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    You are here: Home / Recipes / Colors & Seasons / All Things Purple Potatoes

    All Things Purple Potatoes

    Sep 22, 2020 · 27 Comments

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    Purple potatoes really are a MORE NUTRITIOUS POTATO packed with antioxidants!  

    Learn all about these brightly colored purple-licious spuds and enjoy tons of images celebrating their beauty!

    Small purple potatoes cut intro rounds, rounds are on a black baking sheet sprinkled with salt and overhead shot.
    little purple potatoes cut intro rounds

    What are Purple Potatoes & Where are They From?

    Purple potatoes is a general all-encompassing name that refers to all potato varieties that are… purple!!! This includes conventional, hybrid and heirloom varieties. Their purple color ranges from deep, saturated, solid purple to a blue-purple, a violet-purple and a more marbled white-purple appearance. 

    Like other members of the potato family (Solanum tuberosum), purple potatoes come from a tuber plant native to the Andes mountain region in South America. They are native to Peru and Bolivia; spread to Europe in the 16th century via Spanish sailors and were introduced in the US in the mid 1980’s. 

    Today, purple potatoes are commercially cultivated in South America, North America, and Europe. 

    Daniela Gerson holding a cast iron skillet with purple potatoes cut in half on a white background; overhead shot.
    Really stoked on my purple potatoes! This variety is called Magic Molly.

    Purple potatoes are sometimes referred to as blue potatoes.

    What do Purple Potatoes Taste Like

    Purple potatoes taste similar to a regular russet potato. Their texture is less starchy and moister, and their flavor is slightly nuttier and earthier. 

    Thinly sliced pink, purple and white potato rounds; tossed with olive oil, sat and pepper; overhead shot.
    all the pretty potato colors!

    Why are Purple Potatoes more Nutritious than other Potatoes?

    The natural plant pigment that gives potatoes their purple color, anthocyanin, also acts as an antioxidant!

    It is precisely this high antioxidant content that’s the significant health difference between purple and other potatoes: purple potatoes contain about 4 times as many antioxidants as Russet potatoes! And there’s a slew of health benefits that result from these antioxidants.

    Little purple potatoes cut into wedges with a few white potatoes on the baking sheet as well; overhead shot.
    the purple wedges are the healthiest wedges!

    Potatoes often get a bad rap because of their high starch content, but they contain loads of important nutrients and all potatoes are naturally high in potassium. The extra antioxidants make the potassium even more useful and effective than in other potato varieties. Purple potatoes are similar to the Russet potato in calories, protein, and carbs. 

    Eating purple potatoes can be a very healthy addition to your diet and is a wonderful way to boost your antioxidant intake and reduce inflammation!

    Purple, pink and white fingerling potatoes cut in half with olive oil, salt, pepper, rosemary, oregano, garlic and a few carrots, all mixed together on a sheet pan; overhead shot.
    purple fingerlings

    Purple Potato Season & Availability 

    They may have been rare in the past, but these day you can find purple potatoes at most major supermarkets and of course, my preferred place to shop for produce, the farmers markets!

    Purple Potatoes are available year-round, with peak season in the fall. 

    Daniela Gerson holding a cast iron skillet with purple potatoes cut in half on a black background; overhead shot.
    this variety is called Magic Molly

    Purple Potato Varieties

    There’s dozen varieties of purple potatoes

    There are over 3,500 varieties of potatoes (whoa #diversity!!!) and dozens of varieties of purple potatoes. Although you won’t find most of these outside of Peru and Bolivia there’s still quite a range of variety that you can indeed find!

    Purple potatoes come on all sorts of shapes and sizes.

    The most common varieties include: 

    • All Blue
    • Purple Peruvian
    • Magic Molly
    • Purple Majesty
    • Adirondack Blue
    • Purple Fiesta
    • Vitelotte
    • Purple Pelisse
    • Brigus
    • Michigan Purple
    • Purple Eyes
    • Purple Viking
    • Congo

    All Blue is the most commonly marketed purple potato and the one you’ll most likely find at the supermarket. Vines of this purple potato produce large, oblong potatoes with purple skin and flesh, with a light-colored layer just inside the skin. They are dry and mealy when baked and best for mashing and other cooked potato dishes. 

    Smashed purple, pink and white potatoes on a baking sheet; pre-oven & overhead shot.
    smashed potatoes in the making!

    How to Cook Purple Potatoes 

    Cook purple potatoes in all the same ways you’d cook non-purple potatoes! 

    Just like other potatoes, the skins are completely edible and filled with nutrients. 

    Best methods for cooking purple potatoes include boil, bake, braise, mash, grill, roast, fry and smash.

    They are versatile; generally, have a medium starch content and hold their shape quite well.

    If you make a purple potato creation I’d love to hear about it and see it too! Please leave a comment below and take a pic and tag it on Instagram with #chefdanielagerson.

    If a recipe calls for potatoes, purple potatoes can DEFINITELY be used!

    Purple Potato Photo Gallery

    • Par-boiled purple potatoes smashed on a gold(ish) baking sheet; sprinkled with flaky salt and overhead shot.
      par-boiled & smashed purple potatoes
    • Purple smashed potatoes just out of the oven; on gold(ish) baking sheet and overhead shot.
      smashed purple potatoes just out of the oven!
    • Crispy smashed purple, red and white potatoes, all done and overhead shot.
      smashed potatoes all done!
    • In process shot of roasting smashed purple, red and white potatoes; on a black baking sheet halfway thru cooking; overhead shot.
      halfway through roasting - time to flip over!
    • Smashed purple, pink and white potatoes drizzled with olive oil and flaky sea salt on black baking sheet; overhead shot.
      par-boiled and smashed potatoes
    Raw purple potatoes cut into wedges on a baking sheet; overhead shot.
    purple potatoes cut intro wedges
    • Purple potato wedges in a baking dish with chicken broth, oregano, and olive oil; overhead shot.
      with olive oil, broth and oregano
    • Purple potato wedge just out of the oven roasted with chicken broth, olive oil, oregano and lemon; overhead shot.
      all done!
    Purple potato wedges in a baking dish with chicken broth, oregano, olive oil and topped with lemon slices. Overhead shot.
    lemon slices added pre-oven

    And one of these days I'll tackle a Purple Hasselback Gratin!

    Hope this post inspired ya to add these vibrantly colored purple-licious beauties to your plate! You can also follow me on Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest to see more colorfully delicious, (especially purple-licious!) food and all sorts of awesome adventures!

    And if you're as stoked in purple produce as I am, you'll love this purple Brussels sprouts post!

    Let's make waves in the kitchen!

    Purple, red and white new potatoes cut in half; on a baking sheet, overhead shot.
    yes those purple are the healthiest ones!

    *And for some Purple Sweet Potato Images*

    • Raw purple sweet potatoes cut into thin wedges, overhead shot.
      purple sweet potatoes cut into wedges
    • Post oven purple sweet potato wedge shot; taken overhead.
      and roasted in the oven
    • Purple sweet potatoes wedges in a baking dish with green tahini in a bowl, sprinkled with salt, pepper and parsley; overhead shot.
      served with a green tahini
    • Purple sweet potato wedges in a white bowl served with chipotle aioli and sprinkled with salt, pepper, and parsley.
      purple sweet potato fries with chipotle aioli
    • Purple sweet potato mash! Served in a little black cast iron dish with an olive oil swirl; overhead shot.
      mashed purple sweet potatoes
    « All Things Cooking with Purple Brussels Sprouts
    Pomegranate Chicken »

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Jacqueline Gerson says

      September 28, 2020 at 12:57 pm

      Your purple potato picks are AMAZZZZING! Thanks si much for sharing! Saving this post as my purple potato go to spot! Thanks so much for sharing :)! 💜💜💜🥔💜

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        September 28, 2020 at 1:01 pm

        You are too cute Jacqui! Aren't purple potatoes simply stunning? And so super healthy too! I love them and really appreciate the feedback :).

        Reply
    2. Alex Gerson says

      September 29, 2020 at 11:39 am

      Daniela your images are absolutely STUNNING! I’ve never seen so many pretty purple potatoes images at one time and great job with all the info! Very well written post!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        September 29, 2020 at 11:40 am

        You are too cute Alex! Such a pleasure to receive your super sweet feedback! GRACIAS :)!

        Reply
    3. Lori | The Kitchen Whisperer says

      September 29, 2020 at 12:10 pm

      Can I tell you just how much I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post?! I love purple potatoes so much! They always get the 'wow' look when you serve them. I love them sliced thin on a pizza.

      Your pictures are fantastic and this is such a great post! So detailed!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        September 29, 2020 at 1:07 pm

        Thank ya so much Lori! And yessss exactly they are so stunning, add such an awesome pop of purple color and are healthier too! Your comment made my day ~ really appreciate it :-):):).

        Reply
    4. kerri says

      September 29, 2020 at 3:28 pm

      i never knew that there were SO MANY potato varieties. i haven't had a purple potato yet, but i'll definitely be trying them soon!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        September 29, 2020 at 4:25 pm

        Right?!?! That's cause the grocery stores tend to carry the same exact few varieties but yesssss there are soooo many! And ya gotta try the purple ones I think... love the color and they're the healthiest potato :)!

        Reply
    5. Amy says

      September 29, 2020 at 9:44 pm

      I love how vegetables can be so absolutely stunning without having to do much! Great photography! I have been trying to look for purple potatoes in Australia but they are proving to be elusive. I know they are so delicious too!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        September 30, 2020 at 2:43 pm

        Thank ya so much Amy and I'm sending ya my very best find some purple potatoes in Australia vibes :)! Hope ya find some soon and I'd absolutely love to see them when ya do! And absolutely positively agreed on the stunning-ness of veggies :)!

        Reply
    6. Jenny says

      September 30, 2020 at 9:14 am

      This is such an interesting and stunning post! Your images are beautiful and all the info you are providing is so good! I am so intrigued to use purple potatoes again, when I had in the past I did not appreciate how wonderful they are. Thank you so much for the lovely post.

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        September 30, 2020 at 2:42 pm

        Absolute pleasure Jenny! Really flattered and honored to read your super sweet feedback :). And yesssss def use purple potatoes again ~ they add so much awesome color and are an even healthier potato :)! Thanks so much for your comment!

        Reply
    7. Eileen Kelly says

      October 01, 2020 at 12:50 am

      So excited to find this recipe as I love purple potatoes. We get them at our local farm stand and I wanted more info. I added lemon wedges to them as you suggest and so good. I baked them with lemon wedges and added some zest and they were a hit.

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        October 01, 2020 at 7:24 pm

        Amazing Eileen! So stoked to hear that! The lemon juice helps them retain their purple-licious color :). Thanks so much for the sweet feedback!

        Reply
    8. Aleta says

      October 02, 2020 at 9:37 am

      Okay, I am totally in awe over your incredibly gorgeous photos! I had no idea purple potatoes were so much healthier than russets. I have always been drawn to them because, well, they are purple!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        October 02, 2020 at 10:58 am

        Thank ya so much Aleta! And yessss they really are healthier - what gives them their pretty purple-licious color also acts as an antioxidant... how rad is that! Loved your feedback ~ thank ya!

        Reply
    9. veenaazmanov says

      October 02, 2020 at 10:36 am

      Potatoes are always delicious. Have never tried Purple Potatoes ever. These look so colorful and vibrant. Thanks for so much of detailing to these nutritious and healthy purple potatoes.

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        October 02, 2020 at 10:46 am

        Absolute pleasure! Thanks so much for the super sweet feedback :). And if ya ever get the chance to try purple potatoes, I *highly* recommend!

        Reply
    10. Mama Maggie's Kitchen says

      October 04, 2020 at 12:14 am

      I really love Purple Potatoes! They are delicious and totally healthy. Perfect for my family.

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        October 04, 2020 at 10:40 pm

        Yaya + me too! Love the color and they really are a more nutritious potato! Win-win situation :)!

        Reply
    11. Paula Montenegro says

      October 04, 2020 at 8:47 am

      I haven't tried purple potatoes and not only are they pretty, but they are a healthier alternative, I love that! I can't wait to look for them. I think they are available as mini potatoes around here, the Andean variety that come in all sorts of colors. Thanks for the info!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        October 04, 2020 at 10:45 pm

        Absolute pleasure Paula and yes I know that variety! And yes exactly - they're so stunning and they're color is so fun + they really are a healthier potato! Excited for you to try them :).

        Reply
    12. Gunjan says

      October 04, 2020 at 4:19 pm

      Haven’t seen them but your images are absolutely stunning. Thanks for sharing so much information about these.

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        October 04, 2020 at 10:43 pm

        Thank ya so much Gunjan! Really appreciate the sweet feedback and my images + crossing finger and toes that you'll score some purple taters soon :).

        Reply
    13. Jamie says

      October 04, 2020 at 8:29 pm

      Wow! This is such an informative post and I got so many recipe ideas from your gorgeous photos! I already saved a few to make for the upcoming holiday season. Now I'm off to buy some purple potatoes!

      Reply
      • Daniela Gerson says

        October 04, 2020 at 10:42 pm

        Hehehehe so stoked to hear that Jamie! Yessss def get your purple potato game on this Holiday season! And I'd love to see whatcha make with them :).

        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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