Kai Lan - broccoli leaves?

[Scoobyqueen]

I was just browsing the internet for recipes for inspiration.

Edited April 15, 2013 at 08:07 PM by Scoobyqueen

[leeyah]

It could be 蒜茸芥兰 garlic & broccoli stir, a popular side dish. Chinese veg usually look different so when I first ate it I had no idea it was broccoli ...

蒜茸芥兰 is suàn róng jiè lán in Putonghua, "Kailan" should be Cantonese >> 蒜茸芥蘭 syun jung gaai laan

Edited October 3, 2009 at 01:12 PM by leeyah

[Scoobyqueen]

Thanks Leeyah.

[leeyah]

Not my favourite veg but sure, beetroot is a vitamin bomb.

Chinese cuisine uses a lot of root veg and stuff, but I wouldn't know about beetroot really. Don't remember seeing (or eating) any purplish dishes other than those with red onions.

[liuzhou]

I've never seen beetroot in China and none of my Chinese friends seem to know what I'm talking about.

I'm 99% sure they don't have it.

[gato]

芥兰 is usually translated as Chinese broccoli. See a picture below:

http://www.dianping.com/photo/1558922

清炒芥兰

The broccoli you see in the West is called 西兰花. I like 西兰花 much better than 芥兰. They have completely different texture. 芥兰 is also slightly bitter.

[wushijiao]

芥兰 is usually translated as Chinese broccoli.

Although it's very close to kale, or Chinese kale, or Chinese broccoli.

(And, according to Dr. Joel Fuhrman-- one of the world's leading practitioners of treating sickness through nutrition-- kale is the most nutrient dense food out there. I'd add that some people disagree with that assessment if you are eating foods raw (due to the undigestibility of raw kale, unless bended), but if eating cooked, like in the Chinese style, I think it's a very nutritious dish).

[Scoobyqueen]

Thanks for the clarification on Chinese and western broccoli.

[abcdefg]

I have a glut of red peppers, broccoli and carrots (if anyone has any suggestions they are gratefully received but preferably stuff you can freeze).

I don’t have any recipes for you, but I have a cookbook tip. “The Victory Garden Cookbook” by Marian Morash addresses what to do when you have a bumper crop of this or that that must be harvested all at once and you don't want it to go to waste. It deals with how to freeze or store things so they can be used later in the year. It isn't specific to China, but should still be useful there. She also has many excellent recipes and gardening tips. I’ve used the book for years and never been disappointed.

And congratulations on your good gardening! May I ask 请问 where in China you grow such good vegetables?

ISBN: 9780394707808

Edited October 3, 2009 at 11:28 PM by abcdefg

[Scoobyqueen]

Thanks for the tip about the book.

[Scoobyqueen]

As I mentioned, I am making space for this veg this year. .

[Shi Tong]

brocolli in Chinese is called: "绿菜花" as far as I know, 芥兰, IMO is Chinese Kale.

Ho hum... lots to learn I suppose:mrgreen:

[imron]

For reference, brocolli generally referred to as 西兰花 on the mainland.

Edited April 5, 2010 at 05:44 AM by imron
made clearer to avoid confusion

[skylee]

I am confused.

This is what I know as 西蘭花 broccoli -> http://www.ce.cn/cysc/sp/ysnn/200802/13/W020080213334832591004.JPG

This is what I know as 芥蘭 Chinese kale -> http://www.vmo.org/en/index/page_vegeknowdtl/sec_nu/vid_33/

They are very different.

蒜茸芥兰 is suàn róng jiè lán in Putonghua, "Kailan" should be Cantonese

Another pronunciation for 芥 is gài.

[imron]

My post above was referring to brocolli being called 绿菜花.

So, just to clarify:

brocolli - 西兰花 / 绿菜花

kailan/chinese kale - 芥兰

[Shi Tong]

Imron.. sounds right to me, and of course 绿菜花 is what they call it in Taiwan.. sometimes you actually get the last two characters mixed up as well (绿花菜), and Cauliflower is called 花菜.

I think I've also heard 白菜花 to refer to Cauliflower.

So....

白菜花: Cauliflower, in Taiwan.

绿菜花: Brocolli in Taiwan.

西兰花: Brocolli in China.

芥蘭 Chinese kale.

Phew..

I once had a 青菜 (green vegetable) called 龙须菜 in Taiwan.. nobody has ever heard of it (save a select few) when I ask for it (even in Taiwan). Of course, I remembered it because it's name is so emotive.

[imron]

You still hear 绿菜花 on the mainland too, but it's less common than 西兰花.

[Shi Tong]

Imron.. interesting, thanks!

I'll remember that when I'm shopping for broccoli in China.. I can say 绿菜花, but I might get a reply of 西兰花.. and then I dont have to look confused.

[Scoobyqueen]

I followed the advice on this thread and grew kale.

[DecafLat]

西兰花 and 芥兰 belong to the same species but are different cultivars; broccoli is italica, while kai-lan is alboglabra.