I have no problem admitting my basis for odd colored foods, particular purple ones – purple carrots, purple Brussels sprouts, purple snow peas, purple potatoes and of course purple cauliflower. Out of all of those I think purple cauliflower may be the prettiest (the potatoes come in a close second). I was specially inspired when I spotted a huge head of bright, vivid purple cauliflower at my local farmer’s market going for just 3 dollars. Jackpot! It was enough to serve my wife and I as a side dish for 2 nights and that was just using half of it.
“Grape Cauliflower?
It’s purple, does it taste like purple? Many of us grew up on purple iced treats on a stick that tasted well purple (some kind of fake grape flavor). Rest assured purple cauliflower does not taste like grape. It’s breathtaking purple color is all natural too unlike that other purple stuff. No GMO either.
Does Purple Cauliflower Really Taste Different?
To answer the question that brought you here – my eyes may say that purple cauliflower should taste different but my tongue has never agreed. I have never dedicated a significant different in purple cauliflower. The purple cauliflower I have bought at the farmer’s market has been surprior in quality to the store bought I have purchased in the past.
How to Cook Purple Cauliflower
By far I believe the only way to cook cauliflower is to roast it. Cauliflower needs a longer cooking time than it’s cousin broccoli to really reach it’s full potential. I like to use a lot of strong spices – roasted cumin seeds, smoked paprika, ground mustard, and freshly cracked black pepper. The cauliflower really absorbs the flavor of the spice as it cooks. A couple other options are cheesy roasted cauliflower, like Alton Brown’s Cauliflower Say Cheese or my Roasted Cauliflower with Tahini (as seen in photo above).
The texture is so much better roasted than boiled. I would only boil cauliflower now if I was going to puree it for a mash or sauce. Boiled cauliflower tends to water log and taste bland.
Can I Serve Purple Cauliflower Raw?
Absolutely. What a way to liven up a veg tray. Try a combination of purple, white, orange if you really want to knock your next guest’s socks off.
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