There are few things that I enjoy more than a really good piece of cheese. Cheese can take an average dish to over the top with just a little sprinkle. One of my guilty pleasures is a glass of wine and some great cheese – add some good olives and I consider it a meal. It’s hard to believe that until my visit to Madison, Wisconsin I had never tried cheese curds. I didn’t even realize that you could eat cheese that made your teeth squeak. Cheese curds do just that, but boy are they delicious.
The fried cheese curds at the Dane County Farmers Market came in the most amazing flavors. I found myself shamelessly lining up over and over again to make sure that I could try all the flavors. I seemed to get away with what would normally be frowned upon with my excuse that, “I’m here from Florida and want to make sure that I remember the wonderful flavors from Madison.” The merchants gladly handed over sample after sample – a little polite chit-chat seems to go a long way in Madison. The people were just so friendly and seemed to love having a visitor from another state.
When our friends at American Family Insurance suggested a cheese theme for this week’s Back to the Family Dinner Dinner Table event, I was so excited and couldn’t wait to try to duplicate a recipe for fried cheese curds similar to what I had experienced during my visit. Minor detail, cheese curds are not very popular in the Tampa Bay area and the ones that I did find were nothing like the ones I tried in Madison.
I was a little sad, but I promise, you won’t be disappointed with this week’s recipe. It is still inspired by my visit to the Dane County Farmers Market and it is fabulous! If you can’t find broccoli rabe, you are welcome to use regular broccoli. But if you can find true rappini you are in for a special treat!

- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- 1 bunch of broccoli rabe rapini (broccoli can also be used)
- 1 pound of cherry or grape tomatoes
- 4 garlic cloves, peeled
- 4 tablespoons of Olive Oil
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- 4 Small Naan or Flatbreads
- 1 cup Ricotta Cheese
- 2 Cups White Cheddar Cheese, grated
- 4 tablespoons shaved or grated parmesan cheese
- For the Roasted Tomatoes and Brocolli Rabe:
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil
- Add broccoli rabe to the boiling water and blanch for a minute
- Lay the Broccoli Rabe, tomatoes and garlic cloves on a large baking sheet
- Coat the vegetables with olive oil and sprinkle with Salt and Pepper
- Bake for approximately 1 hour turning the vegetables every 15 minutes, ensuring that the vegetables roast evenly
- Remove vegetables from the baking sheet and reserve the remaining olive oil mixture
- Lay the 4 flatbreads on a pizza sheet or baking sheet
- Cover each flatbread with ricotta cheese
- Sprinkle the grated white cheddar cheese over each flatbread
- Add the broccoli rabe and roasted tomatoes
- Lay the garlic in between the veggies (I like to slice the garlic but true garlic lovers will want to use whole)
- Sprinkle each flatbread with the reserved garlicky olive oil mixture
- Place back in the oven for approximately 15 to 20 minutes or until the cheese is bubbly
It is an honor to be hosting this week’s #SundaySupper around the family table with American Family Insurance and this group of talented contributors. We have had so much fun working with American Family Insurance on their Back to the Family Dinner Table Campaign and couldn’t wait to share our favorite Cheesy Recipes that are perfect for Sunday Supper? This week’s recipes are just amazing. We also have a Back to the Dinner Table Pinterest Board. Check out the recipes by clicking here or following American Family Insurance on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter. They will continue to share more family favorite recipes and the stories behind them.
Cheesy Sunday Supper Recipes:
- Cheesy Buffalo Chicken Soup by Chocolate Moosey
- Fettucine Pumpkin Cauli-fredo by Cupcakes & Kale Chips
- Cheeseburger Chowder by Magnolia Days
- Three Cheese Lasagna with Meat Sauce by Webicurean
- Japanese Grilled Cheese & Kale Salad by NinjaBaking.com
- Cheesy Ham and Potato Bake by Country Girl in the Village
- Spinach Feta Greek Impossible Pie by Shockingly Delicious
- Cheesy Vegetarian Enchilada Soup by Curious Cuisiniere
- Steakhouse Bacon Alfredo Pasta by Juanita’s Cocina
- 3 Cheese Pumpkin Mac and Cheese by Bobbi’s Kozy Kitchen
- Cheddar Popcorn Soup by MarocMama
- Broccoli, Mushroom & Cheese Strata by Momma’s Meals
- Chili Relleno Casserole by That Skinny Chick Can Bake
- French Onion and Apple Soup by Supper for a Steal
- Cheesy Italian Sausage & Kale Quiche by girlichef
- Lighter Stove-top Mac and Cheese by Alida’s Kitchen
- Cheddar Potato Dumpling Soup by Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
- Prosciutto, Chevre & Radish Toasted Sandwich by Foxes Love Lemons
- Cheesesteak Poutine by The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen
- Roasted Tomatoes and Broccoli Rabe Flatbread Pizza by Family Foodie
And don’t forget, our eCookbook featuring many of our favorite recipes will be coming out just in time for the Holidays.
Join the #SundaySupper conversation on twitter on Sunday! We tweet throughout the day and share recipes from all over the world. Our weekly chat starts at 7:00 pm ET. Follow the #SundaySupper hashtag and remember to include it in your tweets to join in the chat. Check out our #SundaySupper Pinterest board for more fabulous recipes and food photos.
Would you like to join the Sunday Supper Movement? It’s easy. You can sign up by clicking here ? Sunday Supper Movement.
This post is sponsored by American Family Insurance. All opinions are my own.






Renee
November 10, 2013 at 7:17 amWhat a wonderful flatbread! I can almost smell the tomatoes roasting. And I’m also wishing I could have those fresh cheese curds you had in Wisconsin. What a treat they must have been to enjoy.
FamilyFoodie
November 10, 2013 at 7:34 amRenee- I thought of you the entire time I was in Madison. You would have loved it.
Lane @ Supper for a Steal
November 10, 2013 at 8:28 amMmm I love broccoli rabe. I have never found good cheese curds around here, but the good news is you can order them from Wisconsin. My grandparents had this weird tradition of giving everyone huge blocks of Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese for Christmas and my Pop used to always get 1 order of cheese curds, we used to hid out in the garage eating them. Soo good and brings back great memories 🙂
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 8:59 amWhat a great tradition Lane. I would take a gift of Wisconsin Cheddar Cheese any day!
Cindys Recipes and Writings
November 10, 2013 at 8:32 amI love that you used 3 cheeses on this, Isabel! I’ll bet the combo was terrific!
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 8:59 amThe Cheese Addict in my really came out Cindy. The combo is just fabulous!
Julie @ Texan New Yorker
November 10, 2013 at 10:40 amI can’t find cheese curds in New York, either (even at a store called “Cheese of the World!), so I’ve never tried them. Your flat breads look so amazing! And I love putting a green veggie on a pizza – it makes the cheese and carbs feel a lot less guilty, right? 🙂
Oh, and I’m totally with you on the meal of wine, cheese and some olives. That sounds lovely.
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:02 amThat is exactly right Julie… it’s a “healthy” flatbread. LOL
Heather Schmitt-Gonzalez
November 10, 2013 at 10:40 amIt is definitely a bummer that you can’t find good cheese curds in Florida…it’s a definite perk of living in the Midwest ;). However, this flatbread looks equally amazing – such perfect toppings!
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:03 amThanks Heather… I fell in love with the Midwest and the amazing food on my visit to Madison last month! Need to figure out how to get some good cheese curds.
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
November 10, 2013 at 11:00 amI don’t think L.A. knows what cheese curds are. Wonder if I could make them myself? Meanwhile, I shall console myself with your delicious looking flatbread.
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:03 amIf you figure out how to make cheese curds, you must share the recipe with me!
Bea
November 10, 2013 at 11:36 amThese look and sound out of this world, Isabel.
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:04 amThanks Bea! I need you to come up with a dairy free version.
Liz
November 10, 2013 at 11:38 amOh, my. I need to add flatbread pizzas to my menu ASAP. What a simple, delectable dinner idea…and so easy!!! YUM!
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:04 amThanks Liz! My kids love making flatbreads and adding their own toppings.
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
November 10, 2013 at 11:57 amSorry you couldn’t find the curds, but I am all over this pizza! I love the white cheddar and ricotta combo, versus a traditional mozzarella. I’ll have to try this. The Bug’s favortie pizza is white pizza with broccoli!
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:05 amI have a feeling the Bug is going to love this pizza!
Shaina
November 10, 2013 at 11:59 amThe title alone makes me swoon! Roasted tomatoes are one of the tastiest things ever, and I love that you used broccoli rabe…great idea to use something a little different than the quintessential green vegetable like spinach or even plain old broccoli.
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:06 amThank you Shaina… I like broccoli rabe almost as much as cheese! almost..
Shannon @VillageGirlBlog
November 10, 2013 at 12:08 pmI love Naan as a pizza crust! The broccoli rabe and the tomatoes look so pretty. The ricotta is a great idea for pizza too. Yum!
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:06 amThank you Shannon. Naan makes it so easy to make flatbread pizzas during a busy week!
Tammi @ Momma's Meals
November 10, 2013 at 1:01 pmOh wow! And I thought I was good at mustering up new pizza toppings! This one is fabulous! Love Broccoli Rabe!! Flat bread pizza if my fav too!
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:07 amThanks so much Tammi! I love all your pizza recipes!
Bobbi's Kozy Kitchen
November 10, 2013 at 2:13 pmWhat a gorgeous flat bread!! I love broccoli rabe and haven’t had it in a long time! WOW I just ate and now I am hungry again!!
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:08 amThanks Bobbi… you need a reunion with some broccoli rabe. It is so delish!
The Ninja Baker
November 10, 2013 at 3:25 pmYour flatbread pizza reminds me of Japanese pizza toast which I love! Yours may be even better looking and a tad healthier with the broccoli rabe…Your experience with cheese curds in Wisconsin is enviable…Perhaps people were so nice too because they had a TV cooking show host in their midst =)
Jen @JuanitasCocina
November 10, 2013 at 3:50 pmLOVE this cheesy flatbread! And I love that you chatted a merchant up for some cheese! 😀
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:14 amThe things I do for cheese… hahaha
Carla
November 10, 2013 at 9:55 pmSounds like a great quick dinner for when I come home from work!
FamilyFoodie
November 11, 2013 at 9:14 amLet me know if you try it Carla. I think you will love it.
Sarah | Curious Cuisiniere
November 11, 2013 at 9:21 amDelicious! Now I’m craving a flatbread pizza!
Lori @ Foxes Love Lemons
November 12, 2013 at 10:55 amI just love Madison and all of their cheese curds. I haven’t been over there in awhile, but now you’re making me want to take the trip! This pizza looks just delicious – I’ve never had a pie with broccoli rabe, but I think I would love the interplay of the slightly bitter broccoli rabe with the creamy cheese!
Susan
November 14, 2013 at 10:08 pmSince when does having a glass of wine and cheese become a guilty pleasure? That’s just flat our pure pleasure! What a great flatbread Isabel! I sure hope you can find some decent cheese curds again, although I know you can get them mail ordered.
Anne @ Webicurean
November 16, 2013 at 11:42 amI love the idea of making pizza with flatbread! You know, I’ve never had cheese curds, unless quark counts?! Here on the Left Coast, Marin French Cheese Co. makes some awesome quark… all this cheese talks makes me think I should stop at the cheese factory today!