What IS this thing? CSA veggie

[tamawrite]

Okay, it looks like a root vegetable or tuber. It's shaped like a beet but has "tentacles" growing upward out of it. Its greens are long, semi-narrow, ruffly, and rough, rather like beet or radish greens. It's the size of a medium turnip. Its thin skin is purple, and I suspect its flesh is white. WHAT IS IT?

[oceanjasper]

I wonder if it is a kohlrabi? I'll see if I can find a picture.

[aggie94]

Here's a picture of kohlrabi, which is exactly what it sounds like you have:

http://www.fotosearch.com/comp/PHD/PHD500/AA051033.jpg

I love kohlrabi. :)

[oceanjasper]

Picture of a purple kohlrabi (http://ca.wrs.yahoo.com/;_ylt=AmKjU7aisJz6kSV3b8m.QOH2FAx.;_ylu=X3oDMTA4ND gyNWN0BHNlYwNwcm9m/SIG=13kr7o4sv/EXP=1121385298/**http%3A%2F%2Fwww.victoryseeds.com%2Fcatalog%2Fve getable%2Fbrassica%2Fkohlrabi_delikatesse_blue.jpg )

Link to description and pictures of kohlrabi (http://ca.search.yahoo.com/images/view?back=http%3A%2F%2Fca.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearc h%2Fimages%3F_adv_prop%3Dimages%26va%3Dkohlrabi%26 imgsz%3Dall%26vf%3Dall%26ei%3DUTF-8%26fr%3DFP-tab-web-t%26b%3D121&h=180&w=288&imgcurl=www.whatcom.wsu.edu%2Fimages%2Fgardener%2F kohlrabi2.jpg&imgurl=www.whatcom.wsu.edu%2Fimages%2Fgardener%2Fk ohlrabi2.jpg&size=40.2kB&name=kohlrabi2.jpg&rcurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatcom.wsu.edu%2***%2Fhome hort%2Fplant%2Fkohlrabi.htm&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.whatcom.wsu.edu%2***%2Fhomeh ort%2Fplant%2Fkohlrabi.htm&p=kohlrabi&type=jpeg&no=136&tt=2,416&ei=UTF-8)

[oceanjasper]

That's a great picture, aggie94!

[aggie94]

BTW, here's a simple and delicious recipe if in fact you do have kohlrabi on your hands:

SAUTEED KOHLRABI

2 good sized kohlrabi -- peeled and trimmed of leaves
1 tsp salt
1 medium onion -- peeled and diced
4 tbsp butter
1 tbsp chopped fresh marjoram or basil

Grate the kohlrabi in a food processor or by hand. Sprinkle with salt and allow to sit in a colander for 30 minutes. Squeeze water out.

Melt butter in a saute pan. Brown onions and stir in kohlrabi. Turn heat to low, cover and simmer for 10 minutes. Uncover and turn up the heat to medium. Cook another 2 minutes. Add fresh herbs.

[SHERRY]

Yep..sure sounds like kohlrabi. We grew our own for the first time this year. It is really fun for the kids to grow because it is so weird looking. I cubed it and sauteed in olive oil with a little salt and pepper. Then tossed with butter before serving. It was great. Raw, it tasted like a mix between cabbage and turnip. Cooked, it tastes like the spear of broccoli. I really liked it. You can also shred it for a cabbage type salad.

[tamawrite]

*smacks forehead* Duh -- you're right. It's kohlrabi. Thanks for the recipe! You guys are the best. :)