broccolini

English

Etymology

From a trademark, presumably intended as a diminutive of broccoli, 1998. The original Japanese designation is ブロッコリーニ (“broccoli two”) or aspabroc, blend of asparagus and broccoli.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /bɹɒ.kəˈliːni/
• (US) IPA^(key): /bɹɑ.kəˈliːni/
• Rhymes: -iːni

Noun

broccolini (countable and uncountable, plural broccolini or broccolinis)

1. A green vegetable similar to broccoli but with smaller florets and long thin stalks; a cross between broccoli and kai-lan (Chinese broccoli).
   • 2007 September 19, Stephanie Russell, “What’s on Tonight”, in New York Times‎^[1]:

     10 P.M. (Bravo) TOP CHEF C. J. is gone after he served what Tom Colicchio called the worst dish in the three seasons of the show, an admittedly gross-looking broccolini.

   • 2009, Lorrie Moore, A Gate at the Stairs, New York, N.Y.: Alfred A. Knopf, →ISBN, page 231:

     She did not look up but just kept pulling grocery items from her bag. Broccolinis and fresh eggs.

   • 2013, Brian L. Patton, The Sexy Vegan’s Happy Hour at Home: Small Plates, Big Flavors, and Potent Cocktails, New World Library, →ISBN, page 111:

     Once the broccolini are cool, you have to get them very dry, so let them drain in a colander, spin them in a salad spinner, dab them with paper towels, or even drive around the block a few times holding them out the window…just get them superdry.

   • 2016, Briana Wiles, Mountain States Foraging: 115 Wild and Flavorful Edibles from Alpine Sorrel to Wild Hops, Timber Press, →ISBN:

     The tightly closed flowerheads of goldenrod are perfect for pinching off under the inflorescence and steaming or boiling like little broccolinis.

   • 2019, Rakhee Yadav, Heavenly Vegan Dals & Curries: Exciting New Dishes From an Indian Girl’s Kitchen Abroad, Page Street Publishing, →ISBN:

     I love this dish because the creamy element of the cashew sauce goes so well with the crunchy broccolinis and the nutty and creamy flavor of the urad dal.

   • 2020, Nik Sharma, The Flavor Equation: The Science of Great Cooking Explained + More than 100 Essential Recipes, Chronicle Books, →ISBN, page 214:

     To increase the umami taste, splash 1 Tbsp of soy or tamari sauce on the broccolini once they’re cooked, and swap the fine salt out for an umami-infused salt. […] The broccolini are spread out between two baking sheets to prevent overcrowding.

   • 2022, Odette Williams, Simple Pasta: Pasta Made Easy. Life Made Better., Ten Speed Press, →ISBN, page 210:

     A farmer taught me that broccolini are sweeter during the cooler months, when they produce more sugar to protect themselves from frost.

Synonyms

• (hybrid of broccoli): asparation, baby broccoli, broccolette, broccoletti, tenderstem

Derived terms

• caulini

Translations

vegetable

• French: broccolini m

Further reading

• broccolini on Wikipedia.Wikipedia