Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa e Pecorino

Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa e Pecorino

Like so many traditional pasta dishes, this simple pasta recipe is made with only a few ingredients, and it is absolutely tasty! 

Orecchiette is a traditional pasta that originated in the region of Puglia, Italy. Orecchiette means “little ears” in Italian. Broccoli Rabe (rapini) is a slightly bitter dark green, similar to small broccoli, however it isn’t related to broccoli at all, it is in the turnip family. I cook my rapini and my pasta in the same boiling water. First, I boil the rapini, drain it, and then cook it in a skillet with olive oil and fresh garlic. I cook my pasta in this light green boiling water (rapini water) because of its nutritional value. If my pasta sauce is too dry, I add some rapini/pasta water to the sauce. No need for extra olive oil. The other key ingredient for this recipe is using grated Pecorino cheese instead of Parmesan cheese. The contrast of the rapini and Pecorino cheese is memorable. Try it!

Orecchiette

½ pound orecchiette pasta

1 bunch broccoli rabe (rapini)

2-3 cloves of garlic, peeled and crushed  

Pinch red pepper flakes

Extra virgin olive oil

Salt and black pepper

Grated Pecorino Cheese

 

Broccoli Rabe (Rapini)

1.     Rinse broccoli rabe under cold running water. Remove all yellow and dull leaves. Trim off the bottoms of the stems to remove tough and fibrous parts. Chop Coarsely.

2.     Put the broccoli rabe in a large pot of boiling water with salt. Reduce the heat to medium and cook for about 5 minutes. Remove the broccoli rabe, drain well and set aside.

3.     Return the pot to a full boil, add the orecchiette pasta in the same water and cook until pasta is “al dente.”

4.     In a large skillet pan add 2-3 tablespoons olive oil, pinch of red pepper flakes, crushed garlic, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the broccoli rape in the skillet and cook for 5-6 minutes.

5.     Drain pasta and reserve some pasta water. Transfer pasta to the skillet with the broccoli rape and toss to combine flavors for a couple of minutes. Add Pecorino cheese and toss again, serve warm.