Cocktail Party Leftovers: Broccoli Rabe and Salami Pasta
We had a variety of leftover Italian meats from our cocktail party on Monday night. I remembered seeing a Rachael Ray episode many months ago and decided this pasta dish could be a good use of the leftover salami and sopressata. All I needed to pick up was broccoli rabe and ricotta cheese — I had everything else in my pantry / fridge.
The dish was quite tasty! Cooking the rabe in salted water really removes much of the bitterness. I used a sopressata and sweet salami in the pasta. There was a great combo of sweet, hot, salty, and bitter flavors in the dish.
I served the pasta with some roasted asparagus wrapped in proscuitto.
We ate the leftovers cold the next night before driving up to the Berkshires!
Broccoli Rabe and Salami Pasta
Rachael Ray
- Salt
- 2 bunches broccoli rabe, trimmed and coarsely chopped
- 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, eyeball it
- 4 cloves garlic, grated or finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 pound rigatoni with lines, cooked to al dente
- 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, plus some to pass at table
- 1/3 pound salami, chopped (Genoa, sopressata, hot or sweet, or a mix)
- Black pepper
Bring 2 inches water in a deep skillet to a boil for broccoli rabe and 1 large pot of water to a boil for pasta. Salt the water liberally.
Simmer the broccoli rabe in water 10 to 12 minutes, then drain. Return the skillet to medium heat with 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil. Add garlic and red pepper to the oil and gently cook a couple of minutes, add broccoli rabe and cook 5 minutes more.
While the broccoli rabe cooks, drop the rigatoni into the boiling water and cook until al dente. Just before draining reserve 1 cup starchy liquid.
Combine the ricotta, Parmesan, salami and black pepper, to taste, in a pasta bowl. Add the starchy liquid and stir. Add the broccoli rabe and pasta and toss 2 minutes to coat and combine.
Serves 4.