Stromboli Bread with Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

My cousin Gracie won't let me come to her house unless I have at least 1 loaf of this with me. Even people who do not like broccoli rabe, myself included, love this!




Stromboli Bread with Hot Italian Sausage and Broccoli Rabe

1 – 16 ounce loaf semolina bread or rustic Italian bread
1 bunch broccoli rabe, cut into 3 inch pieces
1 pound bulk hot Italian sausage
4 cloves garlic, pushed thru a press
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
8 thin slices mozzarella cheese
8 thin slices provelone cheese
a couple of handfuls of grated Parmesan cheese and grated Romano cheese
Pinch nutmeg
2 tablespoons olive oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Cut off the top quarter of the bread lengthwise and scoop out the bottom. Set aside the top. In a deep skillet, bring about 2 inches of water to a boil. Salt the water and add the broccoli rabe in batches, simmering for 5 minutes. Drain and rinse under cold water. Wipe out the skillet, add the olive oil and heat over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, crumbling with a spoon until browned, about 8 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes. Add the broccoli rabe and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Fill the bottom of the bread shell with the shredded mozzarella and grated Romano cheese. Top with the sausage mixture then top that with the grated Parmesan, sliced provolone, sliced mozzarella and the bread lid, in that order. Wrap bread in foil and bake until cheese is melted, about 10 to 15 minutes. Cut into thick slices to serve.

Footnote - Make 2 because people will fight over this.