Broccolini® (Aspirations)
Estimated Inventory, 18 ct : 109.73
This item was last sold on : 10/31/26
Description/Taste
Broccolini® consists of elongated, tubular stems, averaging 10 to 15 centimeters in length, and transitions into dark green leaves traveling up the stem, spreading into small, clustered florets at the top. The narrow stems are bright green, firm, and smooth with a dense, crunchy, and succulent consistency. The leaves and florets are dark green with a delicate, brittle, and crisp texture. Broccolini® has a fresh, green taste with subtle peppery and mustard-like undertones. The vegetable is milder than common broccoli, and when cooked, the flavor becomes understated with fresh, sweet nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Broccolini® is available year-round.
Current Facts
Broccolini® is a naturally developed hybrid vegetable belonging to the Brassicaceae family. The sweet and tender variety was produced from traditional hand-pollinated crosses between gai lan and broccoli and is not genetically modified. Broccolini® is also known as Aspirations and was created in Japan as a crop to complement the seasonal sales of cool-season broccoli. Broccolini® grows best in temperate climates and can be grown year-round and worldwide, but the vegetable has remained a luxury variety due to the cultivar’s challenging growth characteristics and multiple harvest requirements. Despite its demanding nature, Broccolini® has amassed a small following among chefs and broccoli enthusiasts for the variety’s mild, sweet flavor, zero waste nature, and tender, crunchy consistency.
Nutritional Value
Broccolini® is an excellent source of vitamin C, an antioxidant that strengthens the immune system while reducing inflammation, and is a good source of fiber and vitamin A. The cultivar also provides calcium to protect bones and teeth, iron to build the protein hemoglobin for oxygen transport in the blood, potassium to balance fluid levels within the body, and lower amounts of folate, vitamin K, and manganese.
Applications
Broccolini® has a delicate nature and sweet, peppery flavor well suited for both raw and cooked applications. The hybrid cultivar does not need to be peeled before use and was designed to withstand high heat, utilized in roasted, stir-fried, sauteed, steamed, or blanched preparations. Broccolini® can be shaved into green salads, and the entire vegetable is edible, including the stem, leaves, and florets. It can also be blanched and tossed into pasta, chopped and mixed into grain bowls, layered on appetizer plates with creamy cheeses and dips, or tossed in light-bodied vinegar and served as a bright side dish. Beyond lightly cooked applications, Broccolini® can be stir-fried into vegetable medleys, roasted with meats, or used as a topping over pizza. Broccolini® pairs well with meats such as poultry, turkey, beef, pork, and fish, aromatics such as ginger, garlic, and onions, cheeses such as parmigiano, burrata, goat, and feta, tomatoes, eggplant, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, carrots, citrus, and olives. Whole, unwashed Broccolini® will keep 5 to 10 days when stored in a plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Broccolini® is known around the world by many different names, and these names were created from targeted marketing plans to popularize the new vegetable. The variety was originally released as Aspirations, a term developed by Sakata Seed in reference to the company’s hopes of the new variety being successful. The name was also created to encourage consumers to relate the variety’s elongated stalks with the tender nature of asparagus, despite the cultivar not having any genetic ties with asparagus. Once Aspirations was introduced to the United States, it was renamed by the Mann Packing Company in Salinas, California. Mann Packing Company’s Chief Operating Officer’s wife, Debbi Nucci, developed the name Broccolini®, and the company filed a registered trademark for the name in 1998 in an effort to rebrand the new vegetable. The name Broccolini® was developed to associate the cultivar with baby broccoli as the American consumer market has a fondness for baby vegetables. Broccolini® was met with a positive response nationwide and is the primary label used in the United States today. Broccolini® is also known under other names, including Asparbroc, Chinese Baby Broccoli, Tender Stem, Broccoletti, and Broccolini Brand Baby Broccoli.
Geography/History
Broccolini® was developed by Sakata Seeds, a seed breeding company based in Yokohama, Japan, with offices worldwide. The variety was created from a Sakata Seed annual research meeting in the 1980s in Japan between marketing and sales professionals, seed breeding scientists, and experts. Sakata Seed is one of the world’s leading supplier of broccoli seeds, and during the research meeting, an idea was developed to create a type of vegetable similar to broccoli that could be grown in warmer climates year-round. It was important to the research team that the new variety maintained some physical similarities to broccoli, but the entire vegetable should be edible to reduce food waste. It took over seven years for the new vegetable to be created, first labeled under the name Aspirations, and was released to Japanese growers in 1993. Aspirations was later introduced in 1996 to the United States and was sold through licensed growers in Northern California. The leading partnership was with the Mann Packing Company of Salinas, one of the largest distributors of fresh broccoli. The company aggressively marketed the new variety as a sweeter, high-end variant of broccoli and eventually trademarked and renamed Aspirations to Broccolini® in 1998. Today Broccolini® is considered a specialty variety primarily found through farmer’s markets and select grocers and is sold in the United States, Canada, South Africa, Europe, Asia, and Australia.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| Saiko Sushi-Coronado | Coronado CA | 619-435-0868 |
| Searcher Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-861-4640 |
| Vi At La Jolla Village | San Diego CA | 858-646-7700 |
| The Farm Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-5585 |
| Azuki Sushi Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-238-4760 |
| Deeply Nourished | La Jolla CA | 808-489-7366 |
| Chocolate Bar | Carlsbad CA | 442-500-2007 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Main Dining | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| The Country Club Of Rancho Bernardo | San Diego CA | 858-487-1134 |
| Order Fire Barbecue | Santee CA | 619-768-3986 |
| Donna Jean | San Diego CA | 619-392-0052 |
| Ulivo | San Diego CA | 619-962-7345 |
| American Pizza Manufacturing | La Jolla CA | 858-246-6756 |
| Mesa College | San Diego CA | 619-388-2240 |
| InterContinental San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| Hilton Garden Inn - Homewood Suites San Diego | San Diego CA | 619-696-6300 |
| Toast Catering | San Diego CA | 619-795-9135 |
| Born & Raised | San Diego CA | 619-944-1631 |
| UCSD Health East campus | San Diego CA | 619-578-3373 |
| Blue Water Estate Services | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-720-9831 |
| Kitchens for Good - Culinary Program | San Diego CA | 619-450-4040 |
| Gravity Heights Restaurant and Brewery | San Diego CA | 858-551-5105 |
| Rubicon Deli India Street | San Diego CA | 619-200-4201 |
| Oscars Brewing Company | Temecula CA | 619-695-2422 |
| FILO | San Diego CA | 619-616-1670 |
| Little Italy Hotel San Diego Downtown | San Diego CA | 619-239-6800 |
| Firestone Walker Brewing | San Diego CA | 805-225-5911 |
| Salt & Whiskey | San Diego CA | 619-544-1886 |
| Fish 101 Leucadia | Encinitas CA | 760-943-6221 |
| Lauberge Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-259-1515 |
| Serafino Fine Market | San Diego CA | 831-915-1893 |
| Giuseppe Restaurants & Fine Catering | San Diego CA | 619-436-7006 |
| Solare Ristorante Lounge | San Diego CA | 619-270-9670 |
| Finca North Park | San Diego CA | 619-581-3003 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department Hillcrest | San Diego CA | 619-380-9840 |
| Campfire | Carlsbad CA | 760-637-5121 |
| University Club | San Diego CA | 619-234-5200 |
| HiroNori Ramen | San Diego CA | 619-446-9876 |
| Nolita Hall | San Diego CA | 619-618-8820 |
| Knotty Barrel- Rancho | San Diego CA | 858-484-8758 |
| Ciccia Osteria | San Diego CA | 619-674-4069 |
| C 2 C | San Diego CA | 619-972-9345 |
| Little Frenchie | Coronado CA | 619-522-6890 |
| Encontro North Park | San Diego CA | 310-955-6333 |
| Viejas Casino Grove Steakhouse | Alpine CA | 800-295-3172 |
| Polaris Supreme | San Diego CA | 619-390-7890 |
| Morning Glory | San Diego CA | 619-629-0302 |
| The Flavor Chef (Catering) | Vista CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Small Barn | Temecula CA | 951-225-2822 |
| Jeune Et Jolie | Carlsbad CA | 858-231-0862 |
| Continental Catering Inc | La Mesa CA | 907-738-9264 |
| Rancho Santa Fe Golf Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-1582 |
| The Shores | La Jolla CA | 858-459-8271 |
| US Grant Hotel Main | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Vagabond Sportfishing Inc. | San Diego CA | 619-993-9575 |
| Books and Records | San Diego CA | 619-310-5298 |
| Prey Brewing Company | Vista CA | 760-822-4226 |
| Sepulveda Meats & Provisions | San Diego CA | 619-501-1878 |
| Juniper & Ivy | San Diego CA | 858-481-3666 |
| Rustic Root | San Diego CA | 619-232-1747 |
| Valentina | Encinitas CA | 207-522-1937 |
| San Diego Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-758-6334 |
| Brigantine La Mesa | La Mesa CA | 619-465-1935 |
| Cloak and Petal | San Diego CA | 626-319-6878 |
| All Aboard Charcuterie & Provisions | San Diego CA | 619-994-5267 |
| Cherry Fish | San Diego CA | 619-990-8340 |
| Carte Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-365-1858 |
| Hilton Mission Valley | San Diego CA | 619-543-9000 |
| Portside Pier (TopSail) | San Diego CA | 858-268-1030 |
| PFC Fitness Camp | Carlsbad CA | 888-488-8936 |
| Culinary Concepts | San Diego CA | 619-865-1918 |
| Smoking Gun | San Diego CA | 619-276-6700 |
| Little Lion | San Diego CA | 619-519-4079 |
| Boujiemana (La Maison) | San Diego CA | 415-710-0510 |
| Dino's Perfect Bite | San Diego CA | 315-723-2275 |
| Harvest Kitchen | Vista CA | 619-709-0938 |
| The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co. | San Diego CA | 619-368-3705 |
| Salty Horse | Costa Mesa CA | 702-366-5947 |
| Aztec Shop Catering | San Diego CA | 619 594-3576 |
| Marriott Marquis North Tower | San Diego CA | 619-234-1500 |
| Pizzeria Luigi | San Diego CA | 610-539-7025 |
| Southwestern Yacht Club | San Diego CA | 619-222-0438 |
| Sugar Bear Enterprises | San Diego CA | 925-383-3623 |
| Therapie | San Diego CA | 858-201-7551 |
| Rustic Root Solana | Solana Beach CA | 619-955-5750 |
| Mille Fleurs | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-756-3085 |
| AC Hotel by Marriott SD | San Diego CA | 248-703-3310 |
| Kona Kai Resort and Marina | San Diego CA | 619-221-8000 |
| Convention Center Shell | San Diego CA | 619-954-3063 |
| Coast Catering | Escondido CA | 619-295-3173 |
| Grossmont-Cuyamaca Community College District | El Cajon CA | 619-644-7585 |
| The Cottage Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-775-1197 |
| Birdseye Rooftop | San Diego CA | 858-203-3565 |
| Carne & Hueso | San Diego CA | 619-756-7545 |
| The Barista Botanist | San Diego CA | 808-868-8639 |
| Town & Country Arlo | San Diego CA | 619-291-7131 |
| BFD-Big Front Door | San Diego CA | 619-723-8183 |
| Coco Maya by Miss Bs | San Diego CA | 858-245-3780 |
| Miho | San Diego CA | 619-365-5655 |
| KI's | Encinitas CA | 760-586-8289 |
| MCRD-Marine Corps Recruit Dept | San Diego CA | 619-725-6478 |
| Viejas Casino TMDR | Alpine CA | 619-659-1774 |
| Belching Beaver Brewery Tavern and Grill | Vista CA | 760-509-4424 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Bistro Kitchen | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| Park Hyatt Aviara (Ember & Rye) | Carlsbad CA | 760-448-1234 |
| Sheraton Carlsbad (20/20) | Carlsbad CA | 760-827-2400 |
| Pacific Queen Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-405-9087 |
| Bayhill Tavern | San Diego CA | 858-288-6923 |
| La Jolla Country Club | San Diego CA | 858-454-9601 |
| Wildland | Carlsbad CA | 619-385-0914 |
| Alila Marea Beach Resort | Encinitas CA | 805-539-9719 |
| Hotel Republic San Diego | San Diego CA | 951-756-9357 |
| Buckboard Catering & Events | El Cajon CA | 619-334-4400 |
| Maderas Golf Club | Poway CA | 858-451-8100 |
| Cape Rey Carlsbad, a Hilton Resort | Carlsbad CA | 760-602-0800 |
| Ron Oliver | San Diego | 619-295-3172 |
| Hironori Craft Ramen (Mira Mesa) | San Diego CA | 909-214-9435 |
| US Grant Hotel Grill | San Diego CA | 619-232-3121 |
| Fresco Cocina | Carlsbad CA | 760-720-3737 |
| Saint Mark Golf and Resort, LLC | San Marcos CA | 508-320-6644 |
| Cutwater Spirits | San Diego CA | 619-672-3848 |
| Food by Chef Ty | San Marcos CA | 424-278-8626 |
| Secret Sister | San Diego CA | 619-281-0718 |
| Bitter Brothers Brewing Co. | San Diego CA | 619-961-9960 |
| Belmont Park Cannonball | San Diego CA | 858-228-9283 |
| Viejas Casino Hotel Kitchen | Alpine CA | 702-401-0455 |
| A & M catering | San Diego CA | 442-515-2650 |
| Mission Bay Beach Club | San Diego CA | 858-201-7551 |
| Shogun Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-226-8030 |
| Spirit of Adventure Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-454-9711 |
| Barbarella La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-7373 |
| Sago | Encinitas CA | 858-382-4047 |
| Shoreside Support Boat | San Diego CA | 704-277-7929 |
| Palmys | San Diego CA | 858-886-7111 |
| Tribute Pizza | San Diego CA | 858-220-0030 |
| InterContinental Vistal Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-501-9400 |
| Cal A Vie | Vista CA | 760-945-2055 |
| Park Commons - ARE | San Diego CA | 619-295-3172 |
| Zanzibar at the Loft | La Jolla CA | 858-210-5476 |
| JRDN Restaurant | San Diego CA | 858-270-5736 |
| Chef Drew Mc Partlin | San Diego CA | 619-990-9201 |
| Wayfarer Bread | La Jolla CA | 805-709-0964 |
| Urban Kitchen Catering | San Diego CA | 619-276-8803 |
| Chateau La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-459-4451 |
| Carruth Cellars Urban Winery (Carlsbad) | Carlsbad CA | 619-546-9300 |
| Fish 101 Cardiff | Cardiff CA | 619-753-7139 |
| Jake's Del Mar | Del Mar CA | 858-755-2002 |
| Mister A's | San Diego CA | 619-239-1377 |
| Catania La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 619-884-5350 |
| Green Dragon Tavern & Museum | Carlsbad CA | 760-797-5579 |
| Seneca | San Diego CA | 619-588-2411 |
| The Switchboard Restaurant 2024 | Oceanside CA | 760-279-6300 |
| Mission Pacific | Oceanside CA | 760-450-7864 |
| Miguel Angel Mendoza | Maestros Ensenada, | 646-127-0277 |
| La Valle Coastal Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5473 |
| Panama 66 | San Diego CA | 619-206-6352 |
| Rancho Valencia | Del Mar CA | 858-756-1123 |
| By The Sea | Coronado CA | 619-373-6837 |
| Lumi | San Diego CA | 619-955-5750 |
| Fairmont Grand Del Mar | San Diego CA | 858-314-1975 |
| Tom Hams Light House | San Diego CA | 619-291-9110 |
| Candor | La Jolla CA | 858-581-2205 |
| Nobu | San Diego CA | 619-814-4124 |
| Georges at the Cove | San Diego CA | 858-454-4244 |
| Le Papagayo (Encinitas) | Encinitas CA | 760-944-8252 |
| Farmers Bottega | San Diego CA | 619-306-8963 |
| Pamplemousse Grill | Solana Beach CA | 858-792-9090 |
| Espadin | Temecula California | 951-383-5585 |
| Sushi Ota 2021 | San Diego CA | 858-270-5047 |
| Royal Polaris Sportfishing | San Diego CA | 619-226-8030 |
| Parkhouse Eatery | San Diego CA | 619 295 7275 |
| Valley View Casino & Hotel (Black&Blue) | Valley Center CA | 760-291-5500 |
| Wrench and Rodent | Oceanside CA | 760-840-1976 |
| UCSD Food & Nutrition Department La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-761-1269 |
| Pitchers | San Diego CA | 858-472-1251 |
| Inn at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-381-8289 |
| Nomade Tapas and Records | San Diego CA | 619-616-1670 |
| Bar Ella | San Diego CA | 858-808-2286 |
| Slowly | San Diego CA | 858-352-6080 |
| Davanti Enoteca Little Italy | San Diego CA | 619-237-9606 |
| Hilton Harbor Island | San Diego CA | 619-291-6700 |
| The Cottage Encinitas | Encinitas CA | 858-454-8409 |
| Tavola Nostra Pizzeria E Cucina | San Diego CA | 619-921-4206 |
| Bali Hai Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-222-1181 |
| DS Catering Kitchen | Chula Vista CA | 619-703-9321 |
| Frenchy's Hideout | San Diego CA | 858-345-7379 |
| Terra Catering | San Diego CA | 619-293-7088 |
| Bridges at Rancho Santa Fe | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-6063 |
| Del Mar Country Club | Rancho Santa Fe CA | 858-759-5995 |
| Sheraton La Jolla | San Diego CA | 858-453-5500 |
| LANA | Solana Beach CA | 602-758-2596 |
| Garbatella Osteria Bar | Chula Vista CA | 619-651-1185 |
| Farmer and The Seahorse | San Diego CA | 858-260-5400 |
| Black Radish | San Diego CA | 619-775-7412 |
| The Cottage La Jolla | La Jolla CA | 858-454-8408 |
| The Tavern | Coronado CA | 602-628-5890 |
| Blue Ocean Sushi & Grill (UTC) | San Diego CA | 858-886-9909 |
| Glenbrook Health Center | Carlsbad CA | 760-704-1000 |
| The Santaluz Club Inc - Banquet | San Diego CA | 858-759-3150 |
| The Beau Hotel | San Diego CA | 619-310-5160 |
| Kettner Exchange | San Diego CA | 909-915-9877 |
| Barleymash | San Diego CA | 619-255-7373 |
| La Jolla Beach & Tennis Club | San Diego CA | 619-816-8319 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Broccolini® (Aspirations). One
is easiest, three is harder.| Produce on Parade |
|
Spicy Sesame & Peanut Noodles |
| Green Healthy Cooking |
|
Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots and Broccolini |
Broccolini® (Aspirations) for sale around the world shared on the Specialty Produce App
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