Broccoli Rabe and Bean Salad

The best broccoli rabe recipe

This broccoli rabe and bean salad is insanely delicious. The colors and flavors are next level in this gorgeous, vegan and gluten free bean and veggie salad. Broccoli rabe is one of my most favorite bitter vegetables. It combines so well with Mediterranean vibe of roasted peppers, olives and tomatoes. Plus the roasted pepper and oregano vinaigrette is so sweet and tangy. The added garlic brings out the flavor of the broccoli rabe and makes the meaty white beans super flavorful. Lastly the red cabbage gives this salad a burst of color and texture. I love red cabbage in a salad because it makes it incredibly meal prep friendly since cabbage does not break down once dressed. This beautiful salad is one of my best recipes. I hope you try it.

What is broccoli rabe?

Broccoli rabe is a cruciferous vegetable. Although it has broccoli in the name it is closer in relation to turnip. Some people call it "broccoli rahbey", some say "broccoli rahb" and many call it rapini. It is made up of long bright green leaves and small buds that resemble tiny broccoli. All parts of the plant are edible making it a great treat for texture lovers. The greens, stems and buds all get tender when roasting, steaming or sautéing. Broccoli rabe is a bitter green that has a very distinct taste. For this recipe we do a simple sheet pan roast which leaves the broccoli rabe tender yet still very green. Many people roast or sauté the broccoli rabe with garlic. I chose to simplify this broccoli rabe and bean salad by adding a clove of garlic to the dressing. This really makes the flavor pop.

Ingredients for Broccoli Rabe and Bean Salad

Broccoli Rabe can be found in most markets that have a good produce selection. If you cannot find them, a good substitute could be Brussels sprouts or even cauliflower but it will change the vibe of the dish substantially. For white beans you can use cannellini beans, great northern beans or butter beans. If white beans are not available, chickpeas are a good substitute. Persian cucumbers are my favorites but if you cannot find them, substitute 1 English cucumber per 3 Persians. I like to forego refined sugar in my recipes and I almost always use pure maple syrup. The dressing contains pure maple but you may use agave syrup or date syrup with the same results. Or substitute the sugar of your preference.

• Broccoli Rabe 
• baby bell peppers 
• olive oil
• salt
• black pepper
• olive oil
• maple syrup
• white balsamic vinegar
• oregano flakes
• salt
• garlic
• Persian cucumbers 
• white beans
•  red cabbage
• tomatoes 
• pitted calamata olives

How to make Broccoli Rabe and Bean Salad

This is a very easy three step recipe. Roasting the broccoli rabe and roasted red peppers on the same sheet pan makes it really simple. While the veggies are roasting it is the perfect time to chop the vegetables for the salad. Last make the dressing so that you can use the roasted peppers from step one.

• Roasted Veggies
• Preheat oven to 400 degrees
• On a sheet pan add the chopped broccoli rabe and whole baby bell peppers. Drizzle with oil and season with salt and pepper. Mix well.
• Roast for 20 minutes. Flip once halfway.
• Let cool. Once the peppers are cool enough to handle remove seeds and stems. Chop 4 for the salad and reserve 2 for the dressing.
• Dressing
• Add peppers to a blender with the oil, vinegar, maple syrup, salt, pepper, oregano and garlic. Blend until smooth and creamy.
• Salad
• To a large mixing bowl add the beans, cabbage, cucumbers, tomatoes, bell peppers, olives and broccoli rabe.
• Pour the dressing over and toss well.
• For best quality consume within 3-4 days.

More delicious vegan salads

• Kale Pesto Pasta Salad
• Fig, Radicchio and Hazelnut Salad
• Pretty Beet and Potato Salad

Tools for making the best salads

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These glass containers are perfect for meal prep. In the beginning of each week I select 2-4 meal prep friendly salads like this one. Then I prepare them and package them up in these 3 compartment containers with snacks like fruit, pretzels or even a high protein add on like tofu. It is really essential for staying on track with a healthy diet to have foods prepared in advance.

I love a beautiful wooden bowl like this for both preparation and presentation of a beautiful salad. Everyone needs one of these in their kitchen.

I love my stainless steel olive oil sprayer. It helps me to keep the oil consumption to a minimum when roasting vegetables plus it distributes the oil nicely. This is a must have for anyone who does a lot of roasting.