Purple Carrots

Reaffirming my relationship with the OG carrot color — deeply purple and antioxidant-rich.

Carrots: most commonly orange, originally purple.

A row of purple carrots, with their leafy green tops, on a grey background.

A Quickie Carrot History

Carrots, native to Central Asia, were originally purple. For over 1,000 years, most carrots were purple — with the occasional white or yellow — long before orange became the default.

In the 16th century, Dutch growers bred the sweeter, beta-carotene-rich orange carrots we know today.

And that was that — orange gradually took over over the next 100–200 years, becoming the dominant variety.

I’m firmly on team bring back the OG, antioxidant-rich purple carrot.

Today there’s over 500 carrot varieties in shades of purple, red, orange, yellow, and white.

A row of purple carrots with their green leafy tops still on, on a light background.

What at Purple Carrots

Purple carrots are a broad term for carrots with naturally purple skin, including both heirloom and modern varieties. Their skins range from deep violet to almost black, while the interior can be purple, orange, or yellow.

Purple carrots are the original carrot color.

a row of purple carrots with their leafy green tops, on a dark background.

Why are Purple Carrots Purple?

Purple carrots get their color from anthocyanins — natural plant pigments that also act as antioxidants.

These pigments are responsible for the red, purple, and blue tones in foods like purple potatoes, purple cauliflower, and purple kale.

Because they’re rich in anthocyanins, purple carrots contain more antioxidants than other carrot varieties — I’m here for the color and will graciously take the health bonus.

Each carrot color comes from different natural pigments — for more on that, check out my post on rainbow carrots.

hand holding bunch of purple carrots with green tops.

Cooking with Purple Carrots

Cook with purple carrots just like you would with any other carrot.

The main difference — beyond color — is that purple carrots contain more anthocyanins than other varieties (not something you’ll actually taste).

Flavor-wise, the difference is subtle — slightly earthier, sometimes peppery — and most noticeable when raw.

Use them anywhere you’d use carrots: blended into carrot hummus to highlight their vibrant color, added to salads, shaved or baked into carrot tarts, or simply roasted as a side.

A row of purple carrots on dark background.

Purple Carrot Varieties

Purple carrots include both heirloom and modern varieties like Purple Haze, Cosmic Purple, Black Nebula, Purple Dragon, Purple Sun, and Deep Purple. They’re known for their deep violet skin and high anthocyanin content (a powerful antioxidant).

Inside, they can be orange, yellow, or fully purple — it varies by cultivar.

Sweetness can vary by variety — some, like Cosmic Purple or Deep Purple, can be quite sweet, though purple carrots aren’t generally as sweet as orange ones, they’re richer in antioxidants.

More Purple Veggies

If purple carrots caught your eye – you’re not alone. Purple veggies are kind of my love language. Check out these other preciously purple produce guides

Purple Cauliflower - the vibrant, antioxidant-packed cousin of classic white cauliflower.
Purple Potatoes – the antioxidant-rich members of the potato family.
Purple Brussel Sprouts - the sweeter, nuttier, antioxidant-rich cousin of the classic green sprout.
Purple Kale – the glam, antioxidant-rich version of classic green kale.
Radicchio - the vibrant purple veggie that brings bold color to winter cooking.

Carrot Recipes

If you’re looking for more carrot inspiration, check out these rainbow carrots and vibrant, seasonal carrot recipes below.

Carrot Hummus - - a bright carrot hummus that works wonderfully with every color of the carrot rainbow.
Shaved Carrot Tart – a bright cumin spiced savory carrot ricotta tart.
Roasted Carrots recipe – roasted on high heat until deeply caramelized.
Roasted Carrot Tart – savory carrot puff pastry with tangy goat cheese, creamy ricotta, spinach and fresh herbs.
Spring Pea & Carrot Salad - crunchy fresh veggies, garlicky homemade croutons, tangy feta and herbaceous pesto create a salad full of spring flavor.

If you've tried this recipe, I'd love to hear about it — leave a comment below and let me know, and tag me on IG, @danielagerson, so I can see too!

If you enjoyed this recipe, explore more seasonal recipes and colorful produce guides here on the site — there’s plenty more inspiration waiting for you.

Let’s make waves in the kitchen.