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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Colors & Seasons / Purple Cauliflower

    Purple Cauliflower

    Dec 28, 2022 · 2 Comments

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    Purple cauliflower is a general all-encompassing name for all varieties of cauliflower whose heads are purple, from light lavender to dark violet. 

    mini heads of purple cauliflower

    What is Purple Caulilower?

    Exactly what is sounds like: a general name for cauliflower whose heads are… purple!

    All-encompassing name used for all purple cauliflower varieties – and there’s lots!

    Varieties include: Sicilian Violet, Violet Queen, Purple Cape, Mulberry Cauliflower and more.

    There’s a wide purple cauliflower range; from light, pastel lavender to violet and dark purple.

    Within each variety, there’s a range tone and hue and from subtle to vibrant. The strength of the purple pigment’s vibrancy is directly affected by the amount of sunlight the heads receive during cultivation.

    raw purple cauliflower broken into florets, overhead

    Scientifically & Botanically

    Scientific name: Brassica oleracea var. botrytis.

    Botanically: hybrid variety in the Brassicaceae family.

    Purple cauliflower is a hybrid variety within the Brassicaceae family and botanically classified as Brassica oleracea var. botrytis. Just like all cauliflower varieties in all colors.

    purple cauliflower florets, pickled and blanched, in different shades of purple; overhead
    shades of purple cauliflower

    What Makes the Cauliflower Purple?

    Purple cauliflower gets its coloring from anthocyanin, a natural plant pigment.

    Fruits & veggies gets their colors from natural plant pigments.

    There's almost 2,000 known natural plant pigments and about 640 anthocyanins.

    Anthocyanins: the natural plant pigments responsible for the colors purple, red, and blue in fruits & veggies.

    Examples of other fruits & veggies with anthocyanins: red cabbage, purple potatoes, blueberries, cranberries, purple carrots, red or purple grapes and more.

    Anthocyanins are also powerful antioxidants.

    Since purple fruits and veggies are rich in anthocyanins, a powered antioxidant, they’re often healthier than their non-purple counterpart!

    Purple cauliflower is healthier than its non-purple counterparts!

    That’s also true with purple potatoes and more fruits & veggies too.

    purple cauliflower florets and purple Brussel sprouts
    purple cauliflower and brussel sprouts

    Purple cauliflower varieties have been developed through natural breeding techniques, not through genetic modification.

    Note: Purple cauliflower is not genetically modified

    Cauliflower Colors
    Orange: carotenoids
    Green: extra chlorophyll
    Purple: anthocyanin

    purple, green, orange and white cauliflower florets, separated by color, in silver bowls
    all the cauliflower colors

    Purple Cauliflower History

    Purple cauliflower was developed through years of traditional crossbreeding between heirloom varieties and natural mutations discovered in fields.

    Believed to be native to the Northeastern Mediterranean, the original color was white. As time went on, different varieties came about either through cross-pollination, or were developed through a natural mutation and later perfects.

    During the Middle Ages, white cauliflower was primarily grown on the island of Cyprus; introduced to Western Europe by the 13th century and to Northern Europe, Asia, and North America by the early 19th century.

    In the 20th century, orange cauliflower was discovered in North America. By the late 20th century, purple and green cauliflower varieties were released.

    By the early 21st century, orange, green and purple cauliflower varieties became/were prevalent at farmer’s markets and can be found year-round through specialty grocers, wholesalers, and farmer’s markets in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. 

    Today, purple cauliflower is commercially cultivated in South America, North America, and Europe. 

    Today, there’s hundreds of varieties in various shades of purple, orange, green, and white.

    Orange cauliflower, the first color, was seen growing naturally in a field in Canada in the 1970’s. It took years of crossbreeding before it was widely available. Purple was developed through years of traditional crossbreeding between heirloom varieties and natural mutations discovered in fields.

    purple cauliflower florets in black bowl

    FOOD TASTES BEST GROWN IN ITS SEASON

    California is the major cauliflower producing state in the United States and grows about 90% of the supply.

    Cauliflower is a cool-season crop. Most types are best as a mid-summer planting for fall harvest. Peak season is September through November.

    Purple cauliflower is available year-round, with a peak season in the fall through winter.

    Buying & Storing

    Where to buy purple

    Check out your local farmers market in the fall (Sept-Nov)

    Purple cauliflower is commercially cultivated in South America, North America, and Europe. 

    Find it year-round in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia in specialty grocers, wholesalers, and farmer’s markets in . 

    Purple cauliflower is commerically grown year-round in California and easily found in the state.

    What to look for

    When picking up fresh purple cauliflower, look for densely packed florets without blemishes, with an even purple hue and fresh leaves.

    Look for a cauliflower heads that firm and with compact florets. It should feel heavy for its size.

    The purple hue can range from subtle to vibrant and light to dark purple. Although tone is not an indication of freshness, uniformity in color is. Avoid ones with a dull color.

    Fresh and vibrant leaves indicate a recent harvest. Wilted leaves indicate an older head of cauliflower.

    How to Store

    Store whole head of cauliflower in a loosely sealed plastic bag in the crisper drawer of the refrigerator for 3-5 days.

    Cauliflower needs air circulation - do not completely seal plastic bag.

    Tip: If you bought a plastic wrapped head of cauliflower at the supermarket, either loosen the knot or unwrap it completely and transfer to a loosely sealed plastic bag.  The tight wrap can trap moisture which promotes rot.

    Cooking with Purple Cauliflower

    Cook purple cauliflower just like… you would with white cauliflower!

    Use purple cauliflower interchangeably with white in any recipe or dish.

    Raw, pickled, or cooked, roasted, steamed, sauteed, grilled, mashed, riced, raw and more.

    There’s a whole wide cauliflower world out there!

    purple cauliflower florets on a baking sheet
    re-oven
    roasted purple cauliflower florets, on a black baking sheet, overhead
    post-oven

    Taste

    Purple cauliflower tastes just like… white cauliflower!

    The taste of purple cauliflower is mild, sweet and nutty, just like the orange, green and white varieties.

    Does it stay purple when cooked?

    In my experience, purple cauliflower does not stay very purple when cooked.

    Roasting, grilling, and sautéing turns it blue-ish.

    Steaming/boiling fades the purple color, dulling it significantly and turns it a bit brown-ish.

    How to help retain the vibrant purple color

    Pro tip: An ACID, like lemon juice and/or vinegar helps the preserve the purple color stay vibrant!

    Try adding a few splashes of lemon juice or vinegar to the pan when cooking or water when boiling purple cauliflower to help preserve its precious color and don’t overcook it!

    Pickling purple cauliflower turn the color hot pink-ish.

    blanched purple cauliflower on a baking sheet; overhead

    Want more purple produce posts? Check out this post on Purple Potatoes, and Purple Brussels Sprouts.

    Enjoy this post? I’d love to hear about it and see it too! Please leave a comment below and share it on Instagram with the tag @DanielaGerson! You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest to see more colorfully delicious food and all sorts of awesome adventures!

    Let's make waves in the kitchen!

    purple cauliflower florets on a black baking sheet
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Pattie Jackley says

      September 17, 2023 at 6:37 am

      This was a very interesting and informative post! Thank you!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        December 02, 2023 at 10:34 am

        Absolutely pleasure Pattie and so super stoked to hear your enjoyed it!

        Reply

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    Meet Daniela

    VEGGIES ARE SEXY 

    Hi, I'm Daniela - a Los Angeles based food photographer and creative director. I began my career as a chef with a passion for sourcing colorful produce from local markets. I love emphasizing the beauty of real food with my images. I’m also a food stylist and recipe developer with a gorgeous prop-filled studio in Venice, California.

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