Ingredient
Broccoli rabe
Not broccoli at all but a turnip relative, grown for its leaves, stems and small budding heads. Assertively bitter, which garlic, chilli and a great deal of olive oil exist to balance — blanching first takes the hardest edge off.
- Sourcing
- Italian groceries and better greengrocers, mostly in winter. Sold as rapini or cime di rapa depending on whose shop it is.
- Varieties
- Rapini, Cime di rapa, Spigariello
- Quality cues
- Slim stems, tight unopened buds, perky leaves. Yellow flowers mean it has bolted and turned harshly bitter.
- Substitutions
- Turnip tops, Mustard greens, Broccolini, much milder
- Storage
- Refrigerate in a bag, unwashed, and use quickly.
- Shelf life
- 3-5 days refrigerated