What is Broccolini?
Tenderstem broccoli dressed with sesame sauce Broccolini or baby broccoli is a green vegetable similar to broccoli but with smaller florets and longer, thin stalks. It is a hybrid of broccoli and gai lan (which is sometimes referred to as "Chinese kale" or "Chinese broccoli"), both cultivar groups of Brassica oleracea.
Where does Broccoli come from?
Broccoli comes from the cabbage family and was developed the same way. Or we should say developing because, believe it or not, there’s always someone out there trying to make the next version of the best broccoli. Where Does Broccoli Come From? Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and even Brussels sprouts are all very closely related.
Is Broccolini a registered trademark?
The name broccolini is a registered trademark of Mann Packing. Broccolini was originally developed over eight years by the Sakata Seed Company of Yokohama, Japan. It was developed as a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli, rather than being genetically modified.
Is Broccolini baby broccoli?
But even though broccolini is cute, and even though the name might suggest otherwise, broccolini isn't baby broccoli. It just isn't. So...what is broccolini, anyway? Well, I'll tell you one thing: It sure isn't broccoli rabe either, even though it looks the part.
Who invented broccolini?
the Sakata Seed CompanyBroccolini was originally developed over eight years by the Sakata Seed Company of Yokohama, Japan. It was developed as a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli, rather than being genetically modified.
Is broccolini a 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.
What came first broccoli or 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.
Why is broccoli called broccolini?
In fact, Broccolini's original name, Aspabroc (yikes!), was a combination of the vegetables it resembled. Often called baby broccoli, broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli (kai lan) that was developed and trademarked in 1993 by Japan's Sakata Seed Corporation.
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 broccolini easier to digest than broccoli?
This means you can more easily eat broccolini stems than broccoli stems, which are much tougher and could be more difficult to eat and digest raw. Plus, you don't need to peel broccolini stems before preparing them.
Why is broccolini so expensive?
As for the price tag, there's a good reason why broccolini is more expensive than broccoli. A bunch of broccoli consists of two or three stalks of broccoli, so it takes three simple cuts to harvest. A bunch of broccolini has 15 to 20 stalks. That's a lot more work — and a lot more money.
What is Chinese broccoli called?
gai-lanLet's start with Chinese broccoli, also known as gai-lan, kai-lan, or Chinese kale.
Does broccolini have more protein than broccoli?
Did you know that 85g of broccolini equals up to 3 grams of protein, which is higher than broccoli with only 2.8g in 100g and rice, which only has 2.6g of protein per 100g. Broccolini is also a lot quicker to cook.
Do you eat broccolini raw?
The best way to experience the health benefits of broccolini is to eat it raw. The stems, leaves, and florets are all edible. You can also choose to steam your broccolini and serve it as a side to complete a tasty, nutritious meal.
Can you eat the whole broccolini?
You can eat the entire bunch - leaves, stalk, and occasional yellow flowers. Easy to prepare and completely delicious, Broccolini is one of my all-time favorite side dishes.
Are baby broccoli and broccolini the same thing?
Broccolini is sometimes called “baby broccoli,” but it is not a young version of broccoli as that name would suggest. While regular broccoli has thick stalks and tightly packed crowns, broccolini feature slimmer, sweeter stalks, with looser florets, a few soft leaves, and bright yellow flowers.
What is Chinese broccoli called?
gai-lanLet's start with Chinese broccoli, also known as gai-lan, kai-lan, or Chinese kale.
What is a substitute for Chinese broccoli?
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 broccoli and broccolini the same?
Broccolini is leafier than broccoli but is not as leafy as broccoli rabe. 2. Plant species: Broccoli and broccolini are both from the same plant species, brassica oleracea, which also includes green veggies such as mustard greens, Brussels sprouts, and cabbages. Broccolini is a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli.
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.
From Discovery to Commercial Farming
Broccoli, botanically known as Brassica oleracea italica, is native to the Mediterranean. It was engineered from a cabbage relative by the Etruscans—an ancient Italian civilization who lived in what is now Tuscany—who were considered to be horticultural geniuses.
Varieties and Nutritional Contents of Broccoli
The large head and thick stalk broccoli we are most familiar with is Calabrese broccoli (named after Calabria, Italy), although it is typically labeled simply as broccoli. Even though it is available in stores year-round, it is a cold-weather crop.
Buying, Cooking, and Recipes
Elaine Lemm is a renowned British food writer, classically trained chef, teacher, and author with over 25 years of experience writing about British food and cooking.
What Is Broccolini?
Broccolini ( Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) is a member of the Brassica genus, alongside broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. It was developed in 1993 in Yokohama, Japan, as the result of plant breeding—broccoli and Chinese kale ( kai lan) were combined to create a more flavorsome brassica.
How to Cook With Broccolini
Broccolini is a very versatile vegetable as it is delicious when cooked in a variety of ways. It can be sautéed, steamed, grilled, stir-fried, boiled, roasted, and even eaten raw. Taking just 10 minutes or so to cook, it needs very little except a sprinkle of salt.
What Does It Taste Like?
Broccolini has a mild, somewhat sweet flavor. Eaten raw, you'll find a hint of mustard spice, but this dissipates, and it gets even sweeter when cooked. Its texture is also more like asparagus than traditional broccoli.
Broccolini Recipes
You might not find many recipes that specifically call for broccolini or baby broccoli. However, it will work perfectly in any broccoli recipe .
Where to Buy Broccolini
While not as common as broccoli, it is getting easier to find broccolini in well-stocked and higher-end grocery stores and markets. It's typically sold in bunches that weigh about 1 pound, though you'll also find it cut and packaged, sometimes in the frozen foods section.
Storage
Don't wash broccolini until you're ready to use it. It can be refrigerated in loose or perforated plastic in the crisper for up to 10 days.
What is broccolini?
Broccolini ( Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) is a cruciferous vegetable of the Brassicaceae family — just like broccoli, kale, cauliflower, cabbage, and Brussels sprouts.
Health benefits of broccolini
Leafy greens like broccolini host a range of essential micronutrients that may provide additional health benefits. Broccolini and other cruciferous vegetables contain sulfur-rich compounds like sulforaphane — the compound behind many of its purported health benefits.
How to cook broccolini
Because of its softer texture, broccolini does best when cooked — it can taste a little wilted when eaten raw. You can use it any way you would use broccoli.
The bottom line
Broccolini is a member of the cruciferous vegetable family — a cross between broccoli and Chinese kale. It’s a good source of fiber, protein, and minerals like potassium and iron.
Man-Made Vegetables
It turns out, in fact, that most vegetables we eat are so-called “man-made” after all. Or “woman-made” more likely, while the men were out pretending to hunt. Not that we mean GMO or created in a lab somewhere.
Where Does Broccoli Come From?
Broccoli, cauliflower, kale, cabbage, and even Brussels sprouts are all very closely related. In fact, they’re considered the same species, just different varieties. It’s just like dogs – they’re all the same species, but they come in hundreds of breeds that can look totally different from each other.
Broccoli Makes You Smart
It turns out that mothers everywhere weren’t lying after all. Broccoli is packed with nutrients that help your mind and body. It has tons of vitamin C (used for tissue repair and building your immune system) and vitamin K (for building proteins), especially when you eat it raw.
Weird Ways to Eat Broccoli
You’ve surely eaten broccoli raw, like these Broccoli Crowns. And you’ve probably encountered steamed, stir-fried, or, heaven forbid, boiled broccoli. However, there are other ways to get this healthy veggie into your hungry belly.
Preparing Your Broccoli
There are many ways to prepare broccoli, depending on what kind of results you’re looking for. Ever tried grilling or air frying it? Grilling and air frying are two ways to keep most of the goodness intact as opposed to boiling.
Final Thoughts
The answer to your original question is yes, broccoli is a man-made vegetable. Like pretty much every other vegetable, farmers selected plants they liked, and over centuries, they came up with a veg that has a big crunchy stem and a huge nutritious flowering head on top.
What is broccolini?
Though the petite size of its edible florets and the Italian diminutive "-ini" in the name lead some people to believe broccolini are simply "baby" or immature broccoli, broccolini is actually its own unique vegetable and worth cooking or trying in a restaurant if you haven't already discovered this tasty plant.
Broccolini is sweeter
Appearance is one of the many ways broccoli and broccolini differ. While broccoli's stubby trunk produces a rounded head of tightly clustered florets, broccolini florets grow from the top of narrow 3”-5” stems (via Specialty Produce ). What is the flavor difference? It's very noticeable, in fact.
Is broccolini more nutritious than broccoli?
From a nutritional standpoint, broccolini should be a part of your regular meal rotation, even though broccoli comes out slightly ahead by some health standards.
Broccolini costs a little more
Are you eager to cook up some broccolini at home? Before you hit the produce aisle, you should know that broccolini is going to cost more per ounce than broccoli, but not a lot more (via The Mercury News ).
Which is easier to cook with for common recipes?
Although cutting up a head of broccoli isn't a terribly time-consuming job, broccolini is a little easier when it comes to prep work. Broccolini florets are already bite-sized, so they require no chopping. Broccolini stems are very edible with no cutting or peeling required.
Broccoli vs. Broccolini vs. Chinese Broccoli
Broccoli’s origins can be traced back to Italy, more than 2,000 years ago. Broccolini is a much newer vegetable—it was created in 1993. Because of its resemblance to broccoli, many people assume it’s just a smaller version of the cruciferous vegetable. However, it’s actually a cross between broccoli and Chinese broccoli.
What Is Broccoli?
Broccoli bouquet, anyone? Though it may sound strange, broccoli is basically a large, edible flower. Its florets and stalk can be eaten raw or cooked in a variety of dishes. Broccoli is a divisive vegetable—some people love it, while others think it tastes unpleasantly bitter.
What is Broccolini?
Broccolini was developed as a hybrid of broccoli and Chinese broccoli in Japan. It looks almost identical to broccoli, but is much smaller and more delicate. Though broccoli and broccolini have very similar flavors, broccolini is slightly sweeter and could be compared to asparagus. Broccolini is high in fiber and vitamins C and A.
What Is Chinese 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. Also like broccoli, Chinese broccoli is low in calories but rich in nutrients such as vitamins B6 and K.
