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Black Italian Cabbage

Inventory, 12 ct : 60.25
This item was last sold on : 04/01/20

• 58 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.

Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe	Rancho Santa Fe CA	858-759-6063
Chateau La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-459-4451
Pannikin La Jolla	La Jolla CA	858-454-5453
PFC Fitness Camp	Carlsbad CA	888-488-8936
InterContinental Banquet Kitchen	San Diego CA	619-501-9400
The Holding Company	San Diego CA	619-665-1251
Pacific Social	San Diego CA	619-276-6700
The Crack Shack Costa Mesa	Costa Mesa CA	619-450-7978
Vineyard Gourmet Catering	Temecula CA	951-858-1585
Campfire	Carlsbad CA	858-231-0862
Top of the Market	San Diego CA	619-234-4867
Marriott Del Mar	San Diego CA	858-369-6029
The Loma Club	San Diego CA	619-222-4653
Chosen Foods	San Diego CA	877-674-2244
Fish Market Solana Beach	Solana Beach CA	858-755-2277
Pete's Premade Paleo	San Diego CA	770-359-8274
Chef Drew Mc Partlin	San Diego CA	619-990-9201
The Crack Shack-San Diego	San Diego CA	619-795-3299
Tahona (Kitchen)	San Diego CA	619-573-0289
Brigantine Escondido	Escondido CA	760-743-4718

the other 38...

J & Tonys	San Diego CA	855-634-7664
Toast Catering	san diego CA	858-208-9422
The Crack Shack-Encinitas	Encinitas CA	858-735-3093
Catamaran	San Diego CA	858-488-1081
La Costa Resort & Spa Main Kitchen	Carlsbad CA	760-930-7063
Blade 1936	Oceanside CA	760-231-1456
JRDN Restaurant	San Diego CA	858-270-5736
The Crack Shack LA	Los Angeles CA	619-520-4793
Ocean Beach Surf Lodge	San Diego CA	619-308-6500
UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla	San Diego CA	858-657-6473
Il Dandy	San Diego CA	609-373-5917
Parakeet Cafe- Little Italy	San Diego CA	619-297-0235
Blue Ocean	Carlsbad CA	760-434-4959
Rubicon Deli 4S Ranch	San Diego CA	858-519-5656
Born & Raised	San Diego CA	619-550-5412
Brigantine Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-481-1166
Point Loma Seafood	San Diego CA	619-223-1109
Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens	Escondido CA	760-294-7866
Herb & Sea	Encinitas CA	858-587-6601
Mary Frese	Coronado CA	619-435-5425
Fort Oak	San Diego CA	619-795-6901
Oside Kitchen Collaborative	Oceanside CA	760-707-8108
SIE Culinary Management	San Diego CA	858-964-8677
Culinary Concepts	San Diego CA	858-530-1885
Brigantine La Mesa	La Mesa CA	619-465-1935
The Crack Shack Pasadena	Pasadena CA	619-520-4793
Stone Brewing-Liberty Station	San Diego CA	619-269-2100
Herb & Wood	San Diego CA	619-955-8495
Pachamama	San Diego CA	619-738-3737
Lodge at Torrey Pines Grill	San Diego CA	858-453-4420
Waters Catering	San Diego CA	619-276-8803 x4
KI's	Encinitas CA	760-436-5236
Paradise Point Resort Main Kitchen	San Diego CA	858-490-6363
One Door North	San Diego CA	858-232-4220
The Compass	Carlsbad CA	760-434-1900
Lodge at Torrey Pines Main	San Diego CA	858-453-4420
The Original 40 Brewing	San Diego CA	619-206-4725
Pacifica Del Mar	Del Mar CA	858-792-0505

Recipe Ideas

Recipes that include Black Italian Cabbage. One

is easiest, three is harder.

Confessions of a Foodie		Kale Chips
Brooklyn Homemaker		Creamed Kale Gratin
Salt and Pepper Skillet		Kale-Farro Risotto & Parmesan Crisps
The First Mess		Cauliflower, Kale + Chickpea Curry Pot
Hortus		Baked Whole-Leaf Kale Chips with Spiced Salt
101 Cookbooks		Ribollita
Half Baked Harvest		Simple Grilled Kale + Red Pepper Tuscan Pasta Salad
Marin Mama Cooks		Lacinato Kale Salad
Healthy Seasonal Recipes		Kale Salad with Roasted Delicata Squash, Chevre, Dried Cranberries & Spiced Pecans
Budget Bytes		Sesame Kale

the other 4...

The Organic Dietitian		Kale and Butternut Squash Breakfast Bowl
Everyday Maven		Creamy Sausage and Kale Soup
Feasting at Home		Roasted Cauliflower Kale & Farro Salad with Turmeric Dressing
Feasting at Home		Tuscan White Bean Soup