Purple Sprouting Broccoli
With long tender shoots that can be roasted or sautéed just like you would asparagus, PSB is the perfect snack or side that requires no chopping and can be enjoyed as a finger food.
Flavor profile: Purple Sprouting Broccoli, also known as PSB, is very similar to regular broccoli with a particularly savory, nutty flavor and long tender stalks.
Uses: Roast, blanch, or sauté whole stalks with oil and salt and enjoy as a finger food with dip; chop up and use in place of regular broccoli in any dish, including breakfast scrambles, frittatas, stir-fries, etc. While many purple veggies lose their color when cooked, PSB usually retains its purple color unless it’s steamed too long.
Pairs with: garlic, lemon, aioli, nuts, pasta, rice, chicken, eggs, etc.
Storage: PSB is best stored in an airtight container or bag in the fridge to retain its moisture. Generally it’ll keep for about a week, give or take.
Other names: PSB
Nutrients: Purple Sprouting Broccoli is very nutrient dense and an all around great spring food medicine. Broccoli in general is high in both vitamins K and A, which is necessary for the metabolism of vitamin D, making it the perfect spring food for when the sun starts coming out. PSB specifically is high in phytonutrients that support both phases of our bodies’ detoxification systems, whereas most veggies only support phase one or phase two of that detox system. One cup (or one bunch) of PSB offers 135% of the daily recommended intake of vitamin C, as well as a slew of other important vitamins and minerals.
Why it's a great crop: Purple Sprouting Broccoli is planted in the fall and overwinters in the field during the colder months of the year. Come springtime when other flowers start blooming, PSB starts sending up an abundance of flower stalks too. We harvest the tender stalks while the florets are still tender, and the plant continues to produce more shoots for about two months. At a time of year when storage crops are dwindling and other spring veggies aren’t quite in season yet, PSB is a bright purple gift of spring! It has a relatively short season, make sure to eat your fill while it’s here.
