Purple Versatile Vegetable

Dan Vegetables


Do you want to add a little pzazz to your plate or salad? Cathy Isom tells us about the versatile vegetable with an eye-catching color. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.

Download Purple Versatile Vegetable

If you’re looking to add more color to your dinner plate, I recommend keeping your eye out at your local grocery store for the purple cauliflower. Also known as the Graffitti cauliflower, because it can range from pastel to a deep purple.

Other names for purple cauliflower include Sicilian Violet or Violet Queen, which also depend on how brightly colored the head is. Purple cauliflower’s color comes from a little antioxidant called anthocyanin, which is also found in red wine and other purple veggies. Like regular cauliflower, purple cauliflower is an excellent source of Vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, fiber, and antioxidants. While the outside part of purple cauliflower is colorful, the core is white or pastel. Purple cauliflower has the same firm texture and crumbly florets as regular cauliflower. And, their flavors are very similar, but purple cauliflower tends to be a little bit sweeter, nuttier, and have a less bitter taste. Cooking with purple cauliflower is similar to cooking with regular cauliflower and just as versatile. It will also be very pleasing to the eye on your plate when it’s set down on the table. So pretty, it may be hard to eat it! There are tons of recipes online to choose from. Use it for pizza crust, to brighten up salads, in hummus, or as a centerpiece. There’s even a recipe using cauliflower as a dessert!

I’m Cathy Isom…