There are hundreds of varieties of cauliflower that do in various colour . The most plebeian type of cauliflower is the white change with its distinguishable ivory - white-hot head and dark fleeceable leaves . There are other non-white cauliflower sort that are majestic , yellow , orangish , and immature .
Among these different types of cauliflower are various loan-blend with their own unique characteristics . One interesting type of cauliflower is the Romanesco Brassica oleracea botrytis which is a immature character of Brassica oleracea botrytis that may look more like Brassica oleracea italica than a cauliflower .
Cauliflower is a veggie that belong to the genusBrassicain theBrassica oleraceaspecies . This means that all types of cauliflower are closely related to Brassica oleracea italica , varioustypes of chou , kale , and Brussels burgeon forth . Cauliflowers also go to thecruciferousgroup of vegetables which contain a lot of vitamin C and other nutrients .
In some ways , cauliflower heads resemble those of broccoli , however , there are some differences . Apart from the color difference , cauliflower floret are more closely packed together . In fact , the eatable part of the cauliflower head is called the “ curd ” as it look like cheese curd . The one type of cauliflower that is close in appearance to broccoli is the ‘ Broccoflower . ’ This can appear either like a green - colored Brassica oleracea botrytis or referred also to the Romanesco Brassica oleracea italica mixture .
The name “ cauliflower ” really means “ moolah flower ” in Italian . There are descriptions of cauliflowers from as early on as the 1stcentury A.D. Cauliflower cultivation became popular in Europe during the 16thcentury and was then introduced to India in the 19thcentury .
Cauliflowers are a very nutritioustype of veggie . For example , 1 cupful of sore cauliflower curd contains over three - quarters of your day-by-day vitamin C requirements and 20 % of your vitamin one thousand indigence . You also get an impressive 2.5 grand of fibre in 100 gram , which is 10 % of your daily fiber requirements . ( 1 )
In this article , you will learn about the various types of Brassica oleracea botrytis you could buy . You will also find out why colored Brassica oleracea botrytis may be healthier for you than the white varieties .
If you grow your own vegetables , you’re able to try acquire unlike biased cauliflowers to add color to your garden and meals . At the end of the clause , you will find hint on growing thisBrassicavegetable .
Common Types of Cauliflower (With Pictures and Names)
There are C of varieties of cauliflower that derive in various colours with white cauliflower being the most popular .
The four primary group of cauliflower are :
White Cauliflower
White cauliflower is the most common type of cauliflower with many cultivars
livid cauliflower ( Brassica oleracea var . botrytis ) is generally the type of cauliflower most masses recall of . Varieties of white Brassica oleracea botrytis have a pure white head of flower buds ( curd ) that is surrounded by greenish parting .
There are really many bloodless Brassica oleracea botrytis cultivar that ripen at various times during the growing season . Some popular types of white cauliflower include some of the chase :
sweet sand verbena cauliflowerhas a 6 ” ( 15 centimetre ) average - sized head and is popular in North America . This is a popular place gardener ’s variety of cauliflower which has solid , tightly organise white curd .
Snow Spring caulifloweris a cold - brave cauliflower cultivar which has crispy white curd and a good gustation .
White Coronais a minuscule variety of Brassica oleracea botrytis whose bloodless head only become to about 4 ” – 6 ” ( 10 – 15 centimetre ) in sizing . The pure white florets are delightful crude or in refreshful salads .
Early White caulifloweris a tight - mature variety of Brassica oleracea botrytis that has a vestal livid curd and an excellent tone . The tightly - packed principal amount around 9 ” ( 22 cm ) making this a large smorgasbord . The cauliflower cultivar grows well in nerveless conditions and is also a ripe case of Brassica oleracea botrytis to store in the freezer .
Attribute cauliflower hybridis a medium to large - sized Brassica oleracea botrytis that matures early . This variety has a good flavor with a buttery barmy taste . This is a good character of Brassica oleracea botrytis to guy , grill , or make cauliflower rice .
Cornish cauliflowerscan refer to an ancient cultivar or to cauliflowers develop in the Cornwall area of England . The moderate melody temperature in this coastal region is the perfect clime for grow cauliflowers throughout the year .
Romanesco Cauliflower (Romanesco Broccoli)
Romanesco Brassica oleracea botrytis is also call Broccoflower or Romanesco Broccoli
Also called the Broccoflower , the Romanesco cauliflower is a green change that has striking florets that give its head a spiky appearance .
Both Brassica oleracea botrytis and broccoli are from the same metal money , Brassica oleracea . This stand for that it is easy to cross them to develop unexampled cultivar . One of these is the Romanesco Brassica oleracea botrytis , also called the Broccoflower or Romanesco Broccoli .
The Romanesco Brassica oleracea botrytis is a cultivar from the Brassica oleracea family . In some way , it looks like a mark between broccoli and Brassica oleracea botrytis . It has a lime - green , conical pointy look oral sex that grows in a spiral . The sizing of Romanesco heading is similar to a standard Brassica oleracea botrytis – about 7 ” ( 17 centimeter ) across .
Compared to the common cauliflower , Romanesco cauliflowers have a crunchier grain with a delicate dotty taste . Compared to Brassica oleracea italica , the only real resemblances are the green color and taste . However , this cruciferousgreen vegetableis more usually referred to as the Romanesco broccoli .
One of the best way to enjoy Romanesco as a hefty green veggie is to separate all the pyramid - similar floret , place them on a baking tray , and drizzle with some olive oil . Roast them in a hot oven until the baksheesh of the bud commence to work brown .
you could also enjoy Romanesco cauliflower as you would any other cauliflower – steam , grilled , or roasted .
Green Cauliflower
Green Brassica oleracea botrytis has a milder taste than the white Brassica oleracea botrytis
Because of its gullible curd , the Green Brassica oleracea botrytis can also be referred to as a broccoflower . This cauliflower cultivar looks like a distinctive cauliflower but has the color of broccoli .
Apart from its green colour , one of the deviation between the fleeceable and snowy varieties of Brassica oleracea botrytis is their taste sensation . Green cauliflowers be given to have a sweeter and milder taste sensation than their ashen cousin-german . This mean that if you do n’t care the somewhat warm taste of ashen cauliflower , immature varieties may be tastier .
Another way that light-green cauliflowers and white cauliflowers are dissimilar is their grain . whitened cauliflower tend to be crumbly which is why they are full for making cauliflower Elmer Rice . However , green cauliflowers are like to broccoli in their texture and are more fibrous .
Some popular unripe cauliflower cultivars include the ‘ Alverda , ’ ‘ the Green Goddess , ’ ‘ Vitaverd , ’ and ‘ Chartreuse . ’
Purple Cauliflower
Purple Brassica oleracea botrytis is a spectacular type of Brassica oleracea botrytis with many health benefits
Purple cauliflowers are one of the most vivacious and strike big vegetables you will see growing in the garden . The cryptical purple curd is surrounded by blue - green leaves . Compared to white Brassica oleracea botrytis , the heads of the regal diversity are tenderer and have a milder taste .
over-embellished cauliflower cultivars could really be some of the healthiest cauliflower you could eat . scientist say that naturally - occurring blue and purple colors derive from an antioxidant called anthocyanin . This healthy compound has been linked to reducing cardiovascular disease , inflaming , and the risk of exposure of cancer . ( 2,3 )
Of course , purple Brassica oleracea botrytis cultivar also have all the vitamin , minerals , and nutrients found in steady white cauliflower .
Apart from their better wellness benefits , one reason to choose purple cauliflower is that they try sweeter and nuttier than their clean vis-a-vis . Also , steaming , roasting , or simmer some purple Brassica oleracea botrytis varieties does n’t interpolate their grim - lavender people of colour .
However , some regal Brassica oleracea botrytis sort may ferment a light green coloring material when cooked . Try add up some lemon juice while cooking to preserve the cryptic purple hues .
Here are some of the most popular case of empurpled cauliflower .
Depurple cauliflower hybridis a proficient robust Brassica oleracea botrytis cultivar . This violet Brassica oleracea botrytis has deep - violet florets with contrasting white stems . The heads of this purple variety grow to between 6 ” and 7 ” ( 15 – 17 cm ) .
Graffiti hybrid caulifloweris a brightly - colored purple cauliflower that keep its deep lavender colouration during cooking . This is a of course sweet variety of Brassica oleracea botrytis that raise well even in humid condition .
Purple of Sicily cauliflowerhas deep purple florets making up the medium - sized head . This over-embellished cultivar may turn to light green when it ’s make .
Sicilian Violetis another illustration of an Italian / European sort of purplish Brassica oleracea botrytis that has a vivacious rich lilac colouring material .
Violet Queenproduces a cauliflower head that has very deep purple , almost smuggled , florets . This is a cold - dauntless case of cauliflower that will hold temperatures as gloomy as 14 ° F ( -10 ° 100 ) . This case of empurpled Brassica oleracea botrytis is delicious eaten raw or cook and the parting are also comestible .
Purple Capecauliflowers produce enceinte regal heads with an fantabulous flavour . If you are look for an easy - to - grow variety of cauliflower , then the Purple Cape is one of your good pick .
Orange/Yellow Cauliflower
Orange cauliflower has more vitamin A than snowy cauliflower
The orange cauliflower is a cultivar from theBrassicaspecies that has orange or yellow-bellied - colour florets make up the head .
Unlike purple cauliflower cultivar that tend to miss their color when cooked , the orange curds usually become more intense in color when make .
Compared to the white varieties , orange - tinge cauliflowers are much healthier . Their wellness benefits are due to the levels of beta - carotene in the orange florets . inquiry has discover that orange cauliflowers have up to 25 times more vitamin A than white Brassica oleracea botrytis . ( 2 )
So , what do orange Brassica oleracea botrytis try like ? Even though they can be call “ American cheese ” cauliflower , they do n’t taste anything like cheese . Orange - colored cauliflower have a sweet and milder discernment than white variety .
Here are some of the expert orangish / lily-livered cauliflower cultivars to bet out for .
Cheddar caulifloweris one of the most popular varieties of orange Brassica oleracea botrytis . This bleached Brassica oleracea botrytis has a intermediate - sized head that bill between 4 ” to 7 ” ( 10 – 17 cm ) . Its mildly sweet gustation is more palatable to some than the inviolable taste clean cauliflower .
Flame star hybridcauliflowers are a good instance of a sweet cauliflower that has a smooth texture . The medium - sized question is firm and dense , and the orange curds become a deeper hue when cooked .
Fioretto Cauliflower
Fioretto Brassica oleracea botrytis is an strange type of cauliflower
If you are looking for an unusual type of cauliflower , then Fioretto cauliflowers are an excellent choice . Unlike cauliflowers with a expectant head , this character of Brassica oleracea botrytis has white or brightly - discolour florets that are on the top of thin green stems .
So , rather than the florets growing into a tightly packed cauliflower head , these florets grow loose . In some ways , this cauliflower kind resembles broccoli rabe or sprouting Brassica oleracea italica .
These flowered cauliflower stems make the utter character of food for thought for dipping with . Another manner to adjudicate this delicious cauliflower mintage is to grill or sauté the floral stems . The cauliflower florets and stems stay on incredibly crunchy when cooked and they have a gently fresh taste to them .
How to Choose the Perfect Cauliflower
When choosing the best cauliflower , the most important factors to consider are its color and firmness .
A white variety of cauliflower should have a creamy - white or pure white color . The curd should be free from dark marks or spots . Generally , commercially - grown cauliflowers do n’t have purple or pinkish tinges on them . However , if your home - produce cauliflowers have some of this discoloration , it is nothing to worry about .
When choosing colored cauliflower , look for the sonorousness of color . Purple cauliflowers should be a rich dark purple semblance , and orange variety should be a deep orange tree colour .
When corrupt Romanesco cauliflower , look for ace that have a yellow - green color . The curd should be tightly packed together .
When pick any kind of Brassica oleracea botrytis , always make certain that the heads ( curds ) are very unshakable with no jot of softness .
There is no difference in lineament between tumid Brassica oleracea botrytis heads and little ace .
Why Can White Cauliflowers Turn Purple Around the Edges?
From all the vegetable in theBrassica oleraceafamily , cauliflowers can be the most difficult to turn . Brassica oleracea botrytis prefer cool weather condition when develop , and too much heat and Lord’s Day can colour the virgin blank flowered heads a purple soupcon .
For example , too much sunshine can cause natural pigment in the cauliflower to become more marked . This resolution in white cauliflower head with tip of pink , purple , or even aristocratical . So , a pinkish cauliflower is unremarkably just an indication that your cauliflowers are getting too much Sunday or warmth .
To grow pure white cauliflower , it is necessary to “ blanch ” them . All this requires is drawing the surrounding leaf up to cover the produce cauliflower head . Secure the leaves together with twine or a rubber band and you should have dead white - tusk cauliflower .
Alternatively , you may buy self - blanching mixed bag of cauliflower . The leaves of these cauliflower naturally wrap over the cauliflower curd to protect them from the sunshine . Self - blanch types of Brassica oleracea botrytis include ‘ Snowball ’ and ‘ property loan-blend . ’
Of course , if you desire to farm a colored cauliflower cultivar , there is no indigence to parboil them . In fact , picture to the Dominicus just help to intensify their colors to bring on stunningly colourful Brassica oleracea botrytis heads .
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