Tender broccoli rabe (pronounced broccoli rob) gets bright and nutty flavor from minced ginger and toasted sesame seeds in this verdant side dish, which is a perfect accompaniment to any Thai-inspired meal. This often-underused veggie looks like broccolini but is a closer cousin of the turnip. Bitter when raw, its flavor softens when blanched. Toss with shallots, cilantro, scallions, raw garlic, ginger, and sesame seeds, and serve! Chopped tomatoes and cucumbers also work well in this dish. Seek out young ginger for a mellower flavor.
Tips
Broccoli rabe substitute: Broccoli, broccolini, Chinese broccoli (gai lan), green beans, or asparagus are great substitutes for broccoli rabe.
Variations: Substitute 1 tablespoon tahini for half of the sesame seeds for a saucier texture. (This will increase the fat a bit.) Or substitute 2 tablespoons roughly ground unsalted roasted peanuts for the 3 tablespoons sesame seeds. For a lower-fat option, reduce the sesame seeds by half.
For more inspiration, check out these tasty ideas:
- 1 lb. broccoli rabe or 1 head broccoli
- 3 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds
- 2 shallots, thinly sliced
- â…“ cup roughly chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 scallion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Sea salt, to taste
Instructions
- Fill a large bowl with ice water. Bring a large pot of water to boiling. Trim an inch from the tough base of broccoli rabe stems and discard. (If using broccoli, cut into long bite-size florets.) Boil 5 minutes or until completely tender. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer broccoli rabe to ice water until cool. Drain, then gently squeeze to remove as much water as you can. Roughly chop the stems into 3-inch lengths. (Leave the broccoli florets as is, if using.) Transfer to a medium bowl.
- Roughly grind sesame seeds with a mortar and pestle (or pulse them three or four times in a clean electric coffee grinder). Add two-thirds of the ground sesame seeds to bowl with broccoli rabe; toss to coat.
- Add remaining ingredients to bowl. Gently massage salad (or aggressively stir with the tongs) 15 seconds. Transfer to a serving dish and sprinkle with remaining ground sesame seeds.
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