Human Shield (1893); Broccoli Rabe (1928); Snail Salad

[Laurence Horn]

At 5:43 AM -0800 1/28/03, James Smith wrote:
>So broccoli rabe and broccoli di rape are turnip
>greens?
>
>JIM

It certainly doesn't seem to be from the form.  Turnip, collard, and
mustard greens and kale are all first cousins, I'd say, and maybe
beet greens as well.  Broccoli rabe/raab/di rape/rape/rapini (which
I'm still not convinced denote more than one vegetable among them,
but Pete's message does suggest that rapini/rabe distinction I was
skeptical about earlier) has something of the sharp flavor of turnip,
but a very different texture and feel to it, as well as having the
little florets that resemble those of broccoli or perhaps
cauliflower, which the other greens don't.  And stalks, although
tenderer than those of true broccoli.   And there's no underground
part of the rabe corresponding to the turnip "bulb".  So no, broccoli
rabe =/= turnip greens.

larry

>
>--- Laurence Horn <laurence.horn at YALE.EDU> wrote:
>>  >In a message dated 1/27/03 8:10:54 PM,
>>  funex79 at SLONET.ORG writes:
>>  >
>>  ><< Isn't broccoli rabe the same thing as broccoli
>>  rape of which there are many
>>  >
>>  >cites in google?
>>  >
>>  >  >>
>>  >
>>  >Yes. "Rape" means "turnips" in Italian. The proper
>>  Italian term is "Broccoli
>>  >di rape".
>>
>>  Right, from the Latin _(brassica) rapa_--all that is
>>  actually given
>>  in the AHD4 entry I posted earlier.  Of course the
>>  Italian "rape" is
>>  bisyllabic.
>>
>>  >I believe "Broccoli rabe" is a variation based in
>>  southern
>>  >dialects,and it probably gained currency in English
>>  because of the
>>  >uncomfortable association with the word "rape" --
>>  probably the same reason
>>  >"rapeseed oil" is now called "canola oil."
>>  >
>>  >Steve Boatti
>
>
>=====
>James D. SMITH                 |If history teaches anything
>South SLC, UT                  |it is that we will be sued
>jsmithjamessmith at yahoo.com     |whether we act quickly and decisively
>                                |or slowly and cautiously.
>
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