Spaghetti With Broccoli Rabe, Toasted Garlic and Bread Crumbs

Ingredients

• Salt
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil, more as needed
• 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, peeled and slivered
• 1 cup bread crumbs, preferably homemade
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
• About 1 pound broccoli rabe, trimmed and washed
• 1 pound spaghetti, linguine or other long pasta
• Freshly ground black pepper
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions

• 1.

  Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Put 1/4 cup olive oil in a large skillet over medium-low heat. When oil is warm, cook garlic just until fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Add bread crumbs and red pepper flakes and cook until bread crumbs are golden, 5 minutes or so. Remove and set aside.

• 2.

  Cook broccoli rabe in boiling water until it is soft, about 5 minutes. Remove with a slotted spoon, drain well and chop. Cook pasta in same pot.

• 3.

  Meanwhile, add remaining oil to skillet over medium-low heat. Add broccoli rabe and toss well; sprinkle with salt and pepper. When it is warm add garlic and bread crumbs and mix well.

• 4.

  When pasta is done, drain it, reserving a little cooking water. Toss pasta in skillet with broccoli rabe mixture, moistening with a little reserved water if necessary. Adjust seasonings and serve with freshly grated Parmesan.