Does Chinese broccoli taste like regular broccoli?
Chinese broccoli is also known as gai lan (Cantonese) and jie lan (Mandarin). It's a leafy green vegetable with thick stems and thick leaves that look like collards. Its flavor is similar to broccoli, but it's slightly more pungent.
What is Chinese broccoli similar to?
Substitutions for Chinese Broccoli Though Chinese broccoli has a distinct taste and texture, you can substitute it with a number of other greens, including yu choy, bok choy, and broccolini.
Is Chinese broccoli bitter?
Also known as gai lan, Chinese broccoli is a dark green vegetable with thick stalks, large flat leaves and tiny flower buds. It's slightly bitter but not as bitter as broccoli rabe. It's usually stir-fried with garlic, or poached in water and served with oyster sauce on top.
What is the difference between broccolini and Chinese broccoli?
Broccolini is a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli (also called gai lan or Chinese kale). It looks a lot like Chinese broccoli—the stalks are long and lean—but instead of big leaves, it has florets more like common broccoli.
Is Chinese broccoli good for you?
Like many leafy green vegetables, Chinese broccoli is a powerhouse of nutrients. It contains high amounts of beta carotene. Beta carotene helps prevent age related macular degeneration (ARMD), which causes vision loss and eventually blindness. Additionally, Chinese broccoli is a good source of vitamin E.
Can Chinese broccoli be eaten raw?
The leaves, stalks and florets can be eaten raw or used in a wide variety of salads, side dishes and main dishes. Chinese broccoli belongs to the cabbage family and is most closely related to the Chinese or European cabbage.
How do you take the bitterness out of Chinese broccoli?
Unlike regular broccoli, Chinese broccoli has a slightly bitter taste. Hence, adding a small amount of sugar is always necessary to balance the bitterness. Combining a small amount of sugar with the oyster sauce dramatically improves the dish's overall flavor.
How do you make Chinese broccoli less bitter?
Hot water blanch method to remove bitter taste: Chinese broccoli has more bitter flavor than broccolini. If desired, after dice and rinse the vegetable, quickly blanch the stems in hot boiling water for 1 minute and leafy parts for 10-15 seconds then shock the vegetable in cold water to stop cooking.
Do you eat the stems of Chinese broccoli?
Gai lan has thick stems and dark green leaves, both of which are edible. Add to Asian-style dishes or blanch it for a nutritious side.
Is Chinese broccoli the same as bok choy?
Although it looks similar, it should not be confused with Chinese broccoli. The taste of choy sum is much sweeter and more tender than the Chinese broccoli. The texture of these is a bit closer to bok choy.
Are Chinese broccoli and broccoli rabe the same?
While Chinese broccoli and broccolini are both in the same family as the regular old broccoli you're familiar with, broccoli rabe is something else entirely. It's actually more closely related to a turnip, even though it has those little buds, similar to those found on broccoli florets.
Which is healthier broccoli or broccolini?
The nutritional lowdown Broccolini has slightly more phosphorus, manganese and calcium than broccoli – all vital for bone health. But it really wins out in the vitamin A stakes, providing almost four times more than broccoli.
Is Chinese broccoli the same as bok choy?
Although it looks similar, it should not be confused with Chinese broccoli. The taste of choy sum is much sweeter and more tender than the Chinese broccoli. The texture of these is a bit closer to bok choy.
Is Kale the same as Chinese broccoli?
Chinese Kale (B. This is also known as gai lan, Chinese broccoli, gai lon, gai larn, kai laan, white-flowered broccoli, or fat-shan. Compared to broccoli, Chinese kale has more, slender, dark green leaves, longer stems, and very few florets, which are similar to those of broccoli.
Is Chinese broccoli healthier than regular?
A Different Type of Broccoli As such, it retains the health benefits the cruciferous family has become known for. Chinese broccoli is one of the world's most nutritious vegetables, brandishing the highest calcium content of any food. It is also rich with iron, vitamin A, and vitamin C.
Is broccoli rabe the same as Chinese broccoli?
While Chinese broccoli and broccolini are both in the same family as the regular old broccoli you're familiar with, broccoli rabe is something else entirely. It's actually more closely related to a turnip, even though it has those little buds, similar to those found on broccoli florets.
Tips on how to cook Chinese broccoli
Here is a list of important tips about the ingredients and the way it should be prepared:
Two methods to cook: Blanching versus stir-frying
There are two ways to cook the Chinese broccoli, both are quick and easy.
How to serve
To serve, arrange the vegetables on a plate and cut them crosswise into two. Drizzle the sauce on top. Garnish with the fried garlic.
Related recipes to Chinese broccoli (gai lan)
If you like this gai lan recipe, you should also check out some related recipes on this blog: Vegetable stir-fry is a quick and easy Chinese dish. Stir-frying adds a whole new dimension to your plain vegetables, only if you do it right.
The Difference Between Broccoli, Broccolini, Broccoli Rabe, and Chinese Broccoli
Despite their similar names, what sets these winter veggies apart is the plant family they belong to. While broccoli, Broccolini, and Chinese broccoli are closely related to cabbage, the closest kin to broccoli rabe is turnips. A closer look at the size of their stalks, along with their leaves and florets, illustrates their differences.
More About Broccoli
With thick, crisp stalks topped with rounded green florets, broccoli is a member of the cabbage family. It has a grassy, earthy flavor that’s mildly bitter. And while we most often reach for the florets, the whole plant is edible.
More About Broccolini
While it might look like it, Broccolini is not baby broccoli. This lanky vegetable is a hybrid; first created in 1993, it’s a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli. It has small florets, long stalks, and a few small leaves — all of which are edible.
More About Broccoli Rabe
Broccoli rabe isn’t actually related to broccoli. Instead, it’s closely related to the turnip. And the best way to approach it is just as you would with bitter leafy greens, like mustard greens or turnip greens.
More About Chinese Broccoli
Chinese broccoli — also known as kai-lan, gai-lan, and Chinese kale — is a leafy green vegetable closely related to thick-stemmed broccoli, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts. It has flat leaves, thick stems, and tiny florets.
