Do you know what kale, broccoli, cabbage, kohlrabi and cauliflower have in common? They are all Brassicas, one of the most commonly eaten plant families around the world.

Brassicas are sometimes called cruciferous vegetables because the leaves of most plants in this family grow in opposite pairs and form a cross. You are eating Brassicas when you chomp down on radishes – those are the roots. When you eat cabbage, kale and arugula, those are the leaves. Broccoli and cauliflower are the flowers. Kohlrabi, bok choy and gai-lan (Chinese broccoli) are stems.

Here are some tips on how to buy a few of the most common varieties:

Arugula, spinach, bok choy, mustard or turnip greens – choose bright green, crisp leaves.

Turnips, rutabagas and other roots – buy firm, solid roots that are heavy for their size.

Kohlrabi, Brussels sprouts, cabbage – look for tight heads/buds. For kohlrabi and Brussels sprouts, smaller is better.

Broccoli, cauliflower – choose tender, firm stalks and tight buds. Cauliflower shouldn’t have dark marks.

What’s even better is this veggie family is high in vitamin C, A and K, and has lots of fiber. People who eat a lot of them have lower cancer rates. Preparing them with flavorful, low-salt recipes will make them heart- and kidney-friendly, too!

Patricia Hailey's Kale and Turnip Greens
A winning recipe from the 2008 Northwest Kidney Centers “Food for the Soul” recipe contest. Find the complete cookbook at www.nwkidney.org.

1/2 cup olive oil
1 pound kale, chopped
1 pound turnip greens, chopped (mustard greens work also)
1 onions, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tomatoes, chopped

Wash kale and greens thoroughly. Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add onions and cook until soft. Add garlic, then tomatoes. Cook over medium-low heat, uncovered for 5 minutes. Meanwhile, chop greens. Lay greens over tomato mixture, cover with lid and cook for 15 minutes or until all greens are wilted.

Makes 10 servings.

Nutrient information (per ½ cup serving): calories: 57, carbohydrates: 8 g, protein: 2 g, sodium: 33 mg

Broccoli with Hollandaise sauce

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 ½ pounds broccoli florets
2 egg yolks
½ cup butter or margarine
1 tablespoon lemon juice
½ teaspoon white wine vinegar
Dash paprika
Dash cayenne pepper

Cut broccoli into bite-size pieces. Put in fry pan and sauté with olive oil about 5 minutes, until broccoli turns bright green. Cover and cook about 5 more minutes. Meanwhile, place egg yolk and half the butter/margarine on top of a double boiler. Cook over hot, not boiling, water and stir until butter melts. Once mixture begins to thicken, add the remaining butter, stirring constantly. When all the butter is melted, remove top of pan from water and stir quickly for about 2 minutes. Gradually add wine vinegar, lemon juice, paprika and cayenne pepper, stirring constantly. Place pan over hot water again, stir sauce until thick, 2-3 minutes. Serve immediately over broccoli. If sauce curdles, quickly beat in 1-2 tablespoons of boiling water.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrient information (per serving): calories: 105, carbohydrates: 10 g, protein: 6 g, sodium 50 mg

Kale and Chard Egg Bake

4 cups fresh kale and Swiss chard, mixed
2 cups rice, cooked
1 cup cheese, cheddar or Swiss, grated
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1/3 cup milk
2 tablespoons onion, chopped
½ teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon fresh rosemary and/or basil, chopped

Remove leaves from stems of kale. Chop Swiss chard finely. Mix all ingredients. Pour into greased baking dish. Bake at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, until knife inserted comes out clean.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrient information (per serving): calories: 347, carbohydrates: 31 g, protein: 15 g, sodium: 322 mg

Collard Greens

½ tablespoon olive oil
½ onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large bunch collard greens, stems removed
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 ½ cups low-sodium, fat free chicken broth
2 tablespoons vinegar

Heat oil over medium heat. Add onions and garlic and cook until soft (do not brown). Add ¼ of the greens and toss with onions and garlic. When greens are wilted, add remaining greens in batches until all are added and wilted. Mix in black pepper and red pepper flakes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes or until tender. The broth should be almost completely reduced. Sprinkle with vinegar before serving.

Makes 4 servings.

Nutrient information (per serving): calories: 51, carbohydrates: 5 g, protein: 3 g, sodium: 35 mg

Katy G. Wilkens is a registered dietitian and department head at Northwest Kidney Centers. She has a Master of Science degree in nutritional sciences from the University of Washington.