10 Fun Kohlrabi Recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat kohlrabi? ›

It may not look like the most delectable or visually stunning vegetable, but kohlrabi is nutrient-dense, subtly tasty, and worth adding to stews, curries, soups, pickles, and salads. Oh, and you can even eat it on its own — take a smaller springtime kohlrabi, peel back the leaves, and just bite it like an apple.

Whether you're cooking kohlrabi or serving it raw, you will need to completely peel and discard the thick, tough outer layer (you may need a sharp knife for this; the skin is quite tough and indigestible). Cut the kohlrabi. To enjoy the crunch of raw kohlrabi, you'll want to cut it into delicate pieces.

Leave whole or dice in 1/2 inch cubes. Water blanch whole 3 minutes and cubes 1 minute. Cool promptly, drain and package, leaving 1/2-inch headspace. Seal and freeze.

Kohlrabi also has the nickname Sputnik, since the vegetable looks like the early Russian space satellite! Kohlrabi has a long history and is popular in many cuisines including German, Irish, Indian, Chinese, and African. A European botanist first described kohlrabi in 1554.

Kohlrabi is a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. The former is water-soluble and helps maintain healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. On the other hand, insoluble fiber isn't broken down in your intestine, helping add bulk to your stool and promote regular bowel movements ( 19 ).

Kohlrabi is a healthy ingredient, and it's low in calories. Eating too much of any cruciferous vegetable can cause gas that can make you uncomfortable. Moderate your portion sizes to help ensure that you are able to enjoy the benefits of kohlrabi without negative digestive effects.

The best quality kohlrabi—sweet, crisp, juicy—results from fast growth without heat or moisture stress. If the plants are overheated or struggling to take up water, they will produce chemicals that have strong, bitter flavors.

Storage and food safety

Kohlrabi can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. Storage life can be extended if kohlrabi is placed in sealed perforated plastic bags. To prevent cross-contamination, keep kohlrabi away from raw meat and meat juices.

Here's what you can do with kohlrabi

Food Network says once the bitter, outer layers are peeled away, kohlrabi tastes mildly of other vegetables in the family, and with a slightly spicy note like you might find in radishes or turnips. The leaves can also be enjoyed, prepared as you would do for Swiss chard or kale.

Place kohlrabi in a perforated plastic bag in the vegetable crisper section. Kohlrabi with the leaves attached will keep in the refrigerator for 2 to 4 weeks, without the leaves 2 to 3 months.

How do you know when kohlrabi is cooked? ›

You want to cook them until the bottom starts to stick then toss and repeat. It will take about 45 minutes to cook. After you remove them from the oven, drizzle with balsamic vinegar and serve warm. In a thick bottomed skillet, cook diced kohlrabi with butter.

Kohlrabi is planted in the ground, and it can be picked just 55 days after planting. The edible bulb is part of the stem and grows above ground. Kohlrabi is in-season during the spring months and not sensitive to cold weather. Kohlrabi is a great source of potassium, vitamin C, and fiber.

According to Wikipedia, Hamburg Township, Michigan has titled itself the "Kohlrabi Capital of the World".

Dogs can eat both raw and cooked kohlrabi, but it is easier for them to digest if it is cooked. You can boil, steam, or roast kohlrabi for your pup. Be sure to cut the kohlrabi into bite-sized pieces to avoid choking, as some dogs will vacuum up tasty treats like kohlrabi.

For a simple side dish, sauté the sliced kohlrabi in a bit of butter in a skillet. Once it begins to show some caramelization, season it with salt, nutmeg, and a little sugar​ for increased sweetness. Continue cooking until slightly al dente, with a bit of crispness, and serve it immediately.

What Does Kohlrabi Taste Like? Kohlrabi tastes similar to a broccoli stalk, but a bit more tender and sweet. Don't forget to remove the tough outer peel, then use the bulb either raw or cooked. It can be prepared much like a broccoli stalk, too—if raw, shred it and use it in slaw or thinly slice and use in a salad.

Kohlrabi is taken by mouth as an antioxidant and for cancer, heart disease, constipation, diabetes, gout, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, high cholesterol, liver disease, menstrual symptoms, a pain disorder called sciatica, scurvy, weight loss, and wound healing. Kohlrabi is applied to the skin for hair loss.

A study by Jung et al. in 2014 showed that the green and purple-red kohlrabi varieties have flavonoids and phenolics compounds that act as anti-inflammatory agents. The kohlrabi extracts also inhibit the production of compounds that are involved in inflammatory processes.