Gai Lon / Chinese Brocolli / Chinese Kale

[JoanOH]

At a Chinese buffet recently, I had a WONDERFUL vegetable that I thought was Bok Choy, but have since found out that it's Gai Lon, also called Chinese Brocolli or Chinese Kale. Wonderful taste - a cross between spinach and cabbage with just a hint of brocolli. It TASTED like it was a good low carb veggie - and I've just looked up the nutritional info, which is:

Serving Size 1 cup (85g)
Amount per Serving: Calories 15
Amount per Serving: Calories from Fat 0
Total Fat 0g 0%
Saturated Fat 0g 0%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 15mg 1%
Total Carbohydrates 3g 1%
Fiber 2g 0%
Sugars 0g
Protein 2g
Vitamin A 190%
Vitamin C 90%
Calcium 2%
Iron 2%

Low calories, low carb, high in vitamin A & C, some iron and calcium, low sodium...

I know - it's not on the acceptable food list -- but I'm thinking because it's an uncommon vegetable here in the U.S., it wasn't included. (Certainly ALL veggies from around the world aren't in that book?).

Anyone see any problem with eating this? I'm very fortunate to live near the best (and largest) produce market in the mid-west -- and I can get this fresh!

Opinions?
Joan J

[book]

but I'm thinking because it's an uncommon vegetable here in the U.S., it wasn't included

I would agree with you. The Atkins list does have a pretty North American slant. Similar stats to many Induction veggies...

book

[not2late]

Yup. that is a yummy veggie.

I stuck to the list veggies during Induction. During the first rung of OWL I added on the non-listed green leafy veg like seaweeds, some Asian veggies, etc.

Just be aware that some Asian veggies are really fruits, like the bittermelon.

[MotherOfGizmo]

Sounds good to me...I'd eat it.

[JoanOH]

So.....at 15 calories per cup and only 1 carb (and all that calcium and vitamin A!) -- I'm thinking I could even put it on the TWO cup veggies list?? This would be such a great altnerative to salad salad salad! LOL! When I had it, it was simply steamed with lemon and butter. Ohmygawd, it was so good and so different!

Joan J

[not2late]

Joan, all the veggies on the salad list can be cooked (yes, even the lettuces). You're not just stuck to eating them raw with dressing

[JoanOH]

Joan, all the veggies on the salad list can be cooked (yes, even the lettuces). You're not just stuck to eating them raw with dressing

I know. In fact, radishes grilled are one of my new favorites. (I include them in foil packets of veggies for the grill, along with green peppers, green beans, zucchini, etc.) I've added lettuce to soups and spinach dishes... but a big ol' helping of this Gai Lon would be a nice change! It's an unusual taste -- earthy but fresh taste. I really liked it -- and it's nice being able to add something new to the list! LOL

Joan J

[Naja]

There are some very low carb ethnic vegetables that are not included on the Induction list, not because they are too high carb for Induction, but because it would have been unwieldy or impossible for Dr. Atkins to list items that were not even available in North American supermarkets at the time.

If you want to be completely safe, you can either stick to the North American vegetables only, or call the Atkins Nutritional Center for up to date information on ethnic vegetables if any is available.

Personally I'd just research the carb counts and make sure they were in line with Induction allowed vegetables, or check to see if these ethnic variants have any immediate relatives on the Induction list. Chinese cabbage is still cabbage. Some ethnic vegetables are very low carb, and others can surprise you.

[JoanOH]

Thanks, Naja -- that's exactly what I thought. Since this is 1 carb (after fiber) per 1 cup, only 15 calories, and nice and high in Vitamin A with some calcium and iron thrown in -- I'm going to use it as a 2 cup veggie. I can't wait to experiment with this one -- it's just so different from anything I've had before!

Joan J

[Heidi3]

chiniese brocccoli

not to be contrary but chinese broccoli is different from bok choy or did I miss somthing it is kind of like the broccoli leaves with stalks that are crunchy and yummy it tastes just like broccoli witha green on it...I love it with oyster sauce and count it like broccoli!.....it just does not have the flowers....yes most oyster sauce had sugar...but if you look in an Asian market you can find one that has it listed as the last instead of the second or third ingrediant...

[MotherOfGizmo]

yea, she said she "thought" it was Bok Choy but it wasn't it was Chinese Broccoli.

[Heidi3]

brocolli vs bok choy

oh yeah..whoops sorry!...can you imagine I actually misread the post!!...I am sorry! but it is really my favorite veggie this month!!! I want to grow some but can not locate seeds anyone know where to get them? I found every other Asian green seed I think but that!

[not2late]

Re: brocolli vs bok choy

I want to grow some but can not locate seeds anyone know where to get them? I found every other Asian green seed I think but that!

http://www.evergreenseeds.com/vegetableseeds.html

[JoanOH]

Oooooooo...that's a GREAT web site!! I'm ordering Bok Choy and Goi Lan seeds for next year! Thanks!!

Joan J

[not2late]

I haven't tried growing bok choy, but I've had good luck with malabar spinach, the long beans, amaranth, eggplant, bittermelon, luffa, and mustard. I prefer the chinese mustard over the regular mustard greens. Bittermelon and luffa, I grow more for ornamental purposes than for eating because I hardly ever get the fruit.