Kielbasa Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

A Quick and Easy Low Carb Meal under 30 Minutes

Kielbasa sausage and broccoli rabe are great partners in this low carb recipe.  Both ingredients' cook time is super short.  It is a great simple meal.

Total Time: 20-22 Minutes
Prep Time: 8-10 Minutes  
Active Cook Time: 12 Minutes  
Serving: 3-4

What is Broccoli Rabe?

Broccoli Rabe is also called Rapini or Broccoli Raab (with double “a”).  It reminds me a popular Chinese vegetable, "Choi Sum".  Why?  The texture, smell and taste is pretty much the same.  However, "Choi Sum" does not have the bitter taste or the look of the broccoli rabe. 

You can totally skip the sauage and only serve broccoli rabe.

TIPS & TRICKS

Yes, you can totally skip the sauage and only serve broccoli rabe.

You can serve this sausage and broccoli rabe recipe as a side dish.  You can also serve it with noodles or pasta.  I sometimes will multiply the volume and make a very healthy lunch out of it.  If you decide to double or triple this recipe, prep and cook time is literally the same.  This is one of the big advantages of this recipe.

You cannot totally get rid of the bitter taste of broccoli rabe, but make it milder.  To do that, that is where the salty boiling water comes into picture.  The salt neutralizes its bitterness.  

Another great alternative of Kielbasa sausage is cooked chicken sausage.  There are plenty of flavors to choose from.  My preference is something strong, such as roasted garlic or jalapeno chicken sausage.

Feel free to replace Kielbasa with other pre-cooked sausages, such as chicken sausage.

Sausage and Broccoli Rabe Recipe and Directions

Ingredients
1 lb Kielbasa Sausage (sliced about 1/2" thick)
2 bunches of Broccoli Rabe (about 2-2.5LBs.  Trim the end of the stems of the broccoli rabe and discard which is about 1/2" from the bottom of the stems where you are going to cut.  Cut across the vegetables into halves.)
1 Clove Minced Garlic
1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions

1. Fill up half of the soup pot or Dutch oven with water and bring it to a boil.
2. While waiting, line aluminum foil on a baking sheet and single layer kielbasa sausage slices on the sheet.
3. Preheat the broiler in the oven.
4. Cook sausage under the broiler about 3-4 minutes.
5. Turn over and cook another 3 minutes.  
6. Transfer to serving plate or turn off the broiler and transfer the sheet of sausage to the lowest rack of the oven to keep it warm.
   (During the sausage cooking process, the water may be boiling at this point.)
7. Add 1 teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon canola oil into the boiling water.
8. Add the stems first and then the rest of the vegetables (because it takes a little bit longer to cook the stems. The leaves wilt in no time)
9. Stir and make sure all the vegetables are immersed into the water.
10. Let it cook for about 1-2 minutes.
11. Drain the vegetables through a colander (If you plan to re-use this pot for cooking the vegetables again, make sure you rinse it well.)
12. Preheat a big skillet or the same pot you just used and rinsed earlier at medium high heat.
13. Add extra virgin olive oil, broccoli rabe, garlic, salt and pepper to taste.
14. Stir to combine and stir regularly in between.
15. Cook about 2-3 minutes or until most of the water at the bottom of the pot evaporated and serve with Kielbasa sausages.  ENJOY!

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