How to Make Pasta e Fagioli With Broccoli Rabe

This is an outstanding one-dish meal. Broccoli rabe is a strong-tasting green - a relative of broccoli, but with a more assertive, bitter flavor. It sometimes masquerades under the name rapini or broccoli rape. Serves six people.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Groceries
• Cheese Graters
• Colanders
• Measuring Cups
• Measuring Spoons
• Skillets
• Stockpots
• Wooden Spoons
• 1 1/2 lb. tube-shaped pasta - such as rigatoni or pasta al ceppo
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• 1 medium onion - peeled and thinly sliced
• 1/4 lb. pancetta - sliced into thin, narrow strips
• 2 large garlic cloves - peeled and minced
• 1/4 c. white wine
• 2 (15 oz.) cans white beans such as cannellini - drained and rinsed
• 2 c. chicken broth
• 3 small bunches broccoli rabe - lightly blanched
• large pinch red pepper flakes
• salt to taste
• white pepper to taste
• 1/4 c. freshly grated Parmesan cheese
• 3 tbsp. freshly chopped Italian parsley

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions and drain. Toss with a little olive oil to prevent sticking.
2. Heat the oil, onion and pancetta in a skillet over medium heat. Cook until the pancetta starts to get crispy, about 5 to 6 minutes.
3. Add the garlic and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the white wine and increase the heat to medium-high.
4. Cook until the wine is almost gone. Add the beans and chicken broth and bring to a boil.
5. Lower the heat to medium and cook until the beans start to fall apart, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe, pepper flakes and pasta, and stir together.
6. Remove from heat and taste for seasoning; add salt and pepper to taste. Top with grated parmesan and chopped Italian parsley, and serve.

Tips & Warnings

• Canned beans are fine and make the dish quick, but cook your own if you have more time. Then you can use the bean-cooking liquid instead of chicken broth. (See "How to Cook Beans," under Related eHows.)
• Use vegetable stock instead of chicken and leave out the pancetta for a vegetarian version.