Sautéed Broccoli Rabe

3         ounces (1 link) cooked sweet Italian sausage, cut into ¼-inch slices (optional)

2 to 3  teaspoons extra virgin olive oil (depending on whether or not sausage is being used)

4         garlic cloves, sliced

1⁄8      teaspoon crushed red pepper

½        large bunch broccoli rabe (approximately ½ pound), rinsed and trimmed

¼ to ½ teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

½        cup cooked garbanzo beans or cannellini beans

Nutritional information per serving:

Calories 217 (36% from fat) • carb. 22g • pro. 14g • fat 9g • sat. fat 2g • chol. 13mg • sod. 843mg • calc. 94mg • fiber 3g

1.  Preheat the Cuisinart® Oven Central® to 400ºF with both the top and bottom heaters on.

2.  If using the sausage, put into the hot pan and sauté until slightly crisp and warmed through, about 5 minutes. Remove and reserve.

3.  Add oil (as much as needed depending on whether or not oil is leftover from the sausage. You should have about 1 teaspoon of oil from the sausage) to the pan with the garlic and crushed red pepper. Once garlic begins to sizzle, stir constantly with a wooden spoon. After about 3 minutes add the broccoli rabe, ¼ teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of water if the broccoli rabe is dry; close oven lid.

4.  Cook for about 6 to 10 minutes and then stir in the beans and reserved sausage, if using. Close and cook for an additional 5 minutes before serving. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary (you may need additional salt if you did not cook with the sausage).

* For easier clean-up and searing you may cook in the baking pan. Browning may require additional time.