Broccoli and broccolini are both delicious and healthy green veggies from the same plant family, but that doesn’t make them mutually interchangeable. Stick around to learn what’s the main difference between these veggies.
Appearance
Broccolini is often referred to as “young broccoli” because it doesn’t come with thick stalks and tightly packed crowns, but slimmer stalks with looser florets. That doesn’t mean they’re one of the same—broccolini is actually a hybrid of regular broccoli and Chinese broccoli, originally developed in Japan.
Taste
The main difference between broccoli and broccolini is their flavor. Broccoli is best known for its slightly bittersweet flavor. Broccolini tastes quite similar, but it’s better compared to asparagus because it’s a little bit sweeter and milder than broccoli.
Cooking Method
When it comes to cooking, broccoli tends to be much more versatile than broccolini. After cutting the florets, you can steam, sauté, or stir-fry it, but it can be even eaten raw or roasted. When it comes to broccolini, it’s usually best to stick to cooking it, but it can taste pretty great when lightly charred and caramelized.
