broccoli rabe

Also broc·co·li rab
Also
Or broc·co·li raab

[brok-uh-lee rahb, brok-lee]

noun

1. a cruciferous plant, Brassica rapa rapa, of the mustard family, also classified by other names, especially B. rapa ruva, B. rapa rapifera, and B. ruvo.

2. the slightly bitter, dark green leaves and clustered flower buds of this plant, eaten as a raw or cooked vegetable.

Word History and Origins

Origin of broccoli rabe¹

First recorded in 1925–30; perhaps alteration of Italian broccoli di rapa “flowering tops of the turnip”; broccoli ( def. ), rape ² ( def. )