Seasons/Availability
Available year round, Rapini's peak season begins in late summer through early fall.
Current Facts
Easily overlooked in today's well-stocked marketplace, rapini has probably been seen without knowing what it was. Once knowing what it is, it is easy to recognize. Rapini has been compared to coffee. Ten years ago, coffee was preferred with sugar and cream. Today we drink it black. If one is an enthusiastic fan of aggressive vegetables, rapini is a must.
Description/Taste
Actually a kind of non-heading broccoli, rapini looks much like tiny bunches of broccoli on long stems nestled among spiky large leaves. A yellow flower or two may appear. Seriously aggressive in the flavor department, this deep green vegetable delivers a ferocious pungent-bitter taste. If given a culinary chance, fans become quite addicted to its extremely bold presence.
Nutritional Value
Low in sodium and very low in calories, one cup contains about 40 calories. An excellent source of vitamin A and vitamin C, rapini provides a good source of potassium and a fair amount of iron and calcium. Eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables lowers the chances of cancer. A recent study found eating nine or ten daily servings of fruits and vegetables, combined with three servings of low-fat dairy products, were effective in lowering blood pressure.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Because of its extreme bitterness, this powerful green has been slow to catch on in the culinary world of America. The Chinese and Italians have held high esteem for rapini and realize its usefulness in cooking. Also called choy sum, Chinese markets offer a sweeter and milder choy sum compared to others.
Geography/History
Rapini has always been widely grown and cultivated in Italy and Asia. It now grows in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Because Americans resist bitter foods, rapini has not traveled far beyond the Chinese and Italians.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
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