Purple potatoes add a dramatic touch to dishes in which they’re used. Explore an array of naturally plant-based easy purple potato recipes and find out more about this gorgeous vegetable.
Prepped and cooked as you would ordinary potatoes or sweet potatoes; it’s their vivid color and extra antioxidants that make purple potatoes standouts on the plate.
Purple potato varieties
There are quite a number of varieties, including Purple Peruvian, Purple Majesty, All Blue, Congo, Vitilette, Stokes, Japanese, and Purple Viking. Some are considered heirloom varieties, and others are conventional (despite their unconventional color).
Purple (or blue) fingerling potatoes are also available, sometimes by themselves, sometimes as part of a mix with red-skinned and golden fingerlings. These make a lovely, quick roasted side dish.
Blue potatoes: Occasionally, purple potatoes with less of a vivid color are referred to as blue potatoes, but with few exceptions, we’re still talking about the purple varieties. One notable exception might be the Adirondack Blue, which is, honestly, more purple than blue.
Purple potatoes aren’t always readily available in the supermarket, so keep your eye out at farmer’s markets and natural foods stores. Online sources like Melissa’s Produce are a convenient way to get them delivered right to your door.
Flavor and texture
Though the flavor of purple potatoes isn’t dramatically different from what you’d expect from potatoes, they are a bit sweeter. In fact, they’re sometimes referred to as purple sweet potatoes.
The texture of purple potatoes is waxy, like red-skinned or Yukon gold, rather than mealy like russets. This makes them especially nice as an addition to potato salads.
Here’s more information on purple and blue potatoes, including how to grow them.
Purple potatoes = more antioxidants
And they do have a nutritional advantage: the pigment that gives them their dramatic color, Anthocyanin, is a valuable antioxidant. In fact, purple potatoes contain four times as much antioxidant than ordinary potatoes, like russets. They’re also a good source of potassium.
Thanks to the talented bloggers who participated in this roundup for permission to use their photos and link to their recipes.
purple potato recipes
Golden, Sweet, and Purple Potato Salad with Arugula: This colorful salad combines three kinds of potatoes with the peppery greens for an earthy flavor with plenty of eye appeal.
Okinawan Purple Potato Salad: From Hannah Kaminsky’s Bittersweet, a salad with crisp, buttery macadamia nuts that add a crunchy contrast to the tender flesh of the potatoes. Paired with the creamy tang of tart coconut yogurt, this chilled salad is so much more exciting than your average cold spuds.
Radicchio and Roasted Purple Potato Salad: Another from Hannah Kaminsky’s BittersweetBlog, a salad that’s a bold study in contrasts. Fresh radicchio provides a tender-crisp bite against the creamy flesh of purple sweet potatoes, buttery chestnuts, crisp green apples, and crunchy pine nuts. It’s a seasonal celebration that will make you love your veggies.
Purple Rainy Day Soup: This stew-like soup of a different hue features purple potatoes (or purple yams), black quinoa, and red cabbage. Another creative recipe by Hannah Kaminsky, this soup is as delicious as it is visually stunning.
Roasted Fingerling Potatoes with Sriracha Mayonnaise: For a quick, fun potato side dish, try this easy recipe for gently spiced roasted fingerling potatoes. Sriracha mayonnaise (made with vegan mayo) is a delicious dip for them. Though you can use any variety of fingerling potatoes, taking the tri-color approach has the most eye appeal!
Purple Sweet Potato Fries: From Running to the Kitchen, colorful oven-baked fries featuring fresh herbs, avocado oil, garlic powder and sea salt. They make a delicious side dish or snack. Enjoy with your favorite dipping sauce!
Mashed Purple Sweet Potatoes: Another beauty from Running to the Kitchen, mashed Japanese or Stokes purple sweet potatoes with savory herb butter (vegans can choose the plant butter option) are an easy, comforting, nutritious and stunning side dish!
Homemade Fluffy Vegan Gnocchi Recipes: From Your Guardian Chef, homemade vegan gnocchi recipes are fluffy, tasty, colorful, and easy to make. The gnocchi dough is egg-free and made with different types of potatoes to change flavor and color.
Ube (or Purple Potato) Cinnamon Rolls: From Thank You Berry Much, fluffy cinnamon rolls that are decadent and sweet! They’re filled with a purple sweet potato and cinnamon filling.
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