I've been growing broccoli and cauliflower, but not all my plants produced heads before it got too hot. I've started using the leaves in place of kale in my recipes, and honestly, I prefer them! They're hearty like kale but without that bitter taste. I'm curious about what others do with their broccoli and cauliflower leaves. Do you eat them too? How do you prepare them?
4 Answers
Never tried the leaves myself, but I know broccoli and kale are closely related. I've got collards growing and use those leaves a lot! Alongside my cabbages, I might just have to give broccoli leaves a shot.
For me, the leaves often go to waste as I compost them. But since I've got plenty of collards, I've never really thought about trying broccoli leaves until now. Maybe I should give them a chance!
Absolutely! I can't see why anyone wouldn't eat them. After all the effort it takes to grow them, I just hate wasting food. I usually start taking a few leaves from each plant while waiting for the heads to develop. They work great in salads, soups, and stir-fries just like spinach! After I'm done with the heads, I blanch and freeze the leaves for later use, which is awesome for winter meals.
I utilize all my brassica leaves! I treat them just like kale or collards. They make a great addition to my soups and stir-fries. Plus, they're full of nutrients!