Italian Traditional Food - Broccoli Raab The Winter Vegetable

What’s The Deal With This Winter Green?

There are many things in Italy that are very much different from the north American offerings, for example take broccoli raab. In the United States broccoli seems to take on a very different appearance than its southern Italian counterpart.

While the broccoli in the States is more of a bulb of buds and few leafy greens, the raab in Italy is just the opposite. The broccoli in Sicily for example, is more greens and leaf with a hearty stalk and few branches in comparison to the State side Vegetable.

You will notice the different in appearance immediately, but what really sets these two different versions of the same vegetable apart is how they taste.

Sicilian Countryside Bitter

What separates the United States broccoli and the south Italian broccoli raab in taste is the amount of bitterness that the Italian version has. This can be a very bitter vegetable if not treated right. While there are a few Italian dishes that call for the broccoli raab to be bitter, many other dishes ask for the vegetable to be a little on the softer side of the taste experience.

One way that many Italians describe this broccoli, as is almost turnip like in flavor and texture. With its fine stalks and a robust mixture of leaves and florets, this vegetable is actually a wonderful addition to many fine dishes that not only involve salads but main dishes as well.

What It Is, Where It Get It, And What It Looks Like

If you happen to be visiting the Italian countryside and you are looking for the best broccoli raab, then you need look no further than Campania and Puglia. You can find this wonderful vegetable in many of the fine markets there, as this is the basic birthplace of this vegetable in Italy.

Early emigrants planted this vegetable in their gardens, and have now perfected the growing of this stalking leafy bulb plant. The best time to find this vegetable is in the cooler months between November and April.

Considering the fact that you eat the entire broccoli raab plant unlike a North American broccoli, you want the entire plant to be fresh and bright when purchasing. When shopping for this vegetable, you are going to want to find one that is bright and almost fluorescent green. This will imply that the vegetable is fresh and hearty.

Great Healthy Vegetable

If you are looking for a wonderful and healthy vegetable to accent your salad, then look no further than broccoli raab. While this veggie boasts minimal sodium and calories, it also is proud to introduce such wonderful combatants as: fiber, protein, calcium, vitamins b2, c, and a. This makes this a great veggie to have around when you need a shot in the arm, and it helps promote good health and keeps cancer at bay.

What makes this veggie so special however, is the amount of pholate it has in it. It is actually recommended by doctors to pregnant women to prevent Spina Bifida.

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