Perfection Fresh (Aust)

Broccolini® baby broccoli - the green other greens envy

Broccolini® baby broccoli is the vegie with everything going for it - the right breeding, good looks, great flavour, and knockout plate appeal.

This varietal cross between broccoli and Chinese kale (also known as Gai Lan), has its own distinct identity and, despite the "baby" reference in its name, is not simply broccoli picked early. Its heritage captures the most desirable characteristics of specially selected varieties of both its parental crosses, resulting in a standout brassica.

One of the few entirely edible vegies available, its no-waste and minimal preparation attributes, combined with its fresh, sweet taste and crisp texture have seen it become one of Australia's most popular greens.

From the everyday to the gourmet, Broccolini® baby broccoli comfortably spans all national cuisines and cooking styles. It is equally at home as a forest of "trees" in a mountain of mash served up to fussy kids as it is gracing the most upmarket of restaurant menus.

It can be stir-fried, blanched, steamed, puréed, sautéed, baked, deep-fried and more.

Add to the mix its year `round availability, it's no wonder Broccolini® baby broccoli is the green other greens envy.

Edible from tip to stem

What you see is what you get with Broccolini® baby broccoli. The ultimate sustainable vegetable, Broccolini® requires no peeling or scaling before use and the stem end itself is edible and always sweet and juicy. Whole stems can be left intact, or cut into segments as required.

Broccolini® has wide taste appeal thanks to its subtle, mild flavour and slightly peppery edge. It becomes sweeter when cooked.

Succulent and tender

Broccolini®'s tender, firm stems develop from the side of the plant during the growing phase. About 14 days before harvest, growers pinch back a tiny part of the central head by hand which stimulates the plant to send out side shoots.

The stems remain firm to the touch and hold their structure, whether eaten raw or cooked. The vegie's farm-fresh green hue is retained throughout cooking.

The deep green-almost-blue florets atop Broccolini®'s stems are loosely structured and petal-like in appearance and slightly crunchy in taste.

Crisp and fresh

To enjoy the fresh crispness Broccolini® baby broccoli is renowned for, eat it within a few days of purchase and cook it quickly.

It takes only a few minutes to steam, blanch or stir-fry Broccolini®. Its wonderfully vibrant green shines through in soups, salsas or sauces, lifts pasta, stir-fries or rice dishes and complements crumbed or baked dishes.

Gorgeous on the plate

Broccolini®'s incredible versatility across cooking styles and its intriguing appearance, means it always adds appeal and draws the eye to a plate.

Slightly blanched or steamed whole stems can be curved delicately around other foods or elegantly arranged as the base layer of a dish. Depending on how it's cut or cooked, Broccolini® can be draped, balanced or stacked to great effect.

Healthy choice

Broccolini® baby broccoli is a good source of folate, vitamin C to build resistance and fight infection, beta-carotene for healthy skin and potassium to counteract the harmful effects of too much salt

Where to find it

Broccolini® baby broccoli is available nationally at Woolworths stores (under the Woolworths Fresh brand), at Coles (under the Coles brand) and independent outlets (under the Perfection Fresh brand). To ensure you are buying the genuine product with the right flavour profile, look for the name Broccolini® baby broccoli. It is sold by the bunch.

The Broccolini® story so far...

Perfection Fresh Australia, which introduced Broccolini® baby broccoli in 1999, maintains the exclusive rights to grow and market the particular varietal cross trademarked as Broccolini® baby broccoli. Perfection Fresh now has 14 growers around Australia contracted to produce Broccolini® baby broccoli all year `round.

The restaurant industry was the first to recognise its unique flavour attributes, versatility and plate appeal. It is now Perfection Fresh's top-selling line and a consumer favourite.  With growers in Queensland, Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, Broccolini® baby broccoli is available all year.