Broccoli Rabe & Smoked Provolone - Deal of the Day

Broccoli rabe is more stem than what I am used to, and that's fine. Broccoli rabe has a slight bitterness compared to milder grocery-stocked large heads of broccoli.

For my latest Deal of the Day review of World Menu's Broccoli Rabe & Smoked Provolone, it's all about an Italian-style veggie side dish.

When defrosted, this broccoli rabe is tender but still a little crunchy --  not mushy like typical frozen veggies. World Menu does a good job of pre-cooking and freezing.

If you like large tender florets of broccoli then you may blanch at this type of more stringy, but supple, broccoli.

When microwaved the broccoli rabe sweats and the liquid is infused with smokey flavor. The smoked provolone cubes are small, but they give you enough flavor.

Once melted and mixed into veggies they add a delicious touch of richness. The smokiness does not overpower, which would be easy to do in the case of mild provolone cheese.

You do want to microwave in 30 second increments so you can catch it when the cheese is hot, but soft and melty - it would be easy to dry it out to a rubbery consistency with too much cooking.

Thankfully the ingredient list is short, mainly broccoli rabe, cheese and spices - and imported from Italy.

So on the Cheap$kate Dining Scale of 1 to 9, 9 being best, I give World Menu's Broccoli Rabe & Smoked Provolone a perfect 9. This is a delicious side that with careful reheating will make any meal shine.