Curly cabbage, or kale cabbage, is an extraordinary variety of cabbage that has managed to avoid gene modification and domestication. In World War II in France, Jerusalem artichoke saved people from hunger and vitamin deficiency. At the same time, in England, it was cabbage of this variety that did not die of starvation. Kale, like Jerusalem artichoke, acquired the title of "forgotten vegetable" for many years. Today, she returns to the tables thanks to popular restaurants that actively use leaves to prepare their dishes.
Name and homeland of kale
Curly cabbage name has more than one. It is also called kale (emphasis is placed on the second syllable), bruncol, brauncol, gruncol. But whatever the name of the vegetable, it looks the same in any case: its fringed leaves can have a purple or green hue, and they do not form a head. That is why in Latin the name of the product sounds Acephala or Brassica oleracea, which means "loose, loose". This variety has a high, sometimes reaching one meter, stump, from which the leaves spread loose in all sides. Scientists are sure that gruenkol is the oldest species of wild cabbage.
Brauncoli manage to grow even under the most extreme climatic conditions. After suffering frosts, it turns out only juicier and more sweet. In Europe, curly cabbage was the most popular green vegetable until the end of the Middle Ages. Many countries were engaged in growing leaves, but over time, other crops replaced the vegetable. When this variety was recalled again, it was already considered exotic, especially in our latitudes.
But, nevertheless, not a single state considers itself to be the birthplace of Grunkol. Cabbage is loved in all countries, but everywhere it is considered to be brought from another state. The Germans call the kale French culture, in England it is widely believed that this cabbage comes from Scotland or Siberia, and for the Dutch it is a German "subject." In the UK and the USA, kale appears under the name Red Russian kale - Red Russian cabbage. It is said that merchants from Russia brought leaves on ships to America, after which the product firmly established itself in California gardens. Trade relations between Arkhangelsk and London contributed to the second coming of the feces to England.
Types of Brauncoli Cabbage
Curly cabbage has many varieties:
- Siberian cabbage - a variety resistant to low temperatures and various pests.
- Reed - its height can reach almost two meters. The peculiarity of this species is that it has a heavy stem, which can be used as a cane.
- Red Russian - has the same properties as the Siberian, but externally differs by the presence of winding expressive leaves of red color.
- Curly cabbage is the most common variety of kale (cabbage). From other varieties, it is distinguished by a milder and sweeter taste. The leaves of the culture have a wrinkled and curly appearance.
- Cabbage Redbor F1 can be dark purple or red color, so this variety is often used to give certain colors to dishes.
- Tuscan cabbage - characterized by oblong thin leaves having a shriveled structure.
- Prime cabbage is a frost-resistant fast-growing variety.
Regardless of the variety of feces (curly cabbage), it is better to eat its leaves raw, adding them to salads with young garlic, tomatoes and basil. Thus, the beneficial properties of the culture will be preserved much better.
The composition of cabbage bruncol
Kale contains many minerals, folic acid, approximately 20% magnesium, calcium, copper and potassium. Curly cabbage, the photo of which can be viewed in our article, is enriched with vitamins A and C. They are here about 50%. In a slightly smaller amount, the culture contains vitamins B1, B2, B6, as well as E.
The product also has vitamin K, which is extremely important for the human body. Provitamin A (beta-carotene) is also part of the feces. The product contains 85% of the daily dose of the substance. One hundred grams of Brauncoli cabbage has 28 kcal.
Useful properties of bruncol cabbage
Curly cabbage has a number of some positive properties, for which it is necessary to grow this vegetable. The product helps to eliminate calcium deficiency. One gram of cabbage has about 1.35 milligrams of this substance, while in the same amount of milk, there are only 1.13 milligrams. Calcium from this cabbage is absorbed by the body 25% better than calcium from milk. For people who are intolerant of milk protein, feces is an invaluable storehouse of calcium.
Due to the increased content of vitamin C, bruncol is considered an excellent antioxidant of natural origin. Low calorie brauncoli helps fight excess pounds. Despite the minimum calorie content, the vegetable fully saturates the body with most of the necessary substances. Therefore, vegetarians give culture a place of honor in their diet menu.
Kale cabbage is considered an unsurpassed substance for the prevention of vision. The culture is called the queen of carotenoids, since one cup of the product contains 200% of the daily intake of vitamin A.
Cooking Kale
Bruncol is a wonderful ingredient in many dishes. Curly cabbage (recipes are given below) can become a component of salad or soup. You can make a delicious salad from the young leaves of a vegetable. To create it, you will need eight small leaves of cabbage, one hundred grams of feta cheese, one glass of red currant (gooseberries, raspberries, black currants, grapes or apple slices), a little extra virgin olive oil, a quarter cup quinoa, parsley, dill, green onions to taste .
Washed and dried feces should be cut into thin strips. Then finely chop the onion and herbs, beat in a blender part of the berries. Mix berry puree with salt, olive oil and pepper. Now in a bowl combine the cereals, herbs, onions and cabbage and mix the salad with berry dressing. It is recommended to decorate the top of the dish with pieces of cheese and the remaining berries.
To prepare the soup with cabbage, gruenkol should be prepared:
- One hundred ml cream.
- One glass of chicken or vegetable broth.
- 400 g of frozen peas.
- White pepper, salt.
- One potato.
- 200 g of feces.
- Two tablespoons of grated Parmesan cheese.
- One or two sprigs of mint.
- Three to four sprigs of basil.
Peel the potatoes and cut into large pieces. In two containers, boil potatoes and peas. Combine the boiled products with chopped cabbage leaves and broth and beat everything with a blender. In mashed potatoes, add chopped basil and mint leaves, parmesan, cream and put a bowl of soup on a small fire. Stirring all the time, warm the dish for two minutes. Served with croutons.
Planting a crop
As a rule, a culture is grown from seeds that are planted in open soil. Curly cabbage, the seeds of which need to be planted in mid-April or early May, does not tolerate transplanting in the best way. Therefore, it is better not to touch the sprouts that have already broken out of the ground. The temperature of the soil for seeds should be 50 degrees. In each hole, you need to make a bit of humus with wood ash.
Curly cabbage (kale) grows very quickly. Seeds germinate on the fifth or seventh day after planting. At home, the culture is grown from seedlings.
Vegetable Tips
When buying kale cabbage, pay attention to the condition of its leaves: they must be crispy and dense and not have dark spots. The product is stored in the refrigerator in a paper bag for two weeks. If you need to keep the gruenkol longer, then this is done in the freezer in a plastic container.
Before cooking, it is better to rinse the cabbage and remove the stems from it.
Contraindications to the use of feces
Cabbage of this variety contains oxalates. Excessive amounts in the body lead to a number of diseases. Therefore, the use of feces should be abandoned to individuals who have stones in the gallbladder or kidneys.