Braised Broccoli Rabe with Chickpeas, Za’atar, and Tahini Drizzle {Gluten-Free}

Gluten-free Braised Broccoli Rabe with Chickpeas, Za’atar, and Tahini Drizzle features the Middle Eastern flavors of tahini and za’atar to mellow out the pleasantly tangy bite of broccoli rabe.

It was the funniest thing; recently I was eating lunch alone, attempting to multitask and finish up an article with a deadline approaching while downing a hot bowl of creamy tomato soup. Since I was there by myself, I thought getting work done would be a breeze and I’d have time to spare, maybe time enough to grab a coffee after lunch. It ended up being a pretty entertaining lunch after all.

Seated one table over was a soft-spoken mother with her son, a sandy-haired boy with big brown eyes and an inquisitive disposition who looked about seven; he was a riot. He dug into his soup with fervor, but ate it surprisingly elegantly for a kid. He dipped his spoon in, thoughtfully looked at the noodles, and replied to his mom, “Do you want to know what’s really surprising? Some people don’t like chicken noodle soup.” I couldn’t make out the mom’s reply, but he listened attentively and then resumed enjoying his soup, nodding along at whatever she had said. “What makes some people think the way they do?” he asked next, and then a minute later, “Mom, would you rather break an arm or a leg?” This got me thinking, would I rather break an arm or a leg? These are the sort of deep questions that as adults we don’t have time to contemplate on a daily basis, lol.

The questions we think about as adults typically relate to saving time (how am I going to squeeze grocery shopping in between soccer practice and my doctor’s appointment?), money (did I pay the mortgage this month?), and other fun adult stuff like when was the last time the kiddos ate a green veggie?

I can help with at least that last question. One of the biggest struggles to get kids (and husbands) to eat healthy is to keep things interesting. I’m telling you from experience because even dark chocolate (my favorite) tends to feel a little less special if I have it every single day. Enter a delicious vegetable that deserves a little more time in the spotlight: Andy Boy broccoli rabe! (I look for the pink label! Not only are their organic products top-quality, but it really matters to me that they take things like recycling, how they treat their employees, and philanthropy seriously.)

Here garlic and olive oil bring out the best in broccoli rabe; chickpeas bump up the fiber and protein and a creamy tahini sauce adds a nice textural and flavor contrast. Za’atar, a Middle Eastern thyme spice mix, is definitely one of the stars of the show, adding a bright, earthy flavor. If you have pine nuts on hand, toast up a small handful because their nutty crunch takes this dish to the next level.

Fuel up with this recipe and you’ll have more time to ponder the deeper questions, lol.