Have you heard about the latest fad diet where you eat only purple-colored foods?
Definitely not purple candies though! We’re talkin naturally purple foods.
When we eat a rainbow, our greens and reds are pretty much sorted. But when
it comes to the color of royalty, you might want to get more creative.
In today's video, we’re discussing 21 delicious purple foods.
Have you heard of forbidden rice? Should you be eating purple lobster?
What about purple tea? Purple berries? Please, we have so much more than that.
1. Purple corn This five-thousand-year-old
purple corn has a tender-crisp texture. You can easily substitute your regular yellow
corn with this yummy alternative. It has a mild sweet taste similar to sweet corn.
Use it in salads, soups, popcorn, drinks, and corn on cob. The outstanding color
indicates that it is jam-packed with polyphenols and anthocyanins.
It also has antioxidant properties and is great for maintaining sugar levels in your body.
2. Purple cauliflower The signature color of this veggie can
make your recipes stand out at dinner parties. Cut bite-sized pieces and add lots of herbs,
abundant parmesan cheese, and garlic powder to all cut pieces. Toss it in the oven.
Your delicious roasted cauliflower is ready. The colored one has an edge over the white as
it gives some anti-inflammatory benefits and protection against colorectal cancer.
If you intend to live long then purple cauliflower can make your dream a reality.
3. Royal burgundy green beans
These are simply called purple beans, also. Once you start cooking these beans, the purple color
vanishes and turns them green. Who knew magic beans are for real! You can cook some in butter,
add purple corn and seasoning and make a superb side dish.
Vegans can add this to their diet for getting maximum protein punch.
4. Purple garlic You will often find the pure
white variety of garlic in supermarkets. If you're lucky you'll find purple ones at specialty stores.
Regular consumption of purple garlic cloves in raw or cooked form reduces the risk of type 2
diabetes. It is more pungent than white garlic. That is why you require little of it to give a
powerful flavor to your roasted garlic, dips, baked chicken, and other recipes.
5. Purple grapes Grapes are not just meant for jams,
pies, and juices. The deep purple color not only suggests royalty but also great health.
If you are adventurous you can chop grapes in quarters and add them to your smoothies,
crostini, savory appetizers, and salads.
Your bag of grapes will contain lots of Vitamins especially E, C, and K that can prevent
long-standing disease and protect you from cancer. Purple grapes are also called Concord grapes.
They have high amounts of resveratrol that is known for its anti-cancer effects.
6. Purple bamboo salt
Wait what? Is pink Himalayan salt already a thing of the past?
Over baking bamboo salt for a long time turns it into a sparkly purple color that is reminiscent
of purple amethyst crystals. It is highly alkaline when compared to other acidic salts.
This artisan salt is usually available in Asian supermarkets. However, you can also find it
online. It has antioxidant and antimicrobial properties and has a higher content of sulfur.
7. Purple carrots Did you know that the original color of
carrots was white? The orange variety of carrots that we usually see is the latest mutation.
The purple variety also emerged a few thousand years ago. Roasted, sauteed, and even raw purple
carrots can bring a color wave across your monochrome dishes. Apart from that, they are
highly nutritious and contain beta carotene and of course, the color imparting phytonutrients.
8. Butterfly pea flower tea This is not just another
herbal tea. Butterfly pea flowers are vibrantly blue-colored flowers that impart
a typical bluish-purple color to those puddings, noodles, smoothies, dumplings, and of course tea.
You can get the mildly sweet-tasting flowers in the form of whole dried flowers,
powdered flowers, and extracts. It can help to calm you down,
improve your eyesight, brain function and boost your immune system.
9. Acai (ah-sigh-ee) berries
Have you ever tried the acai berry bowl? They are all the rage among healthy freaks.
These berries look like a cross between grapes and blackberries. Usually, you’ll see them in
the form of powders, juices, supplements, teas or frozen pulps. It's less likely to find the
fresh variety in the US as they are native to South America and have a very short shelf life.
Nutritionists consider these berries as superfoods. They are loaded with Vitamin A,
fiber, good fats and lots of antioxidants. Studies have shown that these antioxidants help
in reducing high cholesterol, improve heart health and decrease your risk of developing
metabolic syndrome. So have fun adding these berries to your smoothies and healthy bowls.
10. Purple rice This blackish-purple rice was originally only
allowed for royalty in ancient Chinese culture. That is why it was also called the forbidden rice.
Since the grain is a little hard it will probably take a little longer to
cook than the usual white rice but the cooking method is pretty much the same.
You can add this nutty-flavored rice to stir-fries, soups,
and burritos. Animal studies have shown black rice to inhibit the growth of cancer cells.
You can also make purple bread with purple rice flour to add a pop of color to your sandwiches.
11. Blueberries Every list of purple foods will be
incomplete without blueberries. They bring a whole catalog of benefits. They are low
in calories and high in vitamin C, K, and fiber. They make a perfect frozen dessert.
Blueberries also make baked goodies, salads, and main dishes extremely delicious.
12. Purple potatoes Do you love potatoes? Then we’re sure that purple
potatoes will definitely be relished by your taste buds. These potatoes are much like the regular
ones and you can enjoy them boiled, baked, mashed, or roasted. Try purple potato chips and fries.
They are equally crispy and can add a splash of color to the sides of your steak.
13. Canadian purple wheat Purple wheat flour can color pasta,
bread, and also alcohol. Apart from the golden grain, there is a darkly pigmented variety
that is typically grown in Canada. The color definitely makes these foods more enjoyable.
While the manufacturer's imagination is running wild, don't be surprised if you
get to see cookies, multigrain crackers, or noodles that are naturally purple in color.
Purple wheat can reduce inflammation and erratic blood sugar under control.
14. Eggplant You can call it brinjal, aubergine, or eggplant.
The vegetable is extremely delicious and does not fail to surprise you taste wise too. The best
way to sneak eggplant is to make mini pizzas. Cut thin slices of eggplant and top them with marinara
sauce, cheese, toppings of your choice and pop it in the oven. The eggplant will make the pizza
base. Just remember to keep the skin on because the real goodness of antioxidants is in its skin.
15. Purple American lobster
Lobster fans will definitely love this colorful change to their favorite seafood.
It's not every time that you would find a purple American lobster. Your chance of
catching one for dinner is one in a million. It's extremely rare to see a purple lobster.
The blue mottled color is a result of genetic mutations in lobsters trying
to protect themselves from predators. But if you find one, you can cook it similar to red lobster.
16. Purple cabbage Shred purple cabbage in strands
and add them to your soups, coleslaws, sandwiches, salads, and cabbage rolls. You can also make your
own sauerkraut with these awesome purple cabbage and enjoy fermented red cabbage. You will be
getting lots of potassium, fiber, vitamin A and C from this bun of tightly wound purple leaves.
17. Red Boar kale Do you think kale is the latest rage?
Well, the hype doesn't stop at green kale. There is purple kale for all the food lovers who enjoy
unusual colored foods. The stems and the leaves are a little woodier than the green ones and have
an extended cooking time. Those curly leaves have a ton of micronutrients like kaempferol,
quercetin, and p-coumaric acid and anthocyanins.
18. Purple sea urchin You can usually find
this purple spiky seafood in Japanese restaurants.
Usually known as uni, the purple sea urchin goes extremely well with sushi delicacies. You can make
a bowl of decadent soup as the sea urchin helps to thicken it. You can also add it to pasta and rice.
It is rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin C, A, fiber, zinc, and beta-carotene.
19. Elderberries These berries are always preferred cooked.
Having raw elderberries can be toxic. It is best to have them in a form of
syrup or a cordial. These berries make some delicious fruity drinks,
cocktails and add flavor to spirits. You get a fat dose of antioxidants and 87% of Vitamin
C that is recommended per day. Studies have shown it can quickly relieve cold and flu.
20. Purple mangosteen Don't let the name confuse you.
The taste of this fruit is quite different from the real mango. It has a citrusy sweet taste. The
juicy fibrous fruit helps to calm down elevated blood pressure and relaxes the blood vessels.
This fruit is also studied to help in the production of red blood cells and DNA.
21. Purple asparagus Cooking purple asparagus can add
a fun twist to your usual cooking. It's tender and definitely can be eaten raw. Cooking it at
high temperatures can dull the brightness and color. That is why it should always be grilled
for a brief time on high flame only. Drizzle some olive oil, season with salt and pepper,
and give a quick bake. This variety has rutin, a powerful polyphenol that can protect your heart.
Heart attacks affect 1 in 4 in the US. That’s why
you have to double-check if you’re not inviting one with your food.
Let's keep the conversation going with a couple of more
videos related to food and heart health, shall we?
Watch ten foods that decrease your risk of a heart attack
or these foods clean your arteries and can prevent a heart attack.
Go ahead, click one. Or better yet, watch both, and learn more about how to keep your
heart healthy. Which is your favorite purple food? Let us know in the comments below!