Early Spring Rapini

Brassica rapa var ruvo

Bright green leaves and flower buds resembling broccoli, though they never quite form a head the way broccoli does. Broccoli raab is actually not a broccoli at all, but rather closely related to the turnip. It's a vegetable with zesty, slightly bitter, almost mustard-like flavor that is popular in Italian and Asian dishes. Delicious stir fried, sauteed, broiled, or steamed. A common way to prepare raab, is to blanch quickly in boiling water, drain, then saute briefly until tender in olive oil and minced garlic. It tastes similar to broccoli, with a bit of a bite.  Broccoli raab is another super nutritious green, containing vitamins A, B, C, K, iron, magnesium, calcium, zinc, and omega 3 fatty acid.