Home > Relish Austin > Archives > 2011 > May > 23 > Entry
Think spuds are boring? You haven’t tried purple potatoes
You don’t have to have a 4-year-old at home to get excited about purple potatoes.
Johnson’s Backyard Garden was selling them at the Wednesday afternoon farmers’ market at the Triangle two weeks ago, and I bought some to make into a potato salad for our Austin Food Blogger Alliance potluck.
(I figured I could get away with bringing a plain jane potato salad to a food blogger potluck only if there was some other noteworthy element, such as indigo-colored potatoes and backyard chicken eggs.)
Now, there are purple sweet potatoes and purple Peruvian potatoes, but these were purple majesty, a variety that was developed at Colorado State University to have higher levels of anthocyanin. (This flavonoid “has been shown in studies to possess anti-cancer and heart-protective effects, as well as benefits such as boosting the immune system and protecting against age-related memory loss,” reports the Chicago Tribune.)
Purple potatoes of any variety make beautiful chips and a gorgeous frittata. Just like other potatoes, they roast up nicely and can be deep fried. A squeeze of lemon juice will help them keep their color in things like fork-crushed potatoes. (El Arbol even has whipped purple potatoes on its menu.)
Johnson’s Backyard Garden, which just announced that it is expanding its community-supported agriculture program to include home delivery for an additional $5 per box per week, will have purple potatoes at its many farmers market stands for the next few weeks.
Keep your eyes peeled for them, though. Other local farms might be selling them, but I can’t say for sure which ones or at which markets.
(Didn’t mean to throw that pun in there, but on the heels of the 34th annual O. Henry Pun-Off in Austin, I think I’ll let it slide.)
Permalink | Comments (0) | Post your comment Categories: Cooking, Eating locally
Comments
When commenting, we ask that you keep things civil and abide by our Visitor Agreement. To report comment abuse, click here.