Autumn's weirdly colored vegetables
Autumn has arrived and with it brings an array of colorful vegetables to brighten up your kitchen. Purple cauliflower? Blue corn? We didn't make these up!
Orange and purple cauliflower
The purple cauliflower takes its color from the antioxidant anthocyanin, which is also found in red cabbage and red wine. The orange cauliflower is caused by beta-carotene, a which the body turns into Vitamin A. It originates from a natural mutation in a Canadian cauliflower field. The colorful cauliflowers have a slightly nutty flavor.
Golden zucchini
The golden zucchini — or courgette — is just a yellow version of the green zucchini, but its sunny hue might bring some cheer to your kitchen as the colder months approach. Some say it has a slightly sweeter flavor than its green relative but that remains up for debate — try it for yourself and see!
Purple carrots
Purple carrots might seem a bit odd, but it is thought that carrots were originally purple or white until a mutation removed the purple pigmentation, leaving behind a yellow-hued root vegetable that later developed into the orange carrot we know today. Now, you can find carrots in a wide range of colors, from purple to orange to yellow.
Rainbow chard
Chard is a part of the goosefoot family, appropriately named because the leaves resemble the shape of a goose’s foot. It is a nutritional powerhouse, with high levels of vitamins A, K and C, as well as dietary minerals including magnesium, iron and potassium. The leafy vegetable comes in variations of pink, purple, red, yellow, orange and white.
Blue corn
Blue corn is mostly grown in the southwestern United States and Mexico, where it is a staple of traditional foods. It takes it natural color from anthocyanins, the same pigment contained in blueberries. Not only do blue corn chips and tortillas look more fun, they are higher in protein than their yellow corn counterparts.
Purple potatoes
Don't be fooled by the colorful appearance of these spuds – they taste just like regular potatoes! This purple wonder is native to Peru and Bolivia but now it's not uncommon to find them in western supermarkets. Potatoes are often selectively bred for their flesh color, which can be gold, red and blue. This is achieved by adding phytochemicals, chemical compounds produced by plants.