Broccoli raab, better known in Italy as rapini or cime di rapa, is a leafy green from the cabbage family. Despite the name, it's closer to the turnip than to broccoli. Its seeds are also one of the most rewarding to sprout at home, giving you tangy, mustardy sprouts in under a week. Here's what rapini is and how to grow it.

What is broccoli raab?

Broccoli raab is grown for its leaves, thin stems and small, broccoli-like flower buds. It's a staple of southern Italian cooking, especially in Puglia, where it's famously served with orecchiette pasta, garlic and chilli. It's also used in Chinese and Portuguese cooking.

What does it taste like?

Rapini has a bold, slightly bitter and nutty flavour with a peppery, mustard-like kick. The sprouts and microgreens carry the same character in a milder, fresher form, which makes them a good step up if you find broccoli sprouts too gentle.

Broccoli raab vs broccoli

Broccoli is grown for its large, tight green heads. Broccoli raab has no big head: you eat the leaves, stems and small buds together. As sprouts, Calabrese broccoli is mild and gently peppery, while broccoli raab is tangier and more mustardy.

How to sprout broccoli raab seeds in a jar

1. Soak: put 1 to 2 tablespoons of seeds in a clean jar, cover with cool water and soak for 6 to 8 hours.
2. Drain and rinse: drain through a sprouting lid or mesh, rinse with fresh water and drain again.
3. Rinse twice a day: rinse and drain morning and evening, resting the jar upside down at an angle so excess water runs out.
4. Green them up: after 3 to 4 days, move the jar into bright, indirect light for a few hours so the leaves turn green.
5. Harvest and store: after 4 to 5 days, give them a final rinse, dry well and keep them covered in the fridge. Eat within a few days.

For more detail and troubleshooting tips, see our step-by-step guide to sprouting broccoli seeds in a jar.

How to grow broccoli raab microgreens

1. Fill a shallow tray with 3 to 4 cm of damp compost or a growing mat.
2. Scatter the seeds thickly and evenly, press them gently onto the surface and mist with water.
3. Cover with a second tray or lid for 2 to 3 days while they germinate.
4. Uncover and move to a bright windowsill, watering from below to keep the compost moist.
5. Harvest with scissors after 8 to 12 days, when the first leaves have opened and the shoots are 5 to 8 cm tall.

How to eat rapini sprouts and microgreens

• Pile onto sandwiches, wraps and bruschetta
• Scatter over pasta, pizza and risotto just before serving
• Toss through salads with lemon and olive oil
• Top soups, noodle bowls and stir-fries

Sprouting safety

Use clean equipment and fresh water for every rinse, keep sprouts in the fridge once harvested and throw away any that smell or look unusual. Always use seeds sold for sprouting, not garden seed packets.

The UK Food Standards Agency advises that raw sprouts should be avoided by people who are pregnant, older people, young children and anyone with a weakened immune system, who can cook their sprouts until steaming hot instead.

Shop our Organic Broccoli Raab Sprouting Seeds, or browse all our sprouting and microgreen seeds.