Comments on: Purple Broccoli

By: Marketman

Marketman — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 04:53:56 +0000

I would have to say it tastes closer to cauliflower or perhpas its just the texture that is the defining factor… the heads are much tighter than green broccoli…

By: suzette

suzette — Fri, 22 Jul 2005 08:39:10 +0000

looks like more of purple cauliflower to me… by the way,what does it taste like? broccoli or cauliflower?

By: bugsybee

bugsybee — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 14:16:54 +0000

This is the first time I’ve seen one, too, but since I am a big fan of broccoli, I’ll certainly give that purple one a try.

By: Marketman

Marketman — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 03:44:11 +0000

Yes, the florets are extremely tightly formed, more akin to cauliflower and some vendors do say this is purple cauliflower, but if you look it up in the reference books… the story gets more complicated: cauliflower (Brassica oliracea, Botrytis group) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea, Cymosa group)are both members of the cabbage family and are very closely related. Both are formed when flowers form on the “cabbage” plant but for some reason stop at the bud stage. Botanists have great difficulty differentiating between a cauliflower and a broccoli. Having said that, the tighter heads of buds argue for a more purple “cauliflower” description while the color and botanical police would push for a more purple “broccoli” description. It is posited that broccoli came first, then mutants formed cauliflower so basically, EVERYONE is probably partially correct!!! How’s that for Marketman wiggling himself out of a thorny issue??? Enjoy your purple cauliflower or broccoli. Thanks for being so vigilant!

By: stef

stef — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 20:51:25 +0000

hmmm… that looks a lot like the Graffiti cauliflower I tried to grow this year. “tried” because the rabbits keep getting to the little seedlings before i do. grrrr

By: Jean

Jean — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 04:42:00 +0000

Wow! What will Martha Stewart say about this?!

By: celiaK

celiaK — Mon, 11 Jul 2005 00:44:41 +0000

I’ve seen purple beans but this is the first time I’ve seen purple broccoli. Amazing! But is it really a broccoli? ‘Coz the florets seems to be too packed together like a cauliflower.

By: schatzli

schatzli — Sun, 10 Jul 2005 16:49:36 +0000

This is very popular here in Athens, exactly the same taste as the sprouting brocolli. But not exactly this shade of purple, darker but the stems are green. I will just send you an email once I find this at the local market but you
have to wait till autumn.

We just steam it and served either with lemon and olive oil
or steam then bake briefly either with bechamel or just cheese.

Hmmm am thinking of brocolli soup with STILTON!