Grower
Seasons/Availability
Purple Cauliflower makes sporadic appearances in the fall stretching into late spring.
Current Facts
Farmers are producing exciting new and delicious varieties of cauliflower that delight this vegetable's fans. Broccoflower is the newest member of the family and is a cross between cauliflower and broccoli.
Description/Taste
Resembling white cauliflower only in shape and size, attractive purple cauliflower offers a flavor similar to broccoli. This gourmet cauliflower cooks quicker than white cauliflower. Chefs love it for its vivid presentation qualities and good taste.
Nutritional Value
An excellent source of vitamin C, cauliflower contains folate, potassium and dietary fiber. Purple varieties provide some vitamin A. Low in calories and sodium, three florets contain about 13 calories. Eating five daily servings of fruits and vegetables lowers the chances of cancer. A recent study found that eating nine or ten daily servings of fruits and vegetables, combined with three servings of low-fat dairy products, were effective in lowering blood pressure.
Applications
To prepare whole, carefully remove ends. Simmer or steam until tender; season. Steaming is best for protecting its color. Ideal for salads, cook florets halfway; refresh in ice water. Drizzle cooked florets with lemon butter and chives. Omelets and quiches love this vegetables tasty company. Add to relishes. Make pickles. Drizzle hot steamed florets with a cheese sauce. Enjoy raw as a snack. Add to vegetable trays with dip. To store, place unwashed cauliflower in a plastic perforated bag; refrigerate in crisper drawer. For best quality, use within one to three days.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
A popular recipe in northern Indian cuisine bakes the whole cauliflower covered with yogurt and spices. Another favorite recipe of this region uses finely chopped cauliflower, with the water squeezed out, fried with spices and used as a spicy filling for crisp pastries and unleavened bread. Used less frequently elsewhere in Asia, cauliflower is used as a substitute for Chinese broccoli.
Geography/History
Actually a type of broccoli, purple cauliflower resembles cauliflower in its appearance. During its early stages of growth, cauliflower looks very much like broccoli, its closest of kin. Both are cruciferous vegetables, but cauliflower forms a compact head of undeveloped flowers while broccoli grows outward and produces bunches of green florets. From planting to harvest, purple cauliflower matures in about eighty to ninety days. Rather finicky, the plants require rich fertile soil, plenty of moisture and moderate temperatures. Cauliflower does not do well in climates that exceed seventy-five degrees Fahrenheit or where winter temperatures drop below twenty-five degrees Fahrenheit. Cauliflower grows in three basic colors: white, the most popular, green and purple, a gorgeous violet color that turns green when cooked.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
Featured Recipes
Recipes that include Purple Cauliflower. One
is easiest, three is harder.
