The Best Sauteed Garlic Broccolini Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you trim broccolini before cooking? ›

Yes. The ends of stalks are usually quite tough so trim off and discard about half an inch of the bottom of the stem. The rest of the broccolini is tender and edible. To ensure even cooking, I like to cut the stems lengthwise to make them a bit thinner.

Broccolini, also called “baby broccoli” is similar to broccoli but with smaller florets and a milder taste. Broccolini has long, thin stalks that, unlike mature broccoli stalks, are tender all the way through. That means that you can eat the stems right along with the florets.

What Is Broccolini? Broccolini is a delicate hybrid developed by a seed company in Japan between conventional broccoli and gai lan, a Chinese broccoli varietal. Broccolini is sometimes called “baby broccoli,” but it is not a young version of broccoli as that name would suggest.

The easiest way to rid broccoli rabe of some of its bitter flavor is by blanching it first. Just a quick dip in boiling water extracts enough of the bitterness and jumpstarts the cooking.

Broccolini – by a hair's breadth! Nutritionally, the two brassicas are very similar. But the excellent vitamin A content of broccolini, together with the fact that it needs less prep and there's no waste, gives it the edge over broccoli for us.

Add about 1 inch of water to the pot and bring to a boil. Add broccolini, cover and steam for about 5 minutes. Remove with tongs, season with salt & pepper, then finish with a drizzle of olive oil, about 1 to 2 tablespoons.

Broccolini will also have longer stems and smaller heads in comparison to broccoli. Broccolini is still a fairly new cruciferous vegetable, as it was invented in 1993 in Japan. Because of its newness and because it provides less quantity in a stalk, broccolini is typically more expensive than broccoli.

To prep broccolini, simply discard the bottom 1/4 inch of stalks and cut any stems thicker than 1/2 inch in half lengthwise. Broccolini, and its slender stalks in particular, will cook more quickly than broccoli; you'll typically need to reduce the cooking time by 1 to 2 minutes.

Pick when heads are tight and firm.

How do you refresh broccolini? ›

1. Drop Broccolini into a pan of salted boiling water. 2. Refresh in a bowl of iced water until cold.

Broccolini is also high in both calcium and magnesium, which help to regulate your blood pressure. As a cruciferous vegetable, it is high in fiber. Fiber keeps you full for longer periods of time, helps you digest food properly, and prevents constipation. It also keeps your blood sugar at a low level.

Broccoli has several advantages over asparagus, making it a standout vegetable in terms of its nutritional benefits. Vitamin and mineral content. Broccoli is packed with essential vitamins and minerals, including higher levels of vitamin C, vitamin K, and potassium compared to asparagus.

Broccolini, Aspabroc, baby broccoli or tenderstem 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.

Trim the stems.

The bottom inch or two of broccolini stems are tough, so use a sharp knife to trim them before cooking.

Chop your broccoli after you cook it – not before

Then remove the head from the pot using a pair of tongs, and put it on a chopping board. You'll notice the broccoli florets are already starting to fall away from the stem when the cooking time is up, and the rest can simply be removed with one single chop.

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.

For best flavor, harvest before white flower buds appear, although the flowers are also edible. Broccolini is delicious roasted, grilled, or sautéed in garlic or with other spring vegetables, or added to salads.