What do I do with Kohlrabi?

If you haven’t seen kohlrabi before, it may seem like quite a strange and mysterious vegetable. Don’t be afraid to pick it up and give it a try, though. You will be so happy to find out the pleasant flavor that reminds me of a mix of a radish or turnip and broccoli stem. Read on below for a few suggestions on how to store and prep this unique vegetable.

Since I do not have a garden this year and cannot grow foods of my own, I have been going to u-pick gardens and farmers markets to get my fresh veggie fix. When I first saw the large purple and light green bulbs of the kohlrabi growing below the lush greens standing tall, I was intrigued. I picked a few and brought them home. Yet they sat in the fridge for a little longer than I wanted them to because I really didn’t know what I was supposed to do with kohlrabi.

So I decided to dig around on the internet and found out what kohlrabi actually is and what I need to do with it to prepare it for the best eats.

First of all, What is a Kohlrabi?

Kohlrabi is actually a part of the brassica family. (The same family that includes broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, turnips/turnip greens, collards, kale, and bok choy).

Kohlrabi comes from the German word “kohl” meaning cabbage and “rabi” meaning turnip. Makes sense for the taste!

It originated in northern Europe and has been in the United States since the early 1800s. It tends to be a lesser known vegetable when it comes to what can be found in stores.

The bulbous root, which comes in purple or light green with a white flesh grows above ground with a long shoot growing below. Both the bulb and the leaves of kohlrabi are edible.

Like many of the other brassicas, it can be eaten either raw or cooked.

How to Store Kohlrabi

When you bring home kohlrabi, you will want to cut off the leaves and store them in a separate bag than the bulb. Most likely you will not be preparing the two for the same meal. Also, this will ensure for longer storage. For longest storage, place a damp paper towel in with the leaves.

The leaves should last a week or so in a cool fridge. If you leave the leaves on the bulb, the bulb will last a few weeks or more. But if you remove the leaves, the bulb should last several months in a crisper drawer. It can even be stored in a root cellar under proper conditions.

How to Prep kohlrabi Raw

In order to eat Kohlrabi, you will need to cut off the leaves from the bulb. You can eat the leaves sautéed up like you would kale or any other type of green.

I like to add them to my breakfast scrambles like I do kale. They are mild flavored.

Then you will either use a pairing knife or a vegetable peeler to peel or cut off the outer woody layer of the bulb.

If you are used to eating the stem of broccoli, the prep is similar.

You don’t want to eat that outer layer since it is woody.

At this point, you can slice it however you would like to eat it up raw. Eating it this way is kind of like eating a spring radish or turnip mixed. It is a little more dense and less watery that jicama (which I love to munch on).

It’s got a nice crunch. And depending on the time of year and heat it was grown in, it can have a bit of a spice to it.

How to cook Kohlrabi

If you don’t want to just munch on kohlrabi, there are a few different ways to cook it up.

You can slice it up and sauté or roast it up alone or with other vegetables. Roasting will bring out the natural sweetness.

It can also be pureed into a soup or added to your pot to steam when making mashed potatoes.

Since it isn’t a strong flavor, it will not change the dish too much when adding it as a puree or with potatoes. So really it can be added to anything.

Another way to eat kohlrabi is to grate it like when grating potatoes to make fritters.

A few Kohlrabi Recipes I’m Wanting to Try

• Hungarian Creamy Kohlrabi Soup – looks so simple and easy
• German-Style Kohlrabi – boiled in a simple cream sauce
• Crispy Apple and Kohlrabi Salad – easy ingredients with a crunch
• Squash and Kohlrabi Empanadas – little more work but looks good

Planning on planting Kohlrabi in your Garden?

I haven’t grown kohlrabi yet, but it is on my long list of what I would like to add to my spring and fall gardens. Here is a great source for how to successfully grow kohlrabi in your garden.

Tell me, have you grown or eaten kohlrabi yet?

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