Broccoli Rabe, the flavour of Italy

Cinzia Cuneo 13 gennaio, 2011 legumi, verdure, cucine del mondo

Broccoli rabe is a plant that most probably originated in the Mediterranean region. It is similar to broccoli, cabbage and various other members of the cruciferous family. It has thin green stalks which end in spiked leaves and flower buds.

For hundreds of years, the Chinese and the Italians have been consuming broccoli rabe, either in the form of accompanying vegetables or in sautés – sometimes even putting them in their pasta dishes. It was Italian immigrants who brought it into North America at the beginning of the 20^th century. Even though it came off the boat so long ago, this vegetable still remains relatively unknown on this side of the Atlantic.

All parts of the broccoli rabe are edible: stalks, leaves, and flower buds. It can be used as a substitute for broccoli in most dishes, as the two are not unalike, although broccoli rabe tends to cook faster. For all you novices out there, I suggest that you start out by cooking it in plenty of water to remove any bitterness from the leaves.

Besides being an excellent source of vitamin C and folic acid, broccoli rabe also contains vitamin A, minerals and fibers. Like all cruciferous plants, it is well known for its anti-cancerous properties.

Try our recipe for Pasta with Broccoli Rabe

Originally published in the Journal de Montréal on February 21, 2009.

Autori

Cinzia Cuneo

Italiana di nascita e canadese d'adozione, Cinzia ha deciso di coniugare le sue competenze professionali e la sua passione per la buona tavola sviluppando un servizio per aiutare i numerosi «aventi bisogno» a riprendere il controllo della loro alimentazione. Così è nata SOSCuisine. Ingegnere di formazione al Politecnico di Torino, Cinzia ha conseguito un Master's Degree in scienze applicate all'École Polytechnique de Montréal.