Purple Cauliflower

The vibrancy of purple cauliflower can range from pastel to a deep purple, which is also called Grafitti cauliflower. 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 a good 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. Generally, their flavors are very similar, but purple cauliflower has been described as having a sweeter, nuttier, and less bitter taste. When selecting purple cauliflower, choose a head that is firm, feels heavier than it looks, has tightly packed florets, and is free from as many blemishes as possible. Fresh-looking, vibrant leaves are a good indicator of a cauliflower that has been harvested more recently. To store it, trim the leaves (wash and keep the leaves for salad, to cut down on food waste), place it in a plastic back, and store it in your high-humidity crisper drawer for up to seven days.

Unfortunately, this beautiful cruciferous veg is still scarce in the produce aisle of everyday grocery stores. Your best bet for finding purple cauliflower is likely grocery stores such as Whole Foods that tend sell a lot of specialty ingredients. Or better yet, find out where your local farmer’s market is! Many farmer’s markets are now connected through social media so you can find out which farms will be attending and what produce they will be carrying. If you find out that a local farm is going to bring purple cauliflower to the next market, we advise that you plan to show up right when it opens because everyone will want to go home with one.

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