15 Min

GF

Gai Lin with Herbed Yogurt

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.

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Cook Time

15 minutes

Serves

4

Directions

Step 1

To make the herbed yogurt, puree the yogurt with pumpkin seeds, herbs, serrano and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Refrigerate the herbed yogurt until ready to use. If the yogurt is very thick, add a little of water the get the blender going.

Step 2

Steam the gai lin for 4 to 5 minutes (the stems can be quick thick) and immediately sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt and the cardamom over all of it.

Step 3

Pour the herbed yogurt into a serving platter. Place the broccolini over the yogurt, drizzle the olive oil and honey over it and sprinkle the pumpkin seeds. Serve warm.

Notes & Variations

When using cilantro or parsley, cut the bottom 3 inches of the herbs and use the rest of stems and leaves. If using mint, use leaves only and with dill use only the leaves and tender stems.
The herbed yogurt can be made 2 days in advance.
Instead of using a steamer, use a sauté pan with a proper fitting lid to steam the gai lin with a few tablespoons of water.

Ingredients

Herbed Yogurt sauce
1 1/2 cups plain thick yogurt
1/2 cup pumpkin seeds
2 bunches herbs (parsley, mint, cilantro or dill)
1 serrano pepper
1/2 teaspoon sea salt

2 bunches of broccolini (roughly 1.5 pounds)
1/2 teaspoon green cardamom seeds, ground
1/2 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons toasted pumpkin seeds
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons honey

Step 1

Step 2

Steam the gai lin for 4 to 5 minutes (the stems can be quick thick) and immediately sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon salt and the cardamom over all of it.

Step 3

Pour the herbed yogurt into a serving platter. Place the broccolini over the yogurt, drizzle the olive oil and honey over it and sprinkle the pumpkin seeds. Serve warm.

Notes & Variations

When using cilantro or parsley, cut the bottom 3 inches of the herbs and use the rest of stems and leaves. If using mint, use leaves only and with dill use only the leaves and tender stems.
The herbed yogurt can be made 2 days in advance.
Instead of using a steamer, use a sauté pan with a proper fitting lid to steam the gai lin with a few tablespoons of water.

Tags:

15 Min

Tags:

15 Min

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