Envoy at 11:07, 13 September 2007

2007-09-13T11:07:53Z

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{{Infobox Cultivar | name = Kai-lan
| image = Gailan.jpg
| image_width = 240px
| image_caption = Kai-lan, cultivar unknown
| species = ''[[Brassica oleracea]]''
| group = Alboglabra Group
| origin = unknown
| subdivision = unknown
}}
'''Kai-lan''' ({{zh-tspcy|t=[[wikt:芥蘭|芥蘭]]|s=[[wikt:芥兰|芥兰]]|p=jièlán|cy=gaai<sup>3</sup> laan<sup>4</sup>}}; literally "mustard orchid"), also known as '''Chinese broccoli''' or '''Chinese kale''', is a slightly bitter [[leaf vegetable]] featuring thick, flat, glossy blue-green leaves with thick stems and a small number of tiny, almost vestigial flower heads similar to those of [[broccoli]]. As a group of ''[[Brassica oleracea]]'', kai-lan is of the same species of plant as [[broccoli]] and [[kale]]. Its flavor is very similar to that of [[broccoli]], though not identical, being a bit sweeter.

''Kai-lan'' is eaten widely in [[Chinese cuisine]], and especially in [[Cantonese cuisine]]. Common preparations include kai-lan [[stir frying|stir-fried]] with [[ginger]] and [[garlic]], and [[boiling|boiled]] kai-lan served with [[oyster sauce]]. Unlike [[broccoli]], where only the flowering parts are normally eaten, with kai-lan the leaves and stems are eaten as well, normally sliced into bits the proper size and shape to be eaten with [[chopsticks]]. It is also common in [[Vietnamese cuisine]], where it is called ''cải làn'' or ''cải rổ''.

The names ''kai-lan'' and its alternate version, '''gai-lan''', derive from [[Cantonese (linguistics)|Cantonese]].

==See also==
*[[Bok choy]]
*[[Rapini]]
*[[Rapeseed]]

{{vegetable-stub}}

[[Category:Leaf vegetables]]
[[Category:Brassica]]
[[Category:Cantonese cuisine]]
[[Category:Hong Kong cuisine]]

Kai-lan - Revision history

Envoy at 11:07, 13 September 2007