Have you ever tried broccolini? It looks like a skinny version of broccoli with smaller florets and longer thinner stalks. A natural hybrid between broccoli and gai lan (Chinese broccoli), it’s much sweeter than either one. I prefer broccolini so much I can’t even remember the last time I bought broccoli or gai lan.
Grown locally at Tomatero Organic Farm in Watsonville, it’s usually available at their various farmers market booths. I don’t recall seeing broccolini at the local chain grocery stores but then again, I’m not looking for it there.
Enjoy broccolini in a variety of ways, as a stir fry, how I use it. As a pizza topping, how California Pizza Kitchen uses it. Or as Broccolini Gomaae, a vegetable side dish with sesame dressing, how a Japanese restaurant might use it.
Inspired by the sesame broccolini, I made a peanut sauce version as I like the taste of peanut butter over sesame (since I’m making it, I get to use all my favorite ingredients). As I already have a peanut sauce recipe on the blog, I just modified that to be simpler.
Or you can use your favorite peanut sauce. I think almond butter would work too but I haven’t gotten around to trying that just yet.
Broccolini with Peanut Sauce
Serves 2 as part of a meal
1 bunch broccolini, about 8 ounces
Sesame seeds for garnish
Peanut Sauce
2 tablespoons smooth peanut butter
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
1/2 tablespoon rice vinegar
Wash and trim the broccolini. Bring a pot or wok of water to boil. Parboil the broccolini for about 30 seconds to 1 minute. (To preserve vitamins and minerals, use the minimal amount of water and the shortest amount of time.) Drain and place on a serving dish. Make the peanut sauce.
When ready to serve, pour the dressing as desired over the broccolini. Sprinkle with the sesame seeds. Since I didn’t use all of the dressing, I saved it for another time. And if you’re not serving all of the broccolini at once, than store separately to enjoy later.
I love a bit of broccolini (though I think it’s called tenderstem broccoli over here?) I think soy sauce and peanut butter are a match made in heaven, and I think broccolini would make a great triangle with them both.
Oh yes, it’s a great match up! :-)
I must be buying the wrong broccolini, because mine has always been pretty bitter. No matter, all flavor shortcomings would be forgiven if it was smothered with peanut sauce!
Maybe you’re getting broccoli rabe instead, that has a bitter taste. Peanut sauce does make everything taste better. ;-)
I agree with Hannah. I must be buying the wrong broccolini, too, because it’s always tough and bitter. That’s not to say I don’t like it, I do, but my husband doesn’t. I bet peanut sauce would change his mind.
If it’s bitter, it’s probably broccoli rabe, part of the turnip family. Broccolini is sweeter since it’s in the broccoli family, maybe your hubby would like that better. I can eat broccolini with or without the peanut sauce. I’ll pass on the broccoli rabe since it’s bitter. :-)
I’m going to pay closer attention to what exactly I’ve been buying. If it says’ broccolini’
I’ll try again!
I just got another bunch over the weekend and noticed the sign said “sweet baby broccoli”. So you could look for that too. :-)
I never met a peanut sauce I didn’t like. PB + broccoli = perfection!
Me too! :-)