These romanesco recipes are delicious and colorful! Check out our top picks as well as some buying tips for this underrated veggie.
Romanesco is a striking vegetable with a unique spiral pattern. It is a member of the brassica family, along with broccoli, brussels sprouts, and cauliflower.
The vegetable’s delicate flavor is often described as being similar to broccoli, but with a slightly sweeter and nuttier taste.
This vegetable can be eaten raw or cooked in many ways like roasting, steaming, or grilling. It can be used in dishes, including soups, salads, pasta dishes, and stir-fries.
In this collection of the best Romanesco recipes, you will find some of the most creative and delicious ways to enjoy this beautiful vegetable.
- Dress #4 Spicy Sesame Romanesco with sesame-sriracha sauce, nuts and seeds.
- #8 Teriyaki Romanesco & Beet Bowl is coated with a flavorful and sticky teriyaki glaze.
- #12 Romanesco Soup With Za’atar Granola is topped with a crunchy, nutty granola.
- #16 Romanesco and Cheddar Crustless Quiche is so light and fluffy!
- #20 Romanesco Pakora is an excellent weeknight meal.
Tips For Buying Romanesco
Here are some tips to help you select the best Romanesco:
- Look for bright color. Romanesco should be bright green. If it’s yellow or brown, it’s old.
- Check the texture. Romanesco should be firm and compact. If it’s soft or loose, it’s not fresh.
- Inspect for mold or insects. Check for mold or bugs. These are signs of decay or poor handling.
- Size matters. Smaller Romanesco heads are tender and mild, larger ones are tougher and stronger.
- Local and seasonal. Buy local, in-season produce for freshness, flavor, and to support farmers.
- Buy when fresh. For the best flavor and taste, buy Romanesco the day you plan to cook it.
- Avoid blemishes. Check for dark spots, cuts, or bruises. These are signs of damage.
- Consider the time of day. Go early for fresh produce.
- Know the varieties. Romanesco varieties have their unique flavors. Ask the seller.
- Buy Romanesco that is still attached to its stem. This will help to keep it fresh longer.
Best Romanesco Recipes
These savory cupcakes feature Romanesco florets as a unique topping, adding elegance and flavor to the simple batter made with flour, butter, eggs, and Parmesan cheese. Baked in muffin tins for easy serving, these visually appealing cupcakes are ideal for special occasions.
Ingredients include: Romanesco cabbage, carrots, flour, eggs, and butter.
Lemony Israeli Couscous With Romanesco and Broccoli is a vibrant dish that pairs the nutty taste of pearl couscous with the fresh flavors of two green vegetables. It features a refreshing lemon flavor and a tangy touch.
Ingredients include: Israeli couscous, romanesco florets, broccoli florets, capers, and lemon juice.
This Roasted Romanesco Dhansak recipe combines the sweet, nutty flavor of roast romanesco with spicy dhansak. Ready in just 30 minutes, this versatile main dish pairs well with rice, naan, or roti.
Ingredients include: Romanesco, olive oil, cumin seeds, turmeric, and chili powder.
The Spicy Sesame Romanesco features tender steamed romanesco tossed in a flavorful sesame-sriracha sauce. A garnish of sesame seeds, pistachios, and furikake adds the final touch to this savory side dish.
Ingredients include: Romanesco, sesame oil, sriracha sauce, soy sauce, and pistachios.
The Romanesco & Butternut Squash Pasta shines with a homemade creamy sage sauce and a delightful contrast of textures. Its vibrant colors and simple handful of ingredients make it an easy yet visually appealing dish.
Ingredients include: Pasta, romanesco, butternut squash, pepper, and sage leaves.
This Italian dish uses roasted Romanesco broccoli, mixed with pasta and a simple sauce. Depending on personal preference, the recipe can be adjusted with a great addition of ingredients like chili flakes or cheese for varied flavor profiles. Buon appetito!
Ingredients include: Chili flakes, romanesco broccoli, maccheroni pasta, Pecorino Romano, and garlic clove.
The unique cruciferous vegetable, Romanesco, gets roasted to perfection for this salad recipe. Tossed with a tangy lemon garlic vinaigrette, crispy shallots, and toasted walnuts, every bite is light and flavorful.
Ingredients include: Romanesco, lemon juice, shallot, dijon mustard, and parsley.
The Teriyaki Romanesco & Beet Bowl recipe showcases the unique pairing of sweet romanesco and earthy beets with a savory teriyaki glaze. It’s an easy-to-make dish that you can adjust to your taste.
Ingredients include: Beets, romanesco, sesame oil, mirin, and cornstarch.
These Roasted Romanesco Steaks are suitable for a quick dinner. The unique, nutty and crispy romanesco, sliced into ‘steaks’ and roasted, creates an appealing and satisfying meal with distinctive patterns and caramelized edges.
Ingredients include: Avocado oil, romanesco, and organic seasoning salt.
The Roasted Romanesco Arugula Pasta highlights the sweet, nutty flavor of caramelized romanesco, which is the star of the dish. The versatile veggie was paired with peppery arugula, tangy lemon zest, spicy garlic, and creamy pecorino cheese.
Ingredients include: Olive oil, romanesco, fusilli, red pepper flakes, and arugula.
This Grilled Romanesco Salad shines with its blend of charred Romanesco, smoky herbs, and creamy avocado. The salad is topped with fresh tomatoes and lettuce, and dressed with a unique charred-herb blend.
Ingredients include: Parsley, basil, romanesco florets, butter lettuce, and cherry tomatoes.
The Romanesco Soup with Za’atar Granola recipe blends Italian and Middle Eastern flavors, using a crunchy, oven-roasted granola. The granola, featuring za’atar and various nuts and seeds, adds a warm, earthy flavor and a fun crunch to the soup.
Ingredients include: Oats, walnuts, pumpkin seeds, romanesco cauliflower, and parsley.
The Romanesco Cauliflower Mash recipe uses the unique, slightly sweet Roman cauliflower, creating a creamy, low-carb alternative to mashed potatoes. It isn’t only simple to prepare, but also versatile enough to be used as a topping for shepherd’s pie or a base for a meal.
Ingredients include: Shallot, romanesco cauliflower, Greek yogurt, lemon juice, and pepper.
Roasted Romanesco With Honey-Sriracha Glaze is a quick, delicious dish where the sweet and spicy glaze enhances the caramelized, naturally sweet romanesco. This roasting method deepens flavors, creating a satisfying delicious meal in no time.
Ingredients include: Bacon, romanesco, olive oil, black pepper, and honey.
The Romanesco Black Lentil Pilaf, with its sweet, nutty taste and filling protein, has both delicious flavor and eye-catching taste. It’s a great main course or a simple side dish.
Ingredients include: Coriander, olive oil, romanesco, black lentils, and almonds.
This easy-to-make vegetarian quiche mixes the nutty flavor of broccoli Romanesco with the rich taste of cheddar in a light, crustless form. The dish highlights the flavors of its main ingredients while offering a visually appealing, golden brown color when baked.
Ingredients include: Cheddar cheese, romanesco, flour, eggs, and heavy cream.
Fun fact: The number of spirals on a Romanesco head is always a Fibonacci number, which are numbers in a sequence where each number is the sum of the two numbers before it.
Grate the unique, nutty Romanesco and mix with other ingredients to form a patty, then cook and serve with a refreshing radish slaw. This recipe offers a tasty, and unique simple way to enjoy Romanesco in a veggie burger.
Ingredients include: Black pepper, romanesco, parmesan cheese, almond flour, and avocado slices.
This easy Romanesco Broccoli Stew recipe combines the unique, mildly sweet Romanesco with onions, tomatoes, and vegetable broth, seasoned to perfection. The result is a tasty, easy side dish!
Ingredients include: Tomatoes, romanesco broccoli, onion, olive oil, and pepper.
Roasted Romanesco cauliflower, with its nutty flavor and beautiful fractal appearance, is the highlight of this recipe. The salad, tossed with radicchio, pancetta, and breadcrumbs, will surprise your taste buds.
Ingredients include: Radicchio, pancetta, romanesco cauliflower, parsley, and raisin.
20. Romanesco Pakora
Romanesco Pakora blends Italian and Indian cuisines by using romanesco in a crispy, spiced batter. This less-known unique vegetable offers a nutty flavor and a perfect balance of crispy and tender texture in the pakora.
Ingredients include: Turmeric powder, fennel seeds, rice flour, garam masala, and chili powder.
This Springtime Asparagus Leek Romanesco Quiche is a vibrant celebration of spring. It’s made with sautéed in-season cruciferous veggies and a creamy egg mixture and then baked in a pre-made crust.
Ingredients include: Asparagus, leek, romanesco florets, butter, and eggs.
The bottom line
Romanesco is a vegetable that’s both beautiful and delicious. It’s also a fractal, which means that its shape is self-similar at all scales. This makes it a fascinating vegetable to look at, and it also means that it can be cooked in a variety of delicious ways.
We hope you find this list helpful in your journey to finding your favorite Romanesco recipes. Just remember, you can find the freshest Romanesco vegetables at farmers markets. They are often harvested close to the time of sale. You can also find Romanesco at your nearby grocery store, but it may not be as fresh.
21 Best Romanesco Recipes
These Romanesco recipes are great vegetable side dishes—fun, healthy, and so flavorful.
Ingredients
- Parmesan Muffin
- Lemony Israeli Couscous With Romanesco & Broccoli
- Roasted Romanesco Dhansak
- Spicy Sesame Romanesco
- Romanesco & Butternut Squash Pasta
- Romanesco Broccoli Maccheroni
- Roasted Romanesco Salad
- Teriyaki Romanesco & Beet Bowl
- Roasted Romanesco Steaks
- Roasted Romanesco Arugula Pasta
- Grilled Romanesco Salad With Charred-Herb Dressing
- Romanesco Soup With Za'atar Granola
- Romanesco Cauliflower Mash
- Roasted Romanesco With Honey-Sriracha Glaze
- Romanesco Black Lentil Pilaf
- Romanesco & Cheddar Crustless Quiche
- Romanesco Veggie Burger
- Romanesco Broccoli Stew
- Roasted Romanesco & Radicchio Salad With Pancetta
- Romanesco Pakora
- Springtime Asparagus Leek Romanesco Quiche
Instructions
- Check out this list of Romanesco Recipes.
- Select a dish.
- Cook to your heart's content!
- Don't forget to share this list of meal inspiration!