05 Mar2012

Cavolo Broccolo Romanesco / Romanesco Broccoli

by Marketman

Isn’t it just stunning? It even brings up discussions on fractal symmetry and what not. And it is locally grown! I once referred to this as a broccoflower, in this old post, and while the name is fine, it is NOT actually a cross between a broccoli and cauliflower, as I had written in that post. Thanks to Kurzhaar, who pointed this correction out.

Edwin of Fresh Fields at the outdoor vegetable section at Market!Market! had it on offer so I scooped up two smallish heads of the local romanesco. At PHP200, they were well priced. Not sure what I am going to use them for yet, but with a vegetarian-ish houseguest arriving tomorrow, we are stocking up on more vegetables…

 

POSTED IN:
General, Vegetables

 

COMMENTS:

  1. millet says:

    hmmm…i have a slight suspicion madonna’s costume designers were inspired by these…

    Mar 5, 2012 | 4:40 am

     

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  2. Footloose says:

    Isn’t it just stunning? On Madonna? Why yes.

    Mar 5, 2012 | 5:21 am

     

  3. kristin-on-kidney-diet says:

    hmmm.coincidence..just had it for dinner.we normally cut into florettes of smallish pieces. mix it up with iceberg lettuce leaves, some nuts (cashew,walnuts) or dried fruits. and drizzle with dressing (ceasar/yoghurt cum garlic with salt and pepper/olive oil and vinegar vinegrette). glad to note its now grown locally..

    Mar 5, 2012 | 5:47 am

     

  4. bakerwannabe says:

    Kristin, did you blanch it first?

    Mar 5, 2012 | 6:18 am

     

  5. Betchay says:

    The florets look like small X’mas trees to me!Local produce really gets interesting these days.Thank you MM for introducing them to us!

    Mar 5, 2012 | 7:58 am

     

  6. Skye says:

    When I first saw it, it looked like an alien. Second time, it looked like the top of Asian temples :-)

    Mar 5, 2012 | 8:34 am

     

  7. peg says:

    Very funny, Footloose! : )

    Mar 5, 2012 | 9:08 am

     

  8. Pin44 says:

    Hi MM, I have been following your blog for about 4 years already, but this is the first time I am posting a comment. Here’s what I found on romanesco broccoli. Thank you so much for a very informative, honest and entertaining blog. Every morning I always look forward to reading whatever is featured in your site before I start my work at the office. Thanks again.

    http://www.seriouseats.com/recipes/2009/10/print/seriously-italian-broccoli-romanesco-recipes.html

    Mar 5, 2012 | 9:59 am

     

  9. jack says:

    looks interesting. first time to see one like this. now i’m reminded i’m not yet done on backreading the articles…

    Mar 5, 2012 | 10:22 am

     

  10. Elit says:

    Sana may “like” button din dito sa marketmanila for people like me who doesn’t have much to say but really like your entries :) (at least may participation other than just a lurker hehehe)

    Thanks for sharing! This type of broccoli is too goodlooking to eat :)

    Mar 5, 2012 | 10:30 am

     

  11. hiddendragon says:

    Isn’t it just stunning?
    For Christmas decor, yes. For lunch, can I have KFC muna?

    Mar 5, 2012 | 11:44 am

     

  12. myra_p says:

    Is there any way to cook the entire head as a whole? I would cut the bottom flat and try to roast it, but have to get my hands on a head first… ;)

    Mar 5, 2012 | 2:25 pm

     

  13. kristin-on-kidney-diet says:

    bakerwannabe: my hosts normally have it raw when mixed in their green salad, but i tweaked mine into blanching in boiling water, then cold water after ( i have to, because i have to adhere a low kalium diet), sometimes i also saute it with other veggies ala chopsuey :)

    Mar 5, 2012 | 2:42 pm

     

  14. Elaine says:

    I find it a blessing to discover a variety of vegetables n your blog considering you’re big on meat(: I so love my greens and here’s hoping you can share some ‘green’ recipes you’ll be preparing for your vegetarian houseguest…:D

    Mar 5, 2012 | 4:02 pm

     

  15. Mimi says:

    They look like spires on temples, so hypnotic to look at. I wonder what the best way to serve these without having to sacrifice on presentation?

    Mar 5, 2012 | 4:26 pm

     

  16. Kasseopeia says:

    Lovely! I have been reading about this in another blog (Green Kitchen Stories) for a sauteed vegetable tart.

    I’d like to have this drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt flakes, and roasted briefly like broccoli. Served alone or as a part of a roasted vegetable platter to be dipped in whatever sauce or dressed with balsamic vinegar.

    Thank you for posting!

    Mar 5, 2012 | 4:47 pm

     

  17. Teresa says:

    Amazing!!!! Perfect symmetry indeed.

    Mar 5, 2012 | 4:55 pm

     

  18. Papa Ethan says:

    Very intriguing geometry…

    Mar 5, 2012 | 5:01 pm

     

  19. GayeN says:

    Stunning indeed! I’ve never seen local romanesco before. It’s a good thing local farmers are now growing vegetables and fruits which I only read about in books or the internet. :)

    Mar 5, 2012 | 5:33 pm

     

  20. Risa says:

    I was just thinking that it reminds me of a fractal. And it is!

    Google Images: fractals in nature and this broccoli comes up.

    Mar 5, 2012 | 8:02 pm

     

  21. joey says:

    Gorgeous! Thanks for the heads up MM!

    Mar 5, 2012 | 8:14 pm

     

  22. Jelo says:

    What a gorgeous romanesco; almost shame to eat it… Amazing how The Almighty makes all of these fractal designs on something as humble as a vegetable .

    Mar 5, 2012 | 8:27 pm

     

  23. Anne :-) says:

    I wonder what it would taste like…….

    Mar 5, 2012 | 9:48 pm

     

  24. Footloose says:

    Kidding aside, the fractal sci-fi appearance of this broccoli should make the task of making kids eat broccoli a bit easier. On top of my mom’s superior cooking ability, she also piqued our interest by making us vie for the odd-shaped ones such as twin yolks and siamese bananas to say nothing of the truly twisted carrots and camote.

    Mar 5, 2012 | 9:52 pm

     

  25. Elizabeth says:

    Fascinating… have to try it soon! Thanks Mr. MM for this post and the photos!

    Mar 5, 2012 | 10:25 pm

     

  26. Dianne says:

    Fibonacci! apologies for sounding so nerdy but this is one truly amazing quirk of nature :)
    http://www.maths.surrey.ac.uk/hosted-sites/R.Knott/Fibonacci/fibnat.html
    http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2010/09/fractal-patterns-in-nature/
    Thanks, Marketman, for the “Show and Tell” class every so often. God bless!

    Mar 6, 2012 | 12:08 am

     

  27. Katrina says:

    OMG, that is spectacular!!! I can’t stop looking at the photos! I want to turn it into a hat or something. ;-) Please do post what you did with it?

    Mar 6, 2012 | 2:24 am

     

  28. sunflowii says:

    looked like corals to me until i saw ‘broccoli’ in the title.

    Mar 6, 2012 | 2:36 am

     

  29. TomK says:

    Nice shot!

    Mar 6, 2012 | 9:07 am

     

  30. ranny ace says:

    i went to market market i cant seem to find one of this brocollis, where can i find them? thanks!

    Mar 12, 2012 | 10:58 am

     

  31. tordj says:

    its the divine food

    Mar 13, 2012 | 6:36 pm

     

  32. Irene says:

    May nagbebenta ba ng halaman nito? Ung talagang nakatanim pa talaga? please, i badly need an answer.

    Aug 7, 2013 | 12:46 pm

     
 

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