I’ve got some really big changes coming up in my life! I’ve accepted an exciting new job with a company in Seattle and will be there very soon. So my house is in various states of packing, my kitchen is mostly cleaned out and yet, we still have to eat! When life is busy and possibly leaning towards stressful, if I force myself to have a nice, relaxing lunch outside where I can hear the birds and see trees, usually my stress level is minimal. I managed to do that today. It felt very luxurious. I would say as decadent as any spa. Although the only spa I’ve been too was a Korean spa in Seoul. It is not my favorite memory. During this period of transition, I’ve been needing music that is upbeat and can work as background music so I don’t need to stop for a full on dance break. HAIM does this for me. Days Are Gone also is excellent porch sitting music. What group or musician does it for you?
Nduja (see notes below) is something I have been hearing about for awhile and have wanted to try. I was perusing a grocery store with the initials W.F. and saw it. I picked it up. Then I put it down. Then I picked it up again. Given that it is in recipe, you can guess what the outcome was. I tried it first on an egg sandwich and yum! Eyes closed, savoring yum. So while packing today, I looked in my fridge and had rabe, mozzarella, nduja and then I knew. I was going to be Italian-style lunching today, al fresco and not even close to al desko. The fifteen minutes I took to savor my lunch has entirely made my day. I hope it can help make yours!
Vinyl: HAIM – Days Are Gone
Nduja, Fresh Mozzarella and Broccoli Rabe Sandwich
Prep time – 20 minutes
Cook time – 15 minutes
Total time – 35-40 minutes
Serves 2 (with leftover rabe)
Ingredients:
Broccoli Rabe:
- One pound of broccoli rabe, diced into 2 inch pieces
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 anchovy fillets
Sandwich:
- 4 tablespoons of Nduja
- 1 fresh mozzarella ball, sliced into 5-6 slices
- 1/2 crusty baguette, sliced in half lengthwise and vertically
- fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions:
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, fill a large bowl with ice water. Once the water is boiling, add the broccoli rabe and cook until bright green, about 2 minutes. Drain and plunge into the ice water.
- Add the olive oil to a medium saucepan and add the garlic clove and anchovy fillets. Use your spatula to mix the anchovies with the garlic until the anchovies appear to have melted into the garlic. Saute until slightly golden.
- Drain the broccoli rabe from the ice water, pressing lightly to remove additional water. Add this to the pan and mix, sautéing for a few minutes. Remove from the heat.
- Spread the Nduja on the bottom half of the baguette. Add the sautéed broccoli rabe then top with mozzarella slices. Add a sprinkle of black pepper and top with the other baguette half.
- Slice the sandwich in half and serve!
Notes:
What is Nduja?! (Pronounced en-DOO-ya) It will change your life. It is a spicy spreadable salami – really spicy. You can use it on egg sandwiches, on pizza, in pasta and almost anywhere else that can use a kick! Have you used it before? Here is a link for the brand I used:
http://laquercia.us/cuts_specialties_Nduja_Americana
Okay. I didn’t use broccoli rabe because one of the farmers from my farmer’s market has started growing what they are calling ‘kalette rabe’. It is basically the same idea and the two are prepared identically. If your farmer has a kale/rabe hybrid, try it, is it delicious!
What if you wanted to make this vegetarian? Have you ever made duxelles? Portobello or cremini mushrooms slow cooked and achingly delicious. This would taste delicious with this sandwich!
I paired this with a refreshing crisp white wine and sat on my patio and had lunch. Instant calm.