9 Best Broccoli Rabe Substitutes (Rapini Alternatives)

What is broccoli rabe?

Broccoli rabe is a dark green leafy cruciferous vegetable, with buds that are similar in appearance to broccoli or broccolini. Interestingly though, it is more closely related to the turnip.

Popular in European cooking, and in Italian cuisine in particular, broccoli rabe has a flavorful bitter taste. It's used as an easy side dish, added to soups or stews, or used to top pizza or make a tasty salad. To tame the bitter flavor, this leafy green is often blanched before use, and Bon Appetit has some easy ideas for cooking broccoli rabe to try out.

Why may you want a broccoli rabe substitute?

Broccoli rabe is a tasty green vegetable, but it can be more difficult to find in stores depending upon where you live. I find it challenging to source in the UK, for example. So we may want a broccoli rabe alternative if we can't get hold of it for a recipe.

We may also want a leafy green vegetable for our meals, but are looking for something with a less bitter taste that doesn't require blanching!

Broccoli rabe isn't rated on the SIGHI list, but is given as low histamine on others. However, if you are making low histamine recipes and aren't too sure, you may like to use another green for your meals.

Have a peek at my spinach substitutes, Swiss chard substitutes, asparagus substitutes and my kale substitutes posts for more ideas for green vegetables!

Best broccoli rabe substitutes

Let's talk about some alternatives to broccoli rabe to make your tasty lunch and dinner recipes!

Arugula

Arugula, also known as rocket in the UK, has a spicy bitter taste that can be considered to resemble broccoli rabe. It isn't quite as bitter though, and typically has a 'softer' taste.

We can use arugula as an alternative to broccoli rabe in salads, or to top pizza or pasta dishes.

Kale

There are a few different types of kale, with curly kale and lacinato kale (also known by other names such as dinosaur or Tuscan kale) being the most common.

Kale doesn't have the same bitter flavor as broccoli rabe, but is a tasty leafy green packed with antioxidants, vitamins C and K and beta-carotene, as Healthline's overview of the benefits of kale sets out.

We can use kale in place of broccoli rabe as a side dish, in salads, soups and stews. It's best to shred kale finely, after removing the tough stems. To use kale in salads, massaging it first in a little oil, vinegar and salt softens the tough texture.

Do check out my kale salad with tahini dressing and kale pasta for some tasty recipes!

Mustard greens

Mustard greens are a good alternative to broccoli rabe as they share the same bitter, peppery flavor. Also known as brown mustard, Chinese mustard and Indian mustard, mustard greens come from the mustard plant and are members of the Brassica genus of vegetables (Healthline).

As a broccoli rabe substitute, mustard greens can be added to soups, stews and salads, You can also mustard greens to enjoy as a flavorful side dish with meat, fish or plant-based main dishes.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a nutritious cruciferous vegetable that is quite a staple on many of our shopping lists I think! Raw broccoli is crunchy, while steamed or boiled broccoli has a soft texture and slightly sweet taste.

Although broccoli doesn't have the same peppery flavor, it can be used as an alternative to broccoli rabe as a tasty green vegetable in a stir-fry, salad or as a side dish.

Have a peek at my baked Brussels sprouts and asparagus for a tasty side dish, or my broccoli and courgette soup for a cozy vegan lunch!

Broccolini

Broccolini, also known as baby broccoli or Tenderstem broccoli in some countries, is very similar to broccoli, but has longer stems with smaller flowers. It is the closest in appearance to broccoli rabe but doesn't have the same peppery flavor.

You can use broccolini as a broccoli rabe substitute as a vegetable in pasta dishes, as a side dish such as my roasted Tenderstem broccolini or as a salad with my broccolini slaw!

Collard greens

Collard greens are a member of the cabbage family and can be used as a replacement for broccoli rabe as another leafy green. It's easy to saute or steam and enjoy as a side dish. Collard greens are very popular in the Southern United States.

Spinach

Spinach is a dark green leafy vegetable characterised by their bitter flavor, which has some similarity to broccoli rabe. Easy to find in stores, spinach can be bought fresh or frozen. Baby spinach can be used as a broccoli rabe substitute in salads, smoothies or tossed into a stir-fry, soup or stew.

Just a note that spinach is a high histamine food per the SIGHI list, so not suitable for those on a low histamine diet.

Bok choy

Bok choy (also known as pak choi) looks quite different to broccoli rabe, with its white bulb and longer round leaves. It has a slight flavor of celery, and you can use both the stems and leaves in cooking.

Although bok choy doesn't taste too similar to broccoli rabe, it's a tasty vegetable to add to a stir-fry or as a side dish. You can enjoy steamed bok choy with ginger and garlic, or my air fried bok choy as a simple side!

Swiss chard

Swiss chard or rainbow chard has long stems and large dark greens leaves. It's very easy to grow yourself, as I do in my back yard each year, and fairly widely available in stores during the summer months.

If you're looking for broccoli rabe substitutes that comprise nutritious leafy greens, then Swiss chard is a good option for a stir-fry or simply steamed as a side dish.

Frequently asked questions

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More substitute resources

Looking for some easy ingredient alternatives for when the pantry is bare? Have a peek at my best hemp seed substitutes and herbes de Provence substitutes, as well as these recent posts: