Discover the Delicious Bimi: A Versatile Vegetable
Bimi is a winter vegetable that has become very popular in recent years thanks to its delicate flavor, crunchy texture, and high nutritional value. It is a vegetable hybrid created from the combination of two cruciferous plants, broccoli, and Chinese cabbage.
Agriculture and Botany of Bimi
Bimi is a vegetable that is cultivated throughout the year in greenhouses or under plastic tunnels to protect it from extreme weather conditions. It is an annual plant belonging to the Brassicaceae family and has a growth cycle of 90 to 100 days. The plant can grow up to a height of 50-60 cm and produce a large number of lateral branches with yellow flowers. Bimi has a milder and more delicate flavor than broccoli and a crunchy texture similar to that of Chinese cabbage.
Varieties and Gastronomy of Bimi
There are several varieties of bimi that can be found in the market, but the most common one has green stems and dark green leaves. There are also bimi varieties with yellow, orange, or dark violet stems. Most bimi varieties have a mild and sweet flavor with a slight touch of bitterness. Bimi can be cooked in various ways and is used in a wide variety of dishes, such as stir-frying, steaming, roasting, or grilling, and it can also be eaten raw in salads.
History and Health of Bimi
Bimi is a relatively new vegetable that was developed in Japan in the mid-1990s. It was created by the seed company Sakata in collaboration with the University of Tokyo. The aim was to combine the characteristics of broccoli and Chinese cabbage to create a new vegetable with a mild and delicate flavor and a crunchy texture. Bimi was introduced to the Japanese market in 1998 and has expanded to other countries in recent decades, including the United States and some European countries.
Bimi is a highly nutritious food that offers many health benefits. It is an excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin K, folic acid, potassium, and dietary fiber. It also contains antioxidant compounds, such as carotenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, which can help reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and cancer. In addition, bimi contains glucosinolates, compounds that can help protect against cell damage and reduce the risk of certain types of cancer.
Recipe: Stir-fried Bimi with Garlic Prawns
Ingredients:
- 400 g of bimi
- 300 g of peeled prawns
- 4 cloves of garlic
- 1 chili pepper
- Extra virgin olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh chopped parsley
Preparation:
- Wash the bimi and cut it into small pieces. Blanch it in a pot with boiling water and salt for about 3 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- Peel and chop the garlic and chili pepper. Heat some oil in a large pan and sauté them over medium heat until they start to brown.
- Add the prawns, season with salt and pepper to taste, and stir-fry over high heat for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until they are pink and cooked.
- Add the bimi and mix well with the prawns and flavored oil. Cook for a few more minutes until the bimi is hot and tender.
- Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley on top and serve the stir-fried bimi with garlic prawns as a main dish or side dish.