There’s broccoli and there’s sprouting broccoli, a cousin to the bulked-out broc we tend to knock. After some British friends of mine sang its praises, I planted it for the first time last summer. Surprisingly, it overwintered and I harvested it this spring. Two words: tender and delicious. The stalks are pencil thin with little broccoli mop tops crowning the beautiful and prolific brassica. Because of its branching habit, the more you harvest, the more new shoots are encouraged to replenish the plant. (And thus, the secret to its name: sprouting broccoli.
To cook, I simply blanch the sprouting broccoli quickly and drain the water, dob a bit of butter, pinch some salt, take a couple turns at the pepper mill, and enjoy thoroughly. Grow some this year in your garden or pick it up at your local farmers market. You’ll never look back at big-guy broccoli again.
Some related links and Seed sources (updated):
- Baker Creek: Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli,
- American Meadows: Green Sprouting Broccoli
- Bountiful Gardens: Sprouting Broccoli Varieties
- Kitchen Garden Seeds
- Recipe: Purple sprouting broccolit with proscuitto & poached egg
- Recipes from readers at the Real Epicurean
What I was blogging about a year ago: Wheelbarrow or What 2.5 Hours Looks Like?
8 responses so far ↓
1 noble pig // May 12, 2009 at 5:55 am
Do you sense my envy here? Lucky you.
2 renae // May 12, 2009 at 3:53 pm
Fab-U-lous.
Someday I too will have a garden and then I’ll be hitting you up for garden info.
3 Linda // May 13, 2009 at 1:59 am
Broccoli ?
4 Tom // May 13, 2009 at 2:13 pm
Broccoli, indeed, but a kinder gentler sweeter more tender kind of broccoli. Linda, I know one day you will embrace your veggies with a little more verve. I can see my work has just begun.
5 Annette // May 26, 2009 at 7:41 am
I can’t wait to get some seeds and overwinter them! I love just about anything green, the more bitter the better but these might be good for the kids. Thanks for teaching me something new, as usual!
6 Lexia // Feb 23, 2010 at 8:21 pm
I have been looking all over the web for this broccoli but can’t find it. Do you have the actual name? I tried Sprouting Broccoli with no luck.
7 Tom // Feb 24, 2010 at 3:51 am
Hi Lexia, Let me help. Here’s a list of links to seed growers and suppliers that carry sprouting broccoli.
Baker Creek: Early Purple Sprouting Broccoli
American Meadows: Green Sprouting Broccoli
Bountiful Gardens: Sprouting Broccoli Varieties
8 Lexia // Feb 24, 2010 at 7:25 pm
Thanks so much for your help. I can’t wait to taste it from my own garden.
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