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Rapini or broccoli rabe () is a green cruciferous vegetable, with the leaves, buds, and stems all being edible; the buds somewhat resemble broccoli, but do not form a large head. Rapini is known for its bitter taste, and is particularly associated with Mediterranean cuisine.
The flavor of rapini has been described as nutty, bitter, and pungent, as well as
Recipe: Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa
''Explore Parts Unknown'' (November 22, 2017). In Italian, rapini is called ''cime di rapa'' or ''broccoletti di rapa''; in Naples, the green is often called ''friarielli''. Within
Classification
Native to Europe, the plant is a member of the tribe Brassiceae of the Brassicaceae (mustard family). Rapini is classified scientifically as ''Brassica rapa'' var. ''ruvo''. It is also known as broccoletti, broccoli raab, broccoli rabe, spring raab, and ruvo kale. Turnip andbok choy
Bok choy (American English, Canadian English, and Australian English), pak choi (British English) or pok choi (''Brassica rapa'' subsp. ''chinensis'') is a type of Chinese cabbage, used as food. ''Chinensis'' varieties do not form heads and have g ...
are different varieties (or subspecies) of this species.
Description
Rapini has many spiked leaves that surround clusters of green buds that resemble small heads of broccoli. Small, edible yellow flowers may be blooming among the buds. Rapini is a source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as potassium, calcium, and iron.Culinary use
The flavor of rapini has been described as nutty, bitter, and pungent, as well as almond
The almond (''Prunus amygdalus'', syn. ''Prunus dulcis'') is a species of tree native to Iran and surrounding countries, including the Levant. The almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus ...
-flavored.Lidia Matticchio Bastianich & Tanya Bastianich Manuali, ''Lidia's Italy in America'' (Knopf, 2011), p. 127. Rapini needs little more than a trim at the base. The entire stalk is edible when young, but the base becomes more fibrous as the season advances.
Rapini is widely used in the cuisine of Rome as well Southern Italy
Southern Italy ( it, Sud Italia or ) also known as ''Meridione'' or ''Mezzogiorno'' (), is a macroregion of the Italian Republic consisting of its southern half.
The term ''Mezzogiorno'' today refers to regions that are associated with the peop ...
, particularly in the regions of Sicily,Vincent Schiavelli, ''Papa Andrea's Sicilian Table: Recipes and Remembrances of My Grandfather'' (Citadel Press, rev. ed., 2001), p. 40. Calabria
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,Rosetta Costantino with Janet Fletcher, ''My Calabria: Rustic Family Cooking from Italy's Undiscovered South'' (W.W. Norton, 2010), p. 217. Campania, Apulia
it, Pugliese
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,Marcella Hazan & Victor Hazan, ''Ingredienti: Marcella's Guide to the Market'' (Scribner, 2016), p. 89.Rossella RagoRecipe: Orecchiette con Cime di Rapa
''Explore Parts Unknown'' (November 22, 2017). In Italian, rapini is called ''cime di rapa'' or ''broccoletti di rapa''; in Naples, the green is often called ''friarielli''. Within
Portuguese cuisine
The oldest known book on Portuguese cuisine, entitled ''Livro de Cozinha da Infanta D. Maria de Portugal'', from the 16th century, describes many popular dishes of meat, fish, poultry and others.
''Culinária Portuguesa'', by António-Maria De O ...
, ''grelos de nabo'' are similar in taste and texture to broccoli rabe. Rapini is also popular in the Galicia region of northwestern Spain; a rapini festival (''Feira do grelo'') is held in the Galician town of As Pontes
As, AS, A. S., A/S or similar may refer to:
Art, entertainment, and media
* A. S. Byatt (born 1936), English critic, novelist, poet and short story writer
* "As" (song), by Stevie Wonder
* , a Spanish sports newspaper
* , an academic male voice ...
every February.
Rapini may be sautéed or braised with olive oil
Olive oil is a liquid fat obtained from olives (the fruit of ''Olea europaea''; family Oleaceae), a traditional tree crop of the Mediterranean Basin, produced by pressing whole olives and extracting the oil. It is commonly used in cooking: f ...
and garlic
Garlic (''Allium sativum'') is a species of bulbous flowering plant in the genus ''Allium''. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, chive, Allium fistulosum, Welsh onion and Allium chinense, Chinese onion. It is native to South A ...
, and sometimes chili pepper and anchovy. It may be used as an ingredient in soup, served with orecchiette, other pasta, or pan-fried sausage. Rapini is sometimes (but not always) blanched before being cooked further.
In the United States, rapini is popular in Italian-American kitchens; the D'Arrigo Brothers
D'Arrigo Brothers is a California-based grower and seller of fresh lettuce, broccoli, broccoli rabe (rapini), cauliflower and other vegetables, as well as cactus pear. It is a family business that has been in the D'Arrigo brothers' families sinc ...
popularized the ingredient in the United States and gave it the name ''broccoli rabe''. Broccoli rabe is a component of some hoagies and submarine sandwiches; in Philadelphia, a popular sandwich is Italian-style roast pork with locally-made sharp provolone cheese, broccoli rabe, and peppers. It can be a component of pasta dishes, especially when accompanied by Italian sausage.
See also
* Gai lan * Chinese cabbage * Collard greens * Mustard greens * Rutabaga * Turnip * Brassica rapaReferences
Further reading
* * * * *External links
* {{Taxonbar, from=Q702282 Brassica Leaf vegetables Italian cuisine