2 minutes, and then drain.
    A bunch of rapini in water in a large saucepan which is being blanched.
  • The next step is to sauté the blanched rapini in olive oil and garlic. You can use the same pot to sauté the rapini as was used to blanch this leafy green vegetable. Set the stove to medium-low heat, and then add your olive oil. Once the olive oil is heated, add the garlic and sauté it for 2 minutes. Then add the blanched rapini and sauté for 5 minutes.
    Blanched rapini, minced garlic and oil in a pan.
  • The last step is to add the remaining ¼ ts salt, pepper, and red chili flakes and stir to incorporate.
    Sautéed Rapini, garlic, and oil in a pan with a white bowl containing red chili flakes, salt, and pepper being held by someone above the rapini in the pan.
  • Taste the seasoned rapini, and add additional seasonings if desired. Your tender and delicious broccoli rabe is now ready to serve!
    Sautéed Rapini with garlic and red chili flakes in a bowl that has the word "nourish" on it and pictures of hearts.

Notes

Please note that the nutrition info includes the ½ ts salt that is used to blanch the rapini.
Serve your sautéed rapini as a delicious side dish or stir it into pasta for a divine main course!
 

Nutrition

Calories: 148kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 3gFat: 14gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 2gMonounsaturated Fat: 10gSodium: 610mgPotassium: 172mgFiber: 2gSugar: 0.4gVitamin A: 2026IUVitamin C: 17mgCalcium: 92mgIron: 2mg
Keyword broccoli rabe, rapini
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About Me

Hi I’m Grace! I'm married and a mom to my fur baby, Toby, and food and travel are two of my greatest passions! Since our bank account does not allow us to travel or eat out as much as we'd like, I decided I would cook delicious meals that could give us a taste of all the places we'd like to go. My goal is to get you in the kitchen, and inspire you to cook and taste delightful meals that will transport you too. Let’s throw some actual travel in from time to time, all with an emphasis on keeping your wallet full and happy as well. Let’s get cooking and let’s start exploring!! I'm excited to be on this journey with you!!

By the way most of these recipes are Toby taste tested and Toby approved!!

Chief Taste Tester Toby

Toby Chief Taste Tester

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