Broccoli Timbale Recipes

BROCCOLI TIMBALES

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 325*.
• In large kettle or Dutch oven, bring 3 quarts water to a boil, add broccoli.
• Return to a boil, until tender, 3-5 minutes.
• Drain and immediately plunge in icy water to halt cooking,until cold, then drain well.
• Reserve 8 small florets for garnish.
• In small skillet, melt butter over medium heat.
• Saute shallots until transparent, around 5 minutes, cool slightly.
• In food processor bowl, puree broccoli and shallot and butter mixture.
• Add remaining ingredients and process until smooth and creamy.
• Can refrigerate this mixture until you are ready to bake.
• Butter 8 (6 oz) ramekins or custard cups, or disposable foil cupcake size cups.
• Divide pureed mixture evenly among ramekins.
• Arrange ramekins in 9 X 13 baking pan, filling pan with boiling water to reach halfway up ramekins.
• Cover loosely with foil.
• Bake in 325* preheated oven until knife in center comes out clean, about 35-40 minutes.
• To serve, run knife around edge of cups, invert on dinner plate.
• Garnish each with a cooked broccoli floret.

BROCCOLI RABE TIMBALE

Steps:

• 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 1/2 inch, cut in half lengthwise.
• 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.
• 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.
• Make the timbale: Heat oven to 325 degrees. Generously butter a 1- or 1 1/2-quart soufflé dish or ring mold, or six 1/2-cup ramekins. Set dish (or ramekins) in a baking pan.
• 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.
• 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.

WILD RICE AND BROCCOLI TIMBALES

Steps:

• Heat wild rice, broccoli, water, basil and salt to boiling in 2-quart saucepan, stirring occasionally to break up broccoli; reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 6 to 7 minutes or until wild rice and broccoli are tender. Stir in cheeses until blended.
• Meanwhile, heat spaghetti sauce in 1-quart saucepan over medium heat until hot. Reduce heat to low; stir occasionally.
• Spray 10-ounce custard cup with cooking spray. To form timbales, press 3/4 cup wild rice mixture into cup; turn upside down onto serving plate to unmold. Repeat with remaining mixture. Or spoon mixture onto serving plates instead of shaping into timbales.
• Pour spaghetti sauce over timbales. Sprinkle with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.