Broccoli Rabe Timbale Recipe (2024)

By Martha Rose Shulman

Broccoli Rabe Timbale Recipe (1)

Total Time
2 hours 15 minutes, plus about 1 to 2 hours’ cooking and resting
Rating
4(41)
Notes
Read community notes

A timbale is a savory custard, gently baked in a water bath and unmolded before serving. You can use either broccoli rabe or baby broccoli for this one; the rabe has a stronger flavor, with a bitter edge. Bake this in individual ramekins or in a 1- or 1½ -quart soufflé dish or ring mold and serve with a marinara sauce.

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Ingredients

Yield:6 servings

    For the Filling

    • ½pound broccoli rabe or baby broccoli (1 medium-size bunch)
    • 1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
    • 1plump garlic clove, minced
    • 1teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
    • Salt and black pepper

    For the Timbale

    • Soft butter, for the baking dish (or dishes)
    • 5large eggs
    • 3grams salt (½ teaspoon)
    • 1cup milk
    • 50grams dry bread crumbs (scant ⅔ cup)
    • 85grams Gruyère, grated (¾ cup)
    • 50grams Parmesan, grated (about ½ cup)
    • Black pepper

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (6 servings)

294 calories; 19 grams fat; 9 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 7 grams monounsaturated fat; 2 grams polyunsaturated fat; 12 grams carbohydrates; 3 grams dietary fiber; 3 grams sugars; 20 grams protein; 469 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Broccoli Rabe Timbale Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Prepare the vegetables: Trim away bottoms of stems from broccoli rabe or baby broccoli, then remove greens and florets, keeping them separate from the stems. If stems are thicker than ½ inch, cut in half lengthwise.

  2. Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, salt generously and add stems. Blanch for 2 minutes, then add florets and leaves. Continue to blanch for another 3 minutes. Using a skimmer or a spider, transfer all the broccoli rabe or baby broccoli to a bowl of cold water, then drain. (If using broccoli rabe, take handfuls of the greens and squeeze out excess water.) Place on kitchen towels and allow to drain for a few more minutes, then chop fine.

  3. Step

    3

    Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium-size skillet. Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute. Add thyme and chopped vegetables. Stir over medium heat for about 1 minute, season to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from the heat.

  4. Step

    4

    Make the timbale: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Generously butter a 1- or 1½-quart soufflé dish or ring mold, or six ½-cup ramekins. Set dish (or ramekins) in a baking pan.

  5. Step

    5

    Beat eggs in a large bowl. Add salt. Bring milk to a bare simmer: You should see bubbles at the sides of the pan, but the surface of the milk should not break. Remove from heat and whisk into eggs. Stir in bread crumbs, cheeses and vegetable filling. Scrape into large soufflé dish or ladle into smaller ramekins.

  6. Step

    6

    Carefully pour enough hot water into baking pan to measure about 1 inch up the sides of the baking dish(es). Place pan in oven. Bake a large timbale for 40 to 45 minutes, small ramekins for 30 minutes, until just set. Turn off oven and prop oven door open. Let dish(es) sit in oven, leaving large timbale for 30 minutes to an hour, or small ramekins for 20 minutes. Remove from oven. To unmold, run a knife around the edge of the soufflé dish or ramekins and reverse onto a plate or a platter. Serve warm or room temperature, surrounded with marinara sauce.

Tip

  • You can prepare the broccoli rabe a day or two ahead. Keep uncovered in the refrigerator. Or you can make the whole timbale up to 3 days ahead, either in the dish or unmolded. Reheat for about 10 minutes in a 325-degree oven before unmolding.

Ratings

4

out of 5

41

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John

I really liked this -- very tasty and elegant. It didn't totally stay together when unmolded, but that was the cook's fault -- I used about a pound of rabe, not a half-pound and arguably didn't chop it fine enough. But the flavor was great, and it seems like a great way to use a sometimes puzzling vegetable.

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Broccoli Rabe Timbale Recipe (2024)

FAQs

What is a timbale in cooking? ›

In cooking, timbale (French: [tɛ̃bal]) derived from the French word for "kettledrum", also known as timballo, can refer to either a kind of pan used for baking, or the food that is cooked inside such a pan.

How do you cook broccoli rabe so it's not bitter? ›

Blanching is key to making rapini/broccoli rabe less bitter. You can blanch it in a pot of boiling water for 60 to 90 seconds or steam it with a little water for a few minutes in a covered skillet before sauteeing. Both methods work well, but I prefer to boil it first.

Do you take the leaves off broccoli rabe before cooking? ›

Cut the floret off the stems, keeping the leaves and florets intact. (You can discard the stems.) Place the broccoli rabe in a bowl with the olive oil, garlic powder, and kosher salt and mix until well combined. Place it on the baking sheet.

What is the difference between broccoli broccolini and broccoli rabe? ›

Taste: Broccoli has a slightly bittersweet flavor and thick, meaty stems. Broccolini is milder and sweeter than broccoli, with firm, crunchy stems, and leafy florets. Broccoli rabe has a strong, bitter taste throughout, from its stems to its leaves.

What are the different types of timbales? ›

Types of Timbales

The two drums typically have a difference in size of 3–5 cm. The smaller, higher pitched timbale (macho) provides melody accompaniment while the larger drum (hembra) provides rhythm. Timbalitos, or pailitas, are smaller than the traditional timbales, with diameters of 15–25 cm.

Why does my broccoli rabe taste weird? ›

Broccoli rabe's bitter flavor comes from chemical compounds known as glucosinolates, which are found in other bitter greens like kale, collard greens, and mustard greens.

Do you cut the ends off broccoli rabe? ›

Trim off the very end of the stem and discard. Broccoli rabe can be cooked & eaten whole. stems from the leaves. Chop them into 2-inch bite-size pieces.

What part of the broccoli rabe do you use? ›

The deliciously bitter stems, leaves, and nutty, broccoli-esque buds are all edible, easy to cook, and often sautéed, braised, and roasted in Italian dishes. Recipes like Cavatelli with Roasted Broccoli Rabe and Harissa and Broccoli Rabe Burgers show the vegetable's versatility.

Is broccoli rabe good for you? ›

This green vegetable is highly nutritious; it's rich in beta-carotene (vitamin A), vitamin C, folate and potassium, and is a good source of dietary fiber. Look for broccoli rabe at your local farmers market or grocery co-op and bring home a new vegetable to try!

Why is my broccoli rabe turning yellow? ›

Rapini is highly perishable — it gets more pungent and bitter the longer you keep it in the fridge. Its broccoli-like heads may turn yellow and mushy the longer it is kept. (This is due to chlorophyll loss.

What is the difference between broccoli rabe and rapini? ›

Lastly, we have broccoli rabe, also known as rapini, which is not a broccoli derivative at all and is instead more closely related to the turnip. It's a bitter green, similar to a mustard green, with thin stalks, little buds, and lots and lots of leaves.

Is broccoli rabe or spinach healthier? ›

Which is healthier, broccoli rabe or spinach? A. As per the data, we can observe that Vitamin B1 is higher in broccoli rabe. On the other hand, vitamin K, vitamin A, folate, manganese, magnesium, potassium, copper, vitamin C, and iron are higher in spinach.

Can you eat the yellow flowers on broccoli rabe? ›

Broccoli rabe has a bitter, sometimes pungent, nutty flavor that can take some getting used to. Its leaves, stalks, and flowers are all edible. You'll want to thoroughly wash all the dirt and sand out of them, and remove any yellow leaves before cooking.

Is broccoli rabe healthier than kale? ›

Broccoli rabe contains 50% more gastrointestinal health boosting fiber than kale. I told you, you may just be sporting a broccoli rabe bag this summer. Orange veggies are awesome, but greens are a good way too to get in the uber antioxidant, Vitamin A, also.

What are timbales made of? ›

The modern timbal includes two drums, the smaller “macho” drum, usually between 13”-15” and the larger hembra, which is between 14”-16.” The shells of these drums are typically made from different metals ranging from bronze, brass, and steel and use 6-8 tension rods to secure a plastic head in place.

What does a timbale look like? ›

Timbales have average diameters of 33 cm (13 in) (macho drum) and 35 cm (14 in) (hembra drum). Originally made of calfskin, the heads are most commonly made of plastic for increased volume and durability and mounted on a steel rim. The shells are usually made of metal, although wooden shells are also available.

How do you eat timbale? ›

Unmold the timbale: Remove the timbale from the oven, let it cool slightly, and empty some of the pan sauce into a sauceboat so it doesn't burn your hands when you invert the pan. Over a large enough round dish, slowly invert the bundt. Decorate the timbale with some aromatic leaves and lemon slices. Serve hot.

What is a substitute for a timbale mold? ›

Timbales are metal molds used to shape rice and custard mixtures. Ramekins, glass custard cups, or even dry measuring cups make a fine substitute.

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