Lacinato kale,[a] also known asTuscan kale,Italian kale,dinosaur kale, kale,flat back kale,palm tree kale,black Tuscan palm,[3][4] or, in Italian and often in English,cavolo nero,[b] is a variety ofkale from theAcephala group of cultivarsBrassica oleracea grown for its edible leaves. Lacinato has a long tradition inItalian cuisine, especially that ofTuscany, where it has been grown for centuries,[9] and it is one of the traditional ingredients ofminestrone[10] andribollita.
Tuscan kale (cavolo nero) growing in aSELROSLT garden.
Lacinato kale grows 60 to 90 centimetres (2 to 3 ft) tall[11] and has dark blue-green leaves with an "embossed texture"; its taste is described as "slightly sweeter and more delicate" thancurly kale[12] and "slightly bitter [and] earthy".[13] The lacinato variety is sometimes calleddinosaur kale because its bumpy leaves may resemble what dinosaur skin looked like,[14] and perhaps because the unique appearance of the leaves is evocative of primordial flora. Because of its taste, it has been called "the darling of the culinary world".[15]
Lacinato kale, like most other kale varieties, is usuallyblanched first, and thensautéed with other, flavourful ingredients; inCampanian cuisine,anchovies are often added.[9] It is commonly used in pastas and soups, but can also be eaten raw, in a salad.[16]
InTuscan cuisine, lacinato kale is often used inribollita (literally: "reboiled"), a thick, hearty soup made up of ingredients cooked for a meal the day before.[17]
In Dutch, it is called (as in German)palmkool orpalmkohl, referring to the palm-like shape with the leaves growing from the stem, especially after the bottom leaves are harvested. In Swedish and Finnish, it is known assvartkål ormustakaali, meaning 'black cabbage'.
Lacinato kale dates to the 18th century in Italy.[18] Thiscultivar is popular among gardeners because of its colour and texture,[18][19] and was amongst the plantsThomas Jefferson recorded in his 1777 garden atMonticello.[20] The plant grows to a height of 60 centimetres (2 ft), with blistered leaves often over 30 cm (1 ft) in length and 5–10 cm (2–4 in) wide.[18] The straplike leaves[21] are typically harvested from the bottom of the stem, leaving the remainder of the plant resembling a palm tree.[18]
