General Information
Kohlrabi is a low, stout cultivar of the cabbage which has been selected for its swollen, nearly spherical, Sputnik-like shape. The name comes from the German kohl (cabbage) plus rabi (turnip) because the swollen stem resembles the latter. Kohlrabi has been created by artificial selection for lateral meristem growth, its origin in nature is the wild mustard plant.
The taste and texture of kohlrabi are similar to those of a broccoli stem or cabbage heart, but milder and sweeter, with a higher ratio of flesh to skin. The young stem, in particular, can be as crisp and juicy as an apple, although much less sweet. Except for the Gigante cultivar, spring-grown kohlrabi much over 5 cm in size tend to be woody, as do fall-grown kohlrabi much over perhaps 10 cm in size; the Gigante cultivar can achieve great size while remaining of good eating quality.
With flavors of turnip and radish predominant, kohlrabi is good peeled and served raw. Kohlrabi chunks may be sauteed or added to soup. The leaves too may be boiled and/or sauteed and seasoned to taste. High in vitamin C and potassium.
History
The biennial Kohlrabi are cold-weather plants, thriving in northern regions of Europe and North America. Kohlrabi is native to northern Europe and is believed to be the only common vegetable native to the area. Some consider Kohlrabi to be a “new” vegetable, having been discovered just before the beginning of the 16th century. A European botanist first wrote about Kohlrabi in 1554, and by the end of the 16th century, the vegetable had become popular across Europe, south into the Mediterranean region and east to Russia and Asia. Kohlrabi is said to have first been cultivated on a wide-scale in mid-1700s Ireland and then later in England. Records of the root’s use in the United States dates back to 1806. Kohlrabi is very easy to grow and is very popular among home gardeners. Kohlrabi is most often found in farmer’s markets in North America, particularly in cooler climates, and in restaurants and markets in Europe and Asia.
