Broccolini
| Broccolini | |
|---|---|
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| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Rosids |
| Order: | Brassicales |
| Family: | Brassicaceae |
| Genus: | Brassica |
| Species: | B. oleracea |
| Cultivar Group | |
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Brassica oleracea |
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Brassica oleracea
Italica Group x Alboglabra Group
Broccolini (original Japanese: ブロッコリーニ) is a green vegetable similar to broccoli but with smaller florets and longer, thin stalks. It is a natural hybrid of broccoli and kai-lan, both cultivar groups of Brassica oleracea.
Broccolini was originally developed over eight years by the Sakata Seed Company of Yokohama, Japan in Salinas, California, United States in 1993 as "aspabroc". It was developed as a natural hybrid, in contrast to it being genetically modified.
Sakata partnered with Sanbon Incorporated in 1994 to begin growing commercially in Mexico under the title Asparation, chosen for undertones of Asparagus flavouring. After becoming first available in US Markets in 1996, a 1998 partnership with the Mann Packing Company and Sakata marketed it as Broccollini. In 1999, Broccolini as a registered trademark in Australia was granted to Perfection Fresh Australia by Sakata.
Broccolini has a similar structure to sprouting type broccoli. It grows erect to 80 centimetres, with a slender elongated stem that is 15-30 centimetres long. It is annual or biennial, herbaceous and glabrous.
The entire vegetable (leaves, young stems, unopened flower shoots, and flowers) is consumable. Its flavor is sweet, with notes of both broccoli and asparagus, and it is directly related to the latter.
Common cooking methods include sauteeing, steaming, boiling, and stir frying. According to a 2005 Horticulture Australia study, in Australia 78% of people steam broccolini, 53% stir fry it, and 3% eat it raw or in a salad. It is usually eaten steamed in Japan, where it is highly popular as a spring vegetable.
Broccolini is high in vitamin C (containing 100% of daily intake) and also contains vitamin A, calcium, Vitamin E, folate, Iron, and Potassium. It has 35 calories per serving.
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Wikipedia