Purple Kale Varieties

Purple kale varieties

REDBOR KALE: The stunner of the bunch, Redbor kale has dramatic purple tightly frilled leaves and a mild, crisp flavor.

What is the difference between purple kale and regular kale?

Turns out purple kale is even better than the green variety because it contains anthocyanins which are responsible for the purple colour (the same nutrient that blueberries and cranberries contain), which have even more powerful antioxidant properties.

Does purple kale taste different?

Compared to green or black kale, purple kale tends to have a more intense cabbage-y flavor, making it an ideal addition for hearty soups and pasta. And of course, purple kale features a beautiful, deep color that makes it stand out in the kitchen.

What is the best tasting variety of kale?

Red (or Red Russian) Kale — often has red-hued stems. The leaves are flatter than those of curly kale (resembling arugula leaves) and can be green or gray-green in color. Red kale is often considered the sweetest kale, which makes it perfect for eating raw.

Does purple kale taste different than green kale?

Purple kale produces serrated and ruffled vibrant purple leaves that are variegated in shades of dusty green. This attractive vegetable offers a very robust cabbage flavor more intense than that of green or black kale.

Does purple kale come back every year?

A biennial (2-year) plant, kale produces leaves in the first year, and then, in the next year (or sometimes late in the first year), it will form a flower stalk. The stalk forms flowers and then seeds. Once the seeds mature, the plant dies.

What is the healthiest kale to eat?

To begin, Tuscan kale, like all kales, is extraordinarily nutritious: a cup provides more than 100 percent of the daily value (DV) of vitamins K and A, and 88 percent of the DV for vitamin C.

Can you eat purple kale raw?

This type of kale is bright purple, with leaves that closely resemble curly kale, though not as tightly curled. Slightly sweeter than curly or Tuscan kale, purple kale adds color to any dish and handles cooked and raw preparations with ease.

What is purple kale good for?

As with it's green counterpart, purple kale is rich in vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, C + K. Research has also proven that eating kale can help in detoxing and cleansing the system, making it the perfect partner to other detoxing foods (cucumber and lemon) in your green juice.

What takes the bitterness out of kale?

Minced garlic, olive oil, and salt are also simple ingredients that can transform the flavor of a bitter kale dish. Cutting the stem of kale and marinating it with olive oil and salt can help reduce bitterness. Let it marinate in the fridge for at least 24 hours for better tenderness and less bitterness.

Which kale is the least bitter?

Tuscan Kale Its flavor is deep and earthy — it's less bitter than curly leafed, with an almost-nutty sweetness.

What kind of kale is best for salads?

Best Kale for Salads: You can use curly, Redbor, Red Russian or baby kale in salads such as Kale Avocado Salad, Kale Quinoa Salad or Harvest Kale Salad. Just make sure to massage the leaves with some lemon or citrus juice beforehand, baby kale being the exception.

What is the hardiest kale variety?

napus kales are also the hardiest, surviving to at least 10 degrees, and the Western Front variety is especially so.

What is the hardiest kale?

Red Russian is the most cold tolerant of the kale varieties, and some say, it is the sweetest. In Zones 5-10, it will easily last throughout the winter, and, the more frosts it is exposed to the sweeter it gets.

What is the best kale to grow?

13 of the Best Kale Varieties for the Home Garden

Redbor.
Red Russian. ...
Red Ursa. ...
Red Winter. ...
Scarlet. ...
Tronchuda Beira Hybrid. ...
Vates Blue Scots Curled. ...
White Russian. 'White Russian' has blue-green oak-style leaves with white ribs and slightly ruffled edges.

How do you clean purple kale?

How to wash kale

Soak chopped kale in a large bowl or container of ice water.
Use a slotted spoon to remove the kale to a colander or salad spinner insert. ...
Repeat this process if the kale is particularly dirty.
Then, rinse the kale under cold running water.
Finally, use a salad spinner to dry the kale thoroughly.

What is the most tender kale?

Tuscan Kale aka Lacinato Kale aka Dinosaur Kale This is the kale we love to cook—and not cook—the most. It has a deeper color and is slightly thinner and more tender than curly kale, making it more versatile—it cooks more quickly and requires less massaging for use in raw preparations.

Why does massaging kale make it taste better?

Massaging kale for salad makes the vegetable more palatable by releasing its bitter compounds and—as a result—making the kale less bitter. This simple process breaks down the vegetable's fibrous texture, making it more tender, easier to chew, and more digestible.

What month do you plant kale?

Plant Your Kale It grows best in the spring and fall and can tolerate fall frosts. So the best time to plant is about 1 month before your last frost date in spring and 6 weeks before your first frost date in fall.

Does purple kale need full sun?

Kale grows best in full sun, but will tolerate partial shade as well. Plants that receive fewer than 6 hours of sun daily will not be as stocky or leafy as those that get ample sun, but they will still be plenty edible! Like collards, kale likes fertile soil to grow fast and produce tender leaves.