So get to know some broccoli rabe. At $1 a bunch, how can you pass it up?

Pasta with Roasted Broccoli Rabe and Lentils

Makes: 4 servings

Ingredients:
1/2 pound dried pasta
1 bushel broccoli rabe
3 large garlic cloves sliced
1 cup cooked lentils
4 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Kosher or sea salt
Parmesan cheese

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Heat a large pot of water to make your pasta
3. When water comes to a boil, add 2 Tbsp salt plus the pasta. Stir and cook until al dente.
4. Meanwhile, wash your broccoli rabe and chop off the ends (about a 1/2 inch)
5. Drizzle a tablespoon of olive oil on a large baking sheet and then lay the broccoli rabe and sliced garlic on top. Drizzle another tablespoon of olive oil on top along with a sprinkling of kosher or sea salt and then toss to make sure the oil evenly coats the rapini.
6. Place the baking dish in the oven for 8-12 minutes, or until the broccoli rabe is tender. Don’t worry if the edges of some leaves seem to become dry and crackly; they’ll taste great.
7. Take the rapini out of the oven and set aside.
8. In a medium pan, heat the remaining 2 Tbsp olive oil and stir in the cooked lentils. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Add about a 1/4 cup of pasta water as well as more olive oil if you’d like. Cook until warm and then turn off the heat.
9. Once the broccoli rabe has cooled a bit, chop it into 1-inch pieces.
10. When pasta is ready, mix it into the lentils along with the broccoli rabe and cooked garlic.
11. Place in serving dishes and top with grated cheese.

inexpensive family mealsinexpensive family meals

Comforting, Cheap and Kid-Friendly: Half-the-Meat Tamale Pie

Getting to Know Broccoli Rabe (aka Rapini)