Aztec Broccoli
Not that much like Broccoli, Aztec Broccoli aka Huauzontle (Chenopodium nuttalliae) is something that I’ve enjoyed growing this year.
It’s in the same family as Quinoa and Fat Hen, in fact, it looks a lot like Fat Hen, which is a weed over my allotment.
The seedlings emerge with dark red stems, and the leaves apparently turn red later. It’s a scrubby-looking plant with greyish green buds, at first I thought it was covered in powdery mildew, but that’s just what it looks like. Also, it tastes more like kale to me than broccoli.
I’ve enjoyed them steamed but best baked like I do with kale chips, toasted in oil and salt. The plant now always has a generous supply and nothing adverse seems to happen if I don’t pick them straight away.
It seems nearly impossible to kill and has dealt well with the 39°c heat that we’ve had this year. I’ve killed many seedlings this year through over-watering but Aztec Broccoli coped even with that. It’s an annual and I’ll definitely be growing it again next year — hopefully on saved seeds.
