Conti Family Braciolini Recipes

ROASTED BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Trim 2 inches off the ends of the broccolini stems and cut any thick stalks in half lengthwise. Place the broccolini in a single layer on two sheet pans. (If you put them on one sheet pan, the broccolini will steam rather than roast.) Drizzle each sheet pan with 2 tablespoons olive oil, sprinkle with 1 teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper, and toss well. Roast for 15 minutes, until the broccolini is crisp-tender. Sprinkle lightly with salt and serve hot.

SIMPLE BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• Fill a large skillet with 1 to 2 inches of water and bring to a boil; add broccolini and cook until bright green, 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer broccolini to a strainer and drain water from skillet.
• Heat olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Cook and stir garlic in the hot oil until golden and fragrant, 1 to 2 minutes. Return broccolini to frying pan using tongs; cook and stir until heated through, 2 to 3 minutes. Squeeze lemon juice over broccoli and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.

SAUTEED BROCCOLINI WITH GARLIC

Steps:

• Cook Broccolini in a 6- to 8-quart pot of boiling salted water until stems are crisp-tender, about 5 minutes, then drain in a colander.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until hot but not smoking, then sauté half of garlic, stirring, until pale golden, about 30 seconds. Add half of Broccolini, 1/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper and cook, stirring, until heated through, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a serving dish and repeat with remaining ingredients.

BAKED BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 425°. Place Broccolini in a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan. Combine lemon juice, oil, salt and pepper; drizzle over Broccolini and toss to coat., Bake, uncovered, 10-15 minutes or until tender, stirring occasionally.

BRACIOLATINI

Steps:

• Slice raw eye round roast beef very thin. I use an electric slicer. In a medium bowl combine bread crumbs, grated cheese, salt, pepper, chopped garlic and parsley. Mix thoroughly. Taking one slice of meat at a time, in a large plate, spread surface of meat slice with approximately 1/2 teaspoon of olive oil. Next, place about 2 teaspoons (depending on size of meat slice) of bread crumb mixture in center of meat slice. Fold sides of meat slice toward center. Then roll, jelly roll style from bottom to top. Place each meat roll on a thin wooden skewer that has been soaked in water for about 1 hour. Each skewer should hold 6 to 7 meat rolls. This recipe will yield approximately 8 skewers. Once all the meat has been rolled and is skewered, rub each side of the braciolatini with olive oil. Then coat each side with remaining bread crumb mixture. Place the skewered braciolatini on a broiler rack with about a cup of water in broiler pan under rack. Broil for approximately 6 minutes on each side. Do not overcook and do not broil too close to the flame. Serving ideas: Serve with green salad and roasted potatoes or pasta. Braciolatini are great cooked on the grill.

CONTI FAMILY BRACIOLINI

Steps:

• Cut the beef into pieces approximately 4 X3 inches and pound each until it is about 1/8 inch thick. Cover each piece with a slice of prosciutto.
• Toss together the breadcrumbs, cheese, salt pepper and parsley. Sprinkle the mixture over the slices, keeping it 1/4 inch in from the edges.
• Roll the slices into sausage shapes and secure closed with toothpicks or tie with kitchen string.
• Heat the oil in a heavy frying pan and brown the braciolini well on all sides.
• Transfer these into the Conti Family Meat Sauce recipe.

BRACCIALONI

Steps:

• Pound meat as thin as possible, hopefully 1/4 inch thick. Drizzle or brush with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, then sprinkle with a thin layer of bread crumbs. Layer the prosciutto over the crumbs, and sprinkle with remaining bread crumbs, and chopped hard-cooked eggs. Roll the meat up into a tight spiral, and secure with kitchen twine.
• Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large saucepan, or stock pot over medium-high heat. Sear the outside of the roast on all sides. Pour spaghetti sauce over the roast, and reduce heat to medium-low. Cover and simmer for 2 to 3 hours, stirring occasionally.
• Remove meat from the sauce to a serving platter, and let stand for 15 minutes. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and cook until tender, about 7 minutes. Drain.
• Carve the meat into slices about 1/2 inch thick. Serve with spaghetti and sauce.

BRAISED BROCCOLINI

Steps:

• In a large skillet with a tight-fitting lid, heat olive oil over medium-high. Add garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add Broccolini and chicken broth; season with salt and red-pepper flakes. Bring to a boil over high and cover. Reduce heat and simmer until Broccolini is tender but still bright green, about 15 minutes. Transfer Broccolini to a platter. Increase heat to medium-high and simmer broth until reduced by half; pour over Broccolini.

CONTI FAMILY MEATBALLS (SICILIAN TWIST)

Steps:

• Mix all the ingredients together and blend well.
• With wet hands, rolly the mixture into balls about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.
• Drop the balls into the simmering meat sauce.