Grilled Ciabatta with Spicy Broccoli Rabe and Fennel

Pair broccoli rabe with fresh fennel, creamy ricotta and shaved Parmesan to make this attractive starter. The vegetables are grilled to increase their umami notes and intensify the savoury flavour.
30 min
PREP TIME
10 min
COOK TIME
80
CALORIES
10
INGREDIENTS

INGREDIENTS 24 SERVINGS

  • 1/4 cup (50 milliliter) olive oil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoon (7 milliliter) Italian Seasoning with Flax
  • 3/4 teaspoon (3 milliliter) Garlic Powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon (2 milliliter) Organic Crushed Red Pepper
  • 1/4 teaspoon (1 milliliter) Sea Salt Grinder
  • 1/2 bunch (about 8 oz/250 g) broccoli rabe, rinsed and trimmed of thick lower stems
  • 1 medium fennel bulb, fronds reserved and bulb cut crosswise into 1/2-in (1 cm) slices
  • 1 loaf ciabatta bread, split in half horizontally
  • 1 cup (250 milliliter) ricotta cheese
  • 1/4 cup (50 milliliter) shaved Parmesan cheese

Preparation

  • 1 Mix oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper and sea salt in large bowl. Reserve 1 tbsp (15 mL) for drizzling. Add broccoli rabe and fennel to bowl; toss to coat well. Let stand at least 10 minutes.
  • 2 Grill broccoli rabe and fennel on one side of grill over medium-high heat 4 minutes per side or until charred and tender-crisp. Grill bread halves on other side of grill 2 minutes per side or until grill marks appear. Cool broccoli rabe and fennel slightly then coarsely chop.
  • 3 Spread ricotta evenly on cut sides of grilled bread. Top with broccoli rabe and fennel. Drizzle with the reserved oil mixture. Top with shaved Parmesan cheese. Sprinkle with additional sea salt and garnish with fennel fronds, if desired. Cut each bread half into 12 slices. Serve immediately.
  • 4 Serving Suggestions:
    • Drizzle toasts with balsamic glaze. It’s a reduction of balsamic syrup that is used to drizzle over grilled meats, salads or even desserts. It can be found in some supermarkets shelved with the balsamic vinegar, gourmet or Italian markets, or online specialty stores.
    • Top toasts with 3 slices prosciutto, grilled and coarsely crumbled. To grill prosciutto, grill over medium-high heat 1 to 2 minutes per side or until crisp.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

(per Serving)

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