Rainbow Carrots!? Do they all taste like regular carrots?
At any given market we could field this question a hundred times.!
Carrots have a long and interesting history, but there isn’t time for getting into that during a typical market exchange.
And what most people asking the question care about is the flavor and nutrition of these well known roots.
All the colors of carrots do taste like carrots in one way or another.
Yellow is by far the sweetest.
Orange has that classic carrot flavor with a sweet depth that only careful, small scale farming can produce.
Purple range ones have hints of the carrot’s well know sweetness with some rich, earthy undertones.
Pairing Purple
My advice to people curious about these colorful roots is be adventurous.
Buy a bunch or pint of rainbow carrots and try some!
The other other big difference is that the pigment of the orange and yellow carrots are well behaved.
The purples not so much.
The Carrot Museum of the UK is the authority in regard to the story of all things carrot.
They explain that purple carrots get their pigment from anthocyanins.
These pigments act as powerful antioxidants that protect key cell components, grabbing and holding on to harmful free radicals in the body.
Anthocyanins also been noted in helping prevent heart disease by slowing blood clotting and are good anti inflammatory agents.
But unfortunately it also has the power color your meals in an “off” sort of way.
Be warned that most people won’t find the dispersed version of this powerful pigment all that appealing if you get too adventurous in the kitchen.
I’ve had my share of blueish, purplish, or gray tinted meals because as a small farm with a big family to feed I often use what’s around to cook with.
But it’s not always the ideal pairing for picture perfect meals.
So here’s my advice for paring purple carrots.
Enjoy them raw in salads.
Steam them on their own or with other carrots.
Saute them on their own or with other carrots.
Highlight their beauty with half moons, carrot coins, create carrot ribbons with a potato peeler or even create an extra garnish with a microplaner.
Follow these tips and you’ll enjoy delicious colorful meals without the culinary drawbacks from the strong pigments.
Tag us in your rainbow carrot Instagram posts @humblehillfarm , looking forward to seeing what you create!