Kohlrabi

photo credit: gourmetsleuth

What is Kohlrabi?

Brassican oleracea. A member of the turnip family kohlrabi is sometimes referred to a a "cabbage turnip". It has a sweet, mild flavor and both the stems and bulb are edible.

Also known as a cabbage turnip the kohlrabi is a bulb looking vegetable bred from a wild cabbage. Both the leaves and the bulb portion are eaten. Use the bulb trimmed, peeled and sliced fresh in salads or it can be boiled or steamed. The leaves can be cooked and served as well as you would chard. The kohlrabi shown is purple but the more common version is green/white.

I like kohlrabi cut into slices and lightly salted for a crunchy fresh snack or sliced and added to a crisp salad. the sleuth..

Substitute for Kohlrabi

turnips, white radish, broccoli stems

Equivalents

2lbs = 3 1/2 cups cubed cooked
2 lbs = 4 med. bulbs

metric conversions →

Cabbage

Origin And History

It is unclear from where kohlrabi originates but mentions of this vegetable date back to the 1st century AD. Kohlrabi gets its name from the German words Kohl which means cabbage and Rapa which means turnip because early on it was believed (incorrectly) that the vegetable was a cross between the two.

The vegetable is eaten in Germany, central Europe and even in parts of India, China and Southeast Asia.

Varieties

The two common varieties of kohlrabi are white and purple with not much difference in flavor between the two.

Uses

Kohlrabi can be eaten sliced thin, raw in salads but is more typically steamed or used in stir-fries. It can also be boiled and mashed like a potato. The flavor is considerably enhanced with cooking.

Storage

Store for 4 days tightly wrapped, refrigerated.

Where To Find

Available from April to October in most grocery stores.

Nutrition Information For Kohlrabi

Serving Size

1 cup

Calories

Calories from Fat

% Daily Value^*

Total Fat 0g

Saturated Fat 0g

Cholesterol 0mg

Sodium 27mg

Potassium

473g

10%

Total Carbohydrate 8g

Dietary Fiber 5g

20%

Sugars 4g

Protein 2g

Vitamin A 0%	•	Vitamin C 0%
Calcium 0%	•	Iron 0%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

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