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5.0 from 9 votes

Wild Rapini with Orecchiette Pasta

This recipe can of course be made with store-bought rapini, which is virtually identical to its wild cousin. Orecchiette is a typical pasta shape for this dish, but you can use any short pasta here. Fusilli or gemelli are good alternatives. This recipe is good either hot or at room temperature.

Prep Time
15 mins
Cook Time
15 mins
Total Time
30 mins
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 640 kcal
Course: Side Dish , Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

  • 1 pound rapini
  • salt
  • 1 pound orecchiette pasta
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, sliced root to tip
  • 5 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 to 4 dried hot chiles, broken up
  • 4 ounces salami, sliced or diced (optional)
  • Lemon juice and ground black pepper to taste

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. This first step is optional, but it make the rapini prettier. Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it heavily; it should taste like seawater. Set up a bowl of ice water nearby. Boil the rapini for 90 seconds, then plunge into the ice water to stop cooking. This sets the jade green color. Either way, you need the boiling water for the pasta, so you might as well do it.
  2. Once the rapini has been blanched, add the orecchiette and cook until al dente. Use this time to chop the onion, garlic and salami, if using. Drain the pasta and toss with a little olive oil. Set aside.
  3. Heat the 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saute pan set over high heat. The moment it begins to smoke, add the onion and toss to combine. Sear the onion until you have some caramelized edges, stirring only every minute or so.
  4. Turn the heat down to medium-high and add the rapini, garlic, chiles and salami. Toss to combine everything. Saute for 2 minutes, then add the pasta and saute another minute, stirring often. Turn off the heat and add the lemon juice and black pepper. You can drizzle a little high-quality olive oil over the dish right when you serve, too.

Nutrition Information

Calories 640kcal (32%) Carbohydrates 92g (31%) Protein 25g (50%) Fat 19g (29%) Saturated Fat 5g (25%) Cholesterol 22mg (7%) Sodium 687mg (29%) Potassium 637mg (18%) Fiber 7g (28%) Sugar 5g (10%) Vitamin A 3040IU (61%) Vitamin C 26mg (29%) Calcium 163mg (16%) Iron 4mg (22%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 4people

Amount Per Serving

Calories 640

% Daily Value*

Calories 640kcal 32%
Carbohydrates 92g 31%
Protein 25g 50%
Fat 19g 29%
Saturated Fat 5g 25%
Cholesterol 22mg 7%
Sodium 687mg 29%
Potassium 637mg 14%
Fiber 7g 28%
Sugar 5g 10%
Vitamin A 3040IU 61%
Vitamin C 26mg 29%
Calcium 163mg 16%
Iron 4mg 22%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.