Gai Lin with Herbed Yogurt
Photo: Amina Malik / Contributor
While broccolini is widely popular in the United States, its lesser-known relative, gai lan — also known as Chinese broccoli — deserves more attention. A leafier brassica that grows well in Texas, gai lan has a mild sweetness and slight bitterness, similar to Brussels sprouts.
I picked up a bunch at Eli's Farmstand last weekend and learned that broccolini is actually a modern hybrid of gai lan and conventional broccoli. Gai lan is wonderfully versatile: stir-fry it with sesame oil, garlic and ginger; chop it into rice pilaf; or toss it with noodles.
For this recipe, I steam the gai lan until tender, then season it with salt and fragrant green cardamom. It's served over a quick herbed yogurt sauce that comes together in minutes. Parsley and mint make a lovely combination, as do dill and cilantro. If you can't find gai lan, broccolini works beautifully as a substitute.