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Orecchiette with Broccoli Rabe

4.4

(50)

In Apulia, women still make pasta at home. Their favorite pasta shape - and the symbol of the region - is arecchiette, or "little ears". Called recchie or recchietelle in the local dialect, orecchiette is eaten just about daily, but is prepared a different way in almost every village. The sauces for this whimsical pasta are straightforward and usually contain vegetables, beans or legumes. This recipe is one of the most basic.

Recipe information

  • Yield

    Serves 6

Ingredients

1/4 cup olive oil
4 garlic cloves, minced
12 ounces orecchiette or shell pasta
1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed, chopped
2/3 cup freshly grated Pecorino Romano cheese (about 2 ounces)
1/3 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (about 1 ounce)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Heat oil in heavy small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté until beginning to color, about 1 minute. Remove from heat.

    Step 2

    Cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until beginning to soften, stirring occasionally, about 8 minutes. Add broccoli rabe and cook until pasta is just tender, but still firm to bite, about 3 minutes. Drain. Transfer pasta and broccoli rabe to large bowl. Pour garlic oil over. Sprinkle with cheeses and toss to coat. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

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