Let’s get nerdy with broccoli and friends!
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Vegetables come in all shapes and sizes, but there’s one species that is a favorite because of it’s versatility and nutrition. It’s called Brassica oleracea, and it’s a kind of wild cabbage that has been cultivated by a variety of different cultures since the 5th century BC.
Brassica oleracea has been so successful and loved since the advent of agriculture that we’ve been able to germinate plants with specific traits and favorable characteristics. After many years of selective breeding, we now have amazing variations of the plant, such as broccoli, cauliflower, kale, collard greens, kohlrabi, cabbage, Romanesco, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, gai lan (Chinese broccoli), and Broccolini.
The vegetables classified as part of the Brassica oleracea species are nutritional powerhouses. These vegetables are extremely low in calories, packed with fiber, and contain a surprising amount of protein. A big salad of kale (3 cups) has only 100 calories but provides 9 grams of protein and 6 grams of fiber. On a micro-nutrient level, these super foods are unparalleled in their amounts of carotenoids, vitamin C, and B vitamins. A combination of fiber and antioxidants lend cancer-preventing properties to the many varieties of Brassica oleracea. So, load up on some Brassica oleracea the next time you’re at the grocery store!
Here are some ways to eat a few members of my favorite vegetable species.
· Put together a salad or slaw using kale or cabbage. Marinating kale with citrus and a little oil takes away some of that bitterness.
· Roast the more compact varieties such as Brussels sprouts, broccoli, romanesco and cauliflower.
· Snack on raw crunchy kohlrabi and hummus.
