About Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Try purple sprouting broccoli while it lasts!

An English heirloom, purple sprouting broccoli is bred for overwintering. It grows slowly throughout the winter and produces lots of purple heads in the spring, giving us the first delicious break from winter roots.

Purple-sprouting broccoli has been found to contain higher contents of antioxidant compounds compared with green broccoli, but tends to show higher sensitivity to cooking treatments. Nash’s purple broccoli is so tender (including the stems!), we recommend cutting it up in a salad for maximum flavor and nutrition.

That said, it is also super delicious roasted, as in this Roasted Purple Broccoli Parmesan recipe.

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Posted on April 3, 2014

Pasta with Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Sparky the Cat loves steamed purple sprouting broccoli.

Lucky us! There is still some purple sprouting broccoli to be had. If you haven’t had it yet, now is your last chance, and if you’ve been munching on it for weeks then you are probably relieved to see it’s still here.

Purple sprouting broccoli is at it’s best between February and April and there are multiple ways to prepare it. Trim any woody stem ends or tough leaves with a knife. Divide into small, individual florets, each with a short stem, and diagonally slice the thicker stems. Rinse under cold water. Broccoli boils or steams in 3-6 minutes, depending on the size of floret. In stir-fries, cook it for a couple of minutes, until tender. It can also be roasted, as the heads become tender and sweet and the leaves crisp up like kale chips. Typically in a 400 degree oven stems will be fork tender after 20 minutes. It provides all of the nutritional benefits of broccoli with some added variety of phytonutrients associated with its purple color.

Food writer Rose Elliot, author of New Complete Vegetarian, is a keen advocate of purple sprouting broccoli and offers the following serving suggestions: “Think asparagus—break the stems where they become tough, or run a potato peeler down the lower stems so you’re left with the tender center. Cook them in a pan with a little boiling water and the lid on, so they are half boiled, half steamed, for 4-6 minutes, until they are tender but not soggy. I love them with melted butter and a squeeze of lemon.”

Pasta with Purple Sprouting Broccoli

2¼ lb purple sprouting broccoli
2 medium-sized fresh red chilies (not too hot)
2 cloves garlic, peeled
1 small tin of anchovy fillets in olive oil, drained
Good quality olive oil
12 oz pasta (fusilli, oriecchiette, penne rigate or conchiglie work bet)
4 Tbsp freshly grated Parmesan or hard Pecorino cheese
Salt and pepper

Boil a large pan of water with a little salt. Trim the outer leaves and woody stalks from the broccoli. Wash the good bits and chop into ½ inch pieces. Cut the chili in half lengthwise and scrape out the seeds and pith. Chop the chili flesh, the garlic and the anchovies finely.

In another large pan, warm four tablespoons of olive oil over a medium flame and add the chili, garlic and anchovies. Gently fry these for a minute or so and add the broccoli, season with a little salt and pepper, then continue to cook gently while the pasta boils.

Drop the pasta in the boiling water and stir immediately. Cook until just tender with a little bit of resistance to the bite (al dente).

When the pasta has nearly finished cooking, transfer a small ladle of the cooking water to the broccoli and continue to cook over a high heat until tender.

When cooked, drain the pasta. Add another two tablespoons of oil and the cheese to the broccoli. Toss with the drained pasta and serve immediately.

We thank BBC.com for this recipe.

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Posted on May 2, 2018

Grilled Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Tahini Dressing

Purple sprouting broccoli is a gorgeous and nutritious treat that graces our tables in the spring. As a member of the brassica family, it has detoxifying properties and is a great way for your body to cleanse. The deep purple color indicates a unique antioxidant profile and will also add some color variety to your plate. Additionally, it is an excellent source of vitamin C, which supports your immune system as the season shifts.

purple sprouting broccoli

Grilled Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Tahini Dressing

1 bunch of Nash’s purple sprouting broccoli
2 Tbsp. olive oil, plus extra to serve
½ clove garlic, crushed with a little salt
2 Tbsp. light tahini, stirred
½ lemon, zest finely grated, juiced
½ orange, juiced
½ tsp. clear honey
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 Tbsp. olive oil

For the dressing, put the garlic in a small bowl with the tahini, lemon zest and juice, orange juice, honey and a grind of black pepper. Stir well. Thin down by whisking in water, a tablespoon at a time, till the dressing has a creamy consistency. Gently stir in the oil and season to taste.

Trim the broccoli, removing any tough ends; slice any thick stems lengthwise. Steam over boiling water for three minutes, until just starting to soften but not fully tender. Or cook in boiling water for four minutes, until not quite tender, then drain well. The broccoli will be cooked further in the grill pan, so you want it under-done at this stage.

Put two tablespoons of olive oil and some salt and pepper into a bowl. Add the broccoli, toss it in the seasoning and oil. Heat a ridged cast-iron grill pan over a high heat. When hot, add the broccoli and sear for five to seven minutes, turning from time to time, until tender and patched with dark brown char marks. Transfer to a warm dish, trickle over some of the dressing, add a little more salt and pepper, and an extra dash of olive oil, and serve.

We thank theguardian.com for this recipe.

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Posted on April 13, 2018

Nash’s Pork Chops

Pork Chop and Friends Above are the ingredients for Nash and Patty’s dinner yesterday evening. It took only 1/2 hour to prepare, was almost entirely local, and tasted delicious. First we preheated the oven to 350°F. In went the small potatoes to start baking. The pork chops were seasoned with garlic salt and pepper, and browned in a skillet in Nash’s camelina oil for 3 minutes per side. Then they were transferred to an oven-proof pan and put in the oven for exactly 10 minutes. Meanwhile, we splashed a little Olympic Cellars Working Girl white wine in the skillet, and put in some chopped leeks to soften and flavor the wine. Then we added the kale and covered it to simmer. The purple sprouting broccoli went into a steamer.

After 10 minutes in the oven, the pork chops came out to sit for 10 minutes. By the end of that, the broccoli and kale were done, as were the small potatoes. We put the white wine bottle on the table, along with a little Alpenfire vinegar to sprinkle on the veggies, and voila! A tasty, local meal, that’s healthy and easy to prepare. Everything but the potatoes, salt and pepper came from the Olympic Peninsula. We are so lucky to live in a place where that is possible.

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Posted on March 2, 2018

Purple Sprouting Broccoli with Garlic and Sesame

Purple broccoli is only a few more days away!

1 bunch Nash’s purple sprouting broccoli
2 Tbsp. safflower or sunflower oil
2 Tbsp. toasted sesame oil
5 garlic cloves, peeled and very finely sliced
1 Tbsp. toasted sesame seeds

Trim off any hard ends from the broccoli stalks, as well as any very coarse leaves. Bring a large quantity of salted water to a boil in a very large saucepan and plunge in the broccoli. With the lid on, quickly bring the water back to the boil, then remove the lid and briskly simmer the broccoli for about 2 minutes. Drain thoroughly.

Meanwhile, heat both oils in the pan over a medium heat. Fry the garlic for 2-3 minutes, stirring constantly, until the slices are light golden. Throw in the broccoli and fry it for 2-3 minutes, tossing frequently, until the stalks are piping hot and imbued with the garlicky oil. Serve immediately with the sesame seeds sprinkled over the top.

We thank bbcgoodfood.com for this recipe.

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Posted on February 14, 2018

Shepherd’s Pie

This version of shepherd’s pie is quite reminiscent of the dish from Britain with a few small tweaks to make use of all the gorgeous produce we have as we move into spring.

1 tablespoon high heat oil
2 leeks, peeled and chopped
1 large carrot, chopped
1 pound ground beef or Nash’s ground pork
2 cloves garlic, diced
1 cup beef or chicken broth
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 teaspoon chopped rosemary
1 tablespoon chopped Italian parsley
1 cup diced broccoli, broccolini, or Nash’s purple broccoli
2 pounds Nash’s huckleberry gold potatoes, cut into chunks
6 tablespoons unsalted butter
1/2 cup milk (any fat content — I prefer full fat, you can also sub yogurt here)
Kosher salt to taste

Preheat oven to 375°F. In a large sauté pan over medium-high heat, heat the oil, then add the leek, carrot, and meat. Cook until browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Throw the diced garlic and broccoli in after 5 minutes. Drain the fat and add the broth, tomato paste, and herbs. Simmer until the juices thicken, about 10 minutes. Pour the mixture into a 1 1/2-quart baking dish; set aside.

Meanwhile, bring the potatoes to a boil in salted water. Cook until tender, about 20 minutes; drain. Mash the potatoes with the butter, milk (or yogurt) and salt. Spread them over the meat mixture, then crosshatch the top with a fork. Bake until golden, 30 to 35 minutes.

Recipe adapted from epicurious.com.

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Posted on March 10, 2016

Sweet & Sour Broccoli

1 bunch Nash’s purple sprouting broccoli
1 tablespoon high-heat oil
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon light brown sugar
1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon soy sauce

Cut each broccoli stalk in half to create long, thin pieces. Wash and dry well.

Warm a large sauté pan over medium-high heat and add the oils. Add the purple sprouting broccoli and brown it on the outside, stirring occasionally, about 3 minutes. Add the garlic and stir frequently until fragrant and beginning to brown. Add the sugar, vinegar, pepper, and soy sauce. Let the sauce reduce by half and stir to coat the broccoli. Taste for seasoning, and serve warm.

We thank Darin Gagner for this recipe.

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Posted on March 2, 2016

About Purple Sprouting Broccoli – Nutrition

Sure, it’s beautiful — but did you know it’s good for you, too?

Purple sprouting broccoli is a delicious and gorgeous alternative to the green heads found during the summer months. The crop has over-wintered and its lovely purple heads start to bud in February. It offers all of the same nutritional benefits in broccoli, just in a slimmer, more colorful version making it a lovely side dish.

Broccoli is famous for its glucosinolate content, which are phytonutrients that support all processes of detoxification within our bodies. Different nutrients from different vegetables support either phase 1 or phase 2 of our body’s detoxification systems, but glucosinolates from broccoli support both. Broccoli is a one stop shop for detox!

Many people in the Pacific Northwest take vitamin D supplements because we receive less sunshine than other parts of the world. But to support the metabolism of vitamin D, we also need vitamins K and A. Guess which vegetable is high in both of these vitamins? Bingo—it’s broccoli!! Try a mushroom broccoli sauté today, and you’ll be getting a natural source of all 3 of these bone supporting vitamins.

As the seasons change, catching a spring cold is common. In addition to its other vitamin benefits, purple spouting broccoli is high in vitamin C (1 cup offers 135% of the daily recommended value), so it can also help support your immune system.

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Posted on March 26, 2015

Roasted Purple Sprouting Broccoli

Everyone loves purple sprouting broccoli!

Easy to make and crispy-delicious, this recipe is a winner for a quick side-dish or snack. But watch out, you might want to eat the whole pan in one sitting!

Prep time: 5 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes

2 bunches purple sprouting broccoli
Olive oil
Salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Toss whole broccoli liberally with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Arrange in a single layer on a baking dish, pop in oven, and let sizzle for about 20 minutes. Give then a quick turn and roast for another 4-10 minutes until crispy and tender. These are best served hot out of the oven, so dig in!

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Posted on March 11, 2015

Vegetable Tempura

Raw veggies are absolutely lovely, but sometimes it’s fun to mix it up with tempura for a special occasion.

Serves four to six as an appetizer.

Dipping Sauce
2 scallions, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon grated ginger root
2 minced garlic cloves
1 teaspoon dry mustard

Batter
2 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups cold water
1/4 cup dark sesame oil

Veggies
5 cups seasonal fresh veggies, such as broccoli, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, etc.

For the dipping sauce, combine the scallions, soy sauce, water, vinegar, honey, ginger, garlic, and mustard in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for an hour to let the flavors blend.

For the batter, mix together the flour and baking powder. Add the cold water and sesame oil all at once and whisk until the consistency of pancake batter and very smooth. Refrigerate until ready to prepare the tempura.

Blot the vegetables dry, season with salt and pepper and dip into the batter. Coat them evenly.

Pour the oil into a tall pot to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium heat until around 350 degrees F. Work in batches to avoid crowding. Slip the batter-coated vegetables into the hot oil, deep-frying until the batter is a golden brown and puffy, 3-4 minutes. Turn the veggies so they cook evenly. Remove from the pot with tongs. Drain on an absorbent towel. Serve with dipping sauce.

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Posted on December 23, 2014