Romanesco Cauliflower:
Nutrition and Beyond
What is this bright green, alien-looking vegetable? Also known as Romanesco cauliflower, Romanesco broccoli, or Broccolo Romanesco, it is an edible flower bud of the species Brassica Oleracea (which also includes cabbage, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cauliflower, collard greens and kohlrabi.)
Romanesco’s striking appearance is due to its intricate, mathematical growth pattern that is a natural approximation of a fractal. With a texture that’s crunchier and flavor that’s more delicate and nutty than cauliflower.
A 71 gram (about 2.5 ounces) serving of raw Romanesco cauliflower contains:
- 20 calories
- 2.0 grams of protein
- 1.0 grams of fiber
- 4.0 grams of carbohydrates
- 100% of the RDA of Vitamin C
Romanesco’s nutritional value is similar to white cauliflower’s or broccoli’s but it contains more carotene and mineral salts. It is a rich source of vitamin C and has high levels of iron and folate. Plus, it only contains about 8 calories per ounce. Romanesco can be used raw or cooked in place of cauliflower or broccoli in any recipe.
