Purple sprouting broccoli

Brocoli à jets violets

What it is

It needs a winter to work: sown in spring, it stands through the cold, and only a proper chill makes it throw its purple side shoots the following February. That timing lands it in the hungry gap, the weeks when the stores are empty and nothing new has come out of the ground yet.

In the kitchen

Cut the leading spear first — the plant answers by pushing out more side shoots. Take the whole thing, leaf and stem: three minutes in hard-salted water, dressed while hot so it drinks the oil.

Goes with

Anchovy Garlic Chili pepper Olive oil Lemon Almond Parmesan Butter

Same species

Baek-kimchi Broccoli Brussels sprout Cabbage Cauliflower Cavolo nero

In season alongside

Belon flat oyster Butternut squash Crosnes Dungeness crab Earth chestnut Belgian endive

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