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1
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.
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2
If stems are thicker than 1/2 inch, cut in half lengthwise.
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3
Bring a medium pot of water to a boil, salt generously and add stems.
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4
Blanch for 2 minutes, then add florets and leaves.
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5
Continue to blanch for another 3 minutes.
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6
Using a skimmer or a spider, transfer all the broccoli rabe or baby broccoli to a bowl of cold water, then drain.
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7
(If using broccoli rabe, take handfuls of the greens and squeeze out excess water.)
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8
Place on kitchen towels and allow to drain for a few more minutes, then chop fine.
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9
Heat olive oil over medium heat in a medium-size skillet.
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10
Add garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 30 seconds to a minute.
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11
Add thyme and chopped vegetables.
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12
Stir over medium heat for about 1 minute, season to taste with salt and pepper, and remove from the heat.
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13
Make the timbale: Heat oven to 325 degrees.
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14
Generously butter a 1- or 1 1/2-quart souffle dish or ring mold, or six 1/2-cup ramekins.
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15
Set dish (or ramekins) in a baking pan.
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16
Beat eggs in a large bowl.
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17
Add salt.
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18
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.
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19
Remove from heat and whisk into eggs.
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20
Stir in bread crumbs, cheeses and vegetable filling.
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21
Scrape into large souffle dish or ladle into smaller ramekins.
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22
Carefully pour enough hot water into baking pan to measure about 1 inch up the sides of the baking dish(es).
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23
Place pan in oven.
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24
Bake a large timbale for 40 to 45 minutes, small ramekins for 30 minutes, until just set.
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25
Turn off oven and prop oven door open.
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26
Let dish(es) sit in oven, leaving large timbale for 30 minutes to an hour, or small ramekins for 20 minutes.
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27
Remove from oven.
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28
To unmold, run a knife around the edge of the souffle dish or ramekins and reverse onto a plate or a platter.
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29
Serve warm or room temperature, surrounded with marinara sauce.
