Golden Beet & Kohlrabi Recipe: Root Vegetable Latkes (2024)

FAQs

Is kohlrabi good to eat raw? ›

It can be eaten raw or cooked and is a popular ingredient in salad or coleslaw. It tastes similar to broccoli with a slightly sweet flavor. Kohlrabi is popular in Europe and Asia.

What Does Kohlrabi Taste Like? Kohlrabi tastes similar to a broccoli stalk, but a bit more tender and sweet. Don't forget to remove the tough outer peel, then use the bulb either raw or cooked. It can be prepared much like a broccoli stalk, too—if raw, shred it and use it in slaw or thinly slice and use in a salad.

Kohlrabi, also known as German turnip, is a cruciferous vegetable. Despite its secondary name, kohlrabi is not a root vegetable and does not belong to the turnip family. Instead, it belongs to the Brassica, or mustard family and is related to cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower ( 1 ).

All parts of the kohlrabi are edible, though most people just stick to the bulbous bottom. The leaves and stems are best sautéed or added to a stir-fry. The bulb can be eaten raw, which maintains its super-crisp texture and mild bite, or it can be roasted, sautéed, steamed, or boiled and mashed like a potato.

Side Effects of Kohlrabi:

Reduction in white blood cells. Interference with liver function. It may affect thyroid function.

For starters, it's crazy-low in carbs and calories. A cup of cubed or sliced kohlrabi has just 36 calories and 8 grams of carbs - about one-third of the carbs and calories found in potatoes.

Whether you're cooking kohlrabi or serving it raw, you will need to completely peel and discard the thick, tough outer layer (you may need a sharp knife for this; the skin is quite tough and indigestible). Cut the kohlrabi. To enjoy the crunch of raw kohlrabi, you'll want to cut it into delicate pieces.

The best quality kohlrabi—sweet, crisp, juicy—results from fast growth without heat or moisture stress. If the plants are overheated or struggling to take up water, they will produce chemicals that have strong, bitter flavors. The bulbs will also become fibrous and may crack.

Like other cruciferous vegetables, the rich dietary fibre in kohlrabi improves digestive health and helps move your bowels. As a result, it reduces constipation, cramping and bloating.

Kohlrabi also has the nickname Sputnik, since the vegetable looks like the early Russian space satellite! Kohlrabi has a long history and is popular in many cuisines including German, Irish, Indian, Chinese, and African. A European botanist first described kohlrabi in 1554.

Does kohlrabi taste like potatoes? ›

Kohlrabi tastes like cabbage and looks like a turnip, albeit a spiney turnip that is sprouting leaves reminiscent of a cross between kale and collards. Kohlrabi resembles a root vegetable, but actually, the edible globe is the modified swollen stem of the plant and grows above ground.

Leave whole or dice in 1/2 inch cubes. Water blanch whole 3 minutes and cubes 1 minute. Cool promptly, drain and package, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Seal and freeze.

Meat: Kohlrabi pairs well with meats such as bacon, chicken, sausage, and pork. Herbs: Fresh herbs such as parsley, dill, mint, rosemary, thyme, and chives complement the nutty, buttery flavour of kohlrabi and add a bright, fresh flavour.

To enjoy the crunch of raw kohlrabi, you'll want to cut it into delicate pieces. Chop it into julienne matchsticks, shred it using the shredding attachment on your food processor or thinly slice it with a mandoline. Or, if you're cooking it, you can cut it into coins or wedges.

Cut off the stems: If the stems and leaves are still attached to the kohlrabi, cut them off. (Save the leaves and cook them just like kale or turnip greens.) Slice in half: Cut the kohlrabi head in half down through its center. Slice into quarters: Place the halved kohlrabi cut side down and slice into quarters.

Kohlrabi is taken by mouth as an antioxidant and for cancer, heart disease, constipation, diabetes, gout, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, high cholesterol, liver disease, menstrual symptoms, a pain disorder called sciatica, scurvy, weight loss, and wound healing.