kohl rabi??

[lynda66]

we had our first ever kohl rabi yesterday, i only grew a few, as i hadn't tasted (or even heard of it) before, i pulled a couple it up at just smaller than tennis ball size, chopped one, and roasted it with the spuds and turkey, and steamed the other with some yummy carrots.

is it just me or is the stuff incredibly bland and tasteless? or is there something i should have done to increase the flavour?? it just kind of tasted of erm nothing.

[Flummery]

I wouldn't have roasted it! I usually stir fry them cut into fine shreds, or shred and eat raw. You can cut them up and boil them too. They taste quite nutty and turnippy to me. I'm very partial to them but I've never had them roasted.

[lynda66]

hmmmmm i may try a stir fry tonight then i only roasted them, cos i was doing roast tatties, i shan't do it again lol .... they didn't seem to taste of anything, raw either though, just sort of erm green, but i guess in a nice black bean or spicy sauce, that won't be a problem.

[Alison]

I've grown them for the first time this year and found them to have a somewhat delicate slightly cabbagy / brocolli taste which would soon get overwelmed by other flavours. Have enjoyed them shredded on salads and in stir frys also but personally wouldn't want drown them out with a strong taste.

[SarzWix]

I also grew them for the first time this year, and found them a little boring I wanted them as a substitute for swede (before the swedes were ready) as it's one of the few veggies my daughter likes. She has them steamed in cubes, or mashed, or roasted and didn't like the kohl rabi cooked in any of these ways. I ended up using them up in a big pot of stew last week. So I don't think I'll bother with them next year, just grow more swedes!

[lynda66]

yeah i like swedes too, especially the tall blonde muscly ones, never tried them in a stew though, but back to the kohl rabi, son said they were boring too, don't think i'll bother next year either, shame really, cos they look nice

[SarzWix]

Mine only looked nice for a few days, before the slugs/snails/caterpillars started on them!

[Capsid]

I love kohlrabi. I like this recipe.

Spicy Kohlrabi Recipe | Recipezaar

[lainey lou]

I grew them last year didn't get very excited about them so I didn't bother this year.

[HayleyB]

I found them radishy/turnip tasting, used them mostly raw in salads as they add a different dimension to them, proved popular

[shirlthegirl43]

I cut them like big chips, steam and serve with black pepper and butter. Taste a bit like cauli or broccoli stalks which are quite popular in our house. Haven't yet managed to grow any though

[daylily]

Almost exactly like broccoli stalks, I'd say. At it's very best raw or aldente, or as big chunks into soups and stews. I use the leaves too as per cabbage. Two for the price of one and one of the easy brassica types to grow. Hurray!

I'd compare it to radish and turnip in growing trick: too much water - no flavour, too little - goes pithy and dry.

You might also want to try a proper swede sized variety and grow it to maturity, like Blue Danube or similar.

[lynda66]

as it has rained constantly since june, maybe that's why it didn't taste of anything,even raw it just tasted kind of bland green, basically didn't taste of anything, i agree, very easy to grow, planted 5 seeds, and 5 grew, i don't like cabbage, so fed the leaves to the compost.

[Alice]

I've grown them for the first time this year. They look great but haven't tasted them yet. I like the idea of using the tops and the roots.
Capsid, I like the sound of your recipe - thank you, will give it a go.

[SarzWix]

I'd compare it to radish and turnip in growing trick: too much water - no flavour, too little - goes pithy and dry.

That makes sense, we've had plenty of water over the time they were growing

Mind you, we always have plenty of water here, so maybe it's not the best crop for me to grow!