Broccoli Rabe

[Steve Boatti]

In a message dated 1/28/03 3:27:20 PM, dcamp911 at JUNO.COM writes:

<< "A member of the mustard family that is often mistaken for broccoli is
spring raab, or rapini. It is not really a broccoli at all, but was
selected from turnips for its shoots and flowers.
 >>

This makes some etymological sense. The term "broccolo" in Italian originally
meant "shoot" (of a plant). Thus "broccoli (or broccolini) di rapa" literally
means turnip shoots.

Steve Boatti