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Black Italian Cabbage

Inventory, 12 ct : 23.84
This item was last sold on : 08/08/20

• 32 Featured Restaurants

• 14 Recipe Ideas

Description/Taste

Black Italian cabbage has a thick central stalk and produces long, fat, spear-like leaves that have wrinkled, bubbled surfaces. The dark blue-green leaves will grow up to 46 centimeters long and 11 centimeters at their widest. Young leaves are harvested between 15 and 20 centimeters, when the stalks are still tender. As the leaves mature, they thicken, and stalks become tough. Black Italian cabbage offers a subtle peppery flavor with a tangy bite and sweet aftertaste.

Seasons/Availability

Black Italian cabbage is available year-round with a peak season in the winter months.

Current Facts

Black Italian cabbage, better known as Tuscan or Dinosaur kale, is an Italian variety botanically known as Brassica oleracea var. acephala. It is referred to as Lacinato kale as well as Cavolo Nero, the Italian name which literally translates to “Black cabbage.” The heirloom variety is found in the Tuscan region of Italy and is popular in restaurants in the United Kingdom and the United States.

Nutritional Value

Black Italian cabbage is an excellent source of vitamins K, A, C and B2, manganese and calcium. It’s a great source of iron, folates and dietary fiber. Kale is also a good source of phosphorus, magnesium, copper, B-complex vitamins, zinc and selenium. Black cabbage also contains the phytonutrients quercetin and kaempferol, and flavonoids like lutein, zeaxanthin, and beta carotene which provide beneficial antioxidant properties.

Applications

Black Italian cabbage, or Tuscan kale, is an essential ingredient in the regional dish ribollita, or reboiled winter vegetable stew. It is also used in minestrone. Young, tender leaves are used raw in green or grain salads. They can be used as wrappers for cheese, shrimp or prawn, and risotto. Older leaves may need to have the ribs or central stalk removed due to toughness, otherwise they require longer cooking time. The thick leaves can be sliced or chopped and used as a substitute for romaine in Cesar salad, braised, tossed into pasta dishes, soups, stews, egg dishes or simply sautéed with oil and garlic. It pairs well with beans and pork. Store Black Italian cabbage in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Wrapping the bottoms of the stems in a wet cloth will keep them from drying out.

Ethnic/Cultural Info

Brassica oleracea is classified by its many forms and is further diversified into leaves (kale), heads (common or Savoy cabbage), gems (Brussels sprouts), hypertrophied flowers (broccoli and cauliflower), and roots (turnips). Kale, which is part of the acephala group, has two other types in addition to the Black Italian, or Tuscan kale: curly (also known as Scots) and Russian, with fringed, flat, serrated leaves.

Geography/History

Italian cabbage is an international hybrid and a prized Tuscan specialty referred to as "cavolo nero" or black cabbage in English. Abundantly available in Tuscany, black cabbage supplies are very limited in other parts of the world. Italian cuisine especially favors this cabbage in the cold-weather cooking season. A member of the Crucifer or mustard family, cabbage is a prehistoric Mediterranean wild plant. Classified by its many forms, cabbage is diversified into leaves (kale), heads (common or Savoy cabbage), gems (Brussels sprouts), hypertrophied flowers (broccoli and cauliflower), or into roots (turnips).

Featured Restaurants

Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.

Cheesecake Factory Friars Rd	San Diego CA	619-683-2800
Enclave	Carlsbad CA	808-554-4219
International Smoke Del Mar	San Diego CA	702-683-7590
Victoria Mahdion	San Diego CA	619-987-3304
Ocean Beach Surf Lodge	San Diego CA	619-308-6500
C 2 C	San Diego CA	619-972-9345
Oscars Brewing Company	Temecula CA	619-695-2422
La Costa Glen North	Carlsbad CA	760-704-1436
InterContinental Vistal Kitchen	San Diego CA	619-501-9400
Pete's Premade Paleo	San Diego CA	770-359-8274
Berry Good Food Foundation	La Jolla CA	619-295-3173
The Loma Club	San Diego CA	619-222-4653
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-657-6473
Royal Polaris Sportfishing	San Diego CA	619-226-8030
Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-759-6063
Del Mar Country Club	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-759-5500 x207
Homestead Solana Beach	Solana Beach CA	858-209-0149
Campfire	Carlsbad CA	858-231-0862
Cal A Vie	Vista CA	760-945-2055
Blue Ocean	Carlsbad CA	760-434-4959

the other 12...

Cardellino	San Diego CA	619-722-3398
The Compass	Carlsbad CA	760-434-1900
Larsen's Steakhouse - La Jolla	San Diego CA	310-407-9937
Nolita Hall	San Diego CA	619-618-8820
Pacifica Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-792-0505
One Door North	San Diego CA	858-232-4220
Morgan Run Resort and Club	Rancho Sante Fe CA	858-756-2471
San Diego Freedom Ranch	Campo CA	619-478-5696
Estancia Adobe	San Diego CA	858-550-1000
Leroy's Kitchen & Lounge	Coronado CA	619-522-6890
Shoreside Support Boat	San Diego CA	704-277-7929
Rustic Root	San Diego CA	619-232-1747

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Black Italian Cabbage. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Half Baked Harvest		Simple Grilled Kale + Red Pepper Tuscan Pasta Salad
Budget Bytes		Sesame Kale
Feasting at Home		Tuscan White Bean Soup
Hortus		Baked Whole-Leaf Kale Chips with Spiced Salt
The Organic Dietitian		Kale and Butternut Squash Breakfast Bowl
101 Cookbooks		Ribollita
Brooklyn Homemaker		Creamed Kale Gratin
Confessions of a Foodie		Kale Chips
Feasting at Home		Roasted Cauliflower Kale & Farro Salad with Turmeric Dressing
Marin Mama Cooks		Lacinato Kale Salad

the other 4...

Healthy Seasonal Recipes		Kale Salad with Roasted Delicata Squash, Chevre, Dried Cranberries & Spiced Pecans
Salt and Pepper Skillet		Kale-Farro Risotto & Parmesan Crisps
Everyday Maven		Creamy Sausage and Kale Soup
The First Mess		Cauliflower, Kale + Chickpea Curry Pot