Broccoletto di Custoza in Verona

Broccoletto di Custoza is a winter vegetable from the brassica family, grown in the morainic hills around the village of Custoza, in the municipality of Sommacampagna, just a few kilometers from Verona. In some ways it resembles turnip tops, but it has more tender leaves, small shoots, and a delicately bitter flavor. It is mainly eaten between January and March, when the plants are harvested fresh and sold in bunches. In the kitchen it is appreciated for its versatility: it can be boiled, sautéed in a pan with garlic and olive oil, or used in risottos, soups, and frittatas.

Broccoletto di Custoza is one of the vegetables that best represents the agriculture of the Veronese morainic hills. It is tied to seasonal, local production, often maintained by small family farms that have grown this variety for generations. For the local community it signals the agricultural winter and the home cooking of the area. Simple dishes such as risottos or soups with broccoletto are part of everyday tradition and the gastronomic memory of the region.