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Purple Broccoli Delivery or Pickup
The Instacart guide to purple broccoli
About purple broccoli
Purple broccoli is a strain of sprouting broccoli. It is native to the Central Asian and the Eastern Mediterranean regions, was initially cultivated in Italy, and the first evidence of its use dates from around the first century AD, in the Italian region of Calabria. It first became widely known in the late 20th century, when two English growers started selecting more resistant plants and offered a better taste and started commercializing them.
The main reason why it is not as often encountered as other strains of broccoli is that it takes an unusually long time to grow, as it is planted in late spring, left over the entire year and the following winter, and only harvested in early spring the next year. The fact that it takes such a long time to develop and that it needs to grow over multiple seasons makes it relatively difficult to grow compared to other produce, because the extra space and time also increase the costs.Â
Once developed, it stands apart due to its deep purple flower sprouts located in the central head, which give it its unique look. It is harvested in separate spears that grow to about five inches in length and which can develop additional purple heads. Its taste is distinct, with a subtle mix of sweet and bitter notes coupled with a peppery and nutty flavor.Â
How to tell if purple broccoli is ripe
Just like regular broccoli, the best way to tell if it is ripe or not is by squeezing any of its purple heads. If the head stays firm as you gently press it, and if the spear is around five inches long, you can safely assume that it is ripe and ready to pick. If the head is soft and if squeezing creates spaces between florets, it usually means that the purple broccoli is past its optimal picking date, but it is still safe to eat and tasty in most situations.
One way of not needing to tell if the purple broccoli is ripe or not is to have it picked out and delivered to your doorstep via an online shopper with Instacart. They can reach you in as little as 2 hours or at most in a day, depending on your location!
Uses for purple broccoli
Unlike regular broccoli, purple broccoli has a tender texture and manages to keep its structure when cooked under high heat. However, it loses its distinctive purple hue when exposed to high temperatures. These qualities make it more versatile and suitable for a wide variety of dishes, as it can be steamed, grilled, fried, sautéed, or roasted and still keep its shape and texture. It can also be eaten raw, either by itself or in a mix with other produce like green garlic, kale, leeks, and citrus.
It is also true to its Italian origins, as it mixes perfectly with dishes such as pasta and risotto, and even as a pizza topping. Other ingredients that go well with purple broccoli are pancetta, prosciutto, white fish, hard or fresh cheeses, olive oil, butter, tomatoes, and many more.Â
Purple Broccoli Near Me
Buy your favorite Purple Broccoli online with Instacart. Order Purple Broccoli from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
FAQs about purple broccoli
The first thing you need to do is use a knife to remove any hard leaves or woody stem ends. Then you need to split the whole plant into separate florets with a short stem on top and slice the thicker stems diagonally. After rinsing it in cold water, you can boil it or steam it, according to preference. Depending on each floret's size, they should take between three and six minutes to be fully cooked. If you choose to stir-fry it, you need to cook it for a few minutes until it gets tender.
Purple broccoli is very nutritious and has a wide range of vitamins and minerals. They are a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, with decent amounts of iron, vitamin B-9, and B-complex vitamins. It also has smaller amounts of calcium, potassium, magnesium, copper, selenium, and protein, as well as small traces of zinc and sodium. Finally, purples broccoli is a good source of antioxidants like zeaxanthin and lutein.
Although purples broccoli is a good source of nutrients regardless of the way it is cooked, it tends to lose a significant amount when cooked in certain ways. If you cook it for more than a few minutes, it tends to quickly lose a significant amount of antioxidants, greatly reducing its contribution to maintaining a healthy body. The best way to cook broccoli and keep most of its qualities is to steam it for only two or three minutes. Alternatively, you can simply eat it raw and get 100 percent of its health benefits.