Romanesco

noun

Ro·​ma·​nes·​co ˌrō-mə-ˈne-(ˌ)skō 

variants or romanesco or less commonly Romanesco cauliflower or romanesco cauliflower or Romanesco broccoli or romanesco broccoli

plural Romanescos or romanescos also Romanesco cauliflowers or romanesco cauliflowers or Romanesco broccolis or romanesco broccolis

: a garden plant (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) that is a cultivar of the cauliflower and that has a thick stem and a compact head of bright green florets which grow in a spiraled pyramid shape

I've previously tried and failed to grow romanesco, planting it way too early so it bolted … but just the other day I noticed that a recent crop has started to produce tiny sculptural heads …

—Mark Hix

also : its flower cluster used as a vegetable

… I always feel bad breaking up the romanesco's beautiful spikes, preferring to cook them in a way that maintains their aesthetic identity.

—Ben Mims

To accessorize your meals, try … Romanesco cauliflower with lime-green florets arranged in stunning patterns.

—Self Healing

Examples of Romanesco in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Romanesco is a peculiar-looking vegetable with a taste that falls somewhere between broccoli and cauliflower and a crunch that the others lack. — Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 28 Aug. 2026

Romanesco, another variety, has smaller florets and a slightly sweeter taste. — Randi Gollin, Martha Stewart, 2 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Italian romanesco "of modern Rome or its inhabitants," from romano roman entry 2 + -esco -esque

First Known Use

1979, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Romanesco

• fresco