What the Heck is Kohlrabi?

This weekend, I was at the Historic Newburgh Farmer's Market in downtown, Newburgh, and I saw this on the Graber Produce stand. Now, you might be asking yourself, "What is this?" Let me introduce you to this delightful vegetable known as kohlrabi.

The only reason I know what how to identify a kohlrabi is because my grandma grew them in her garden in northern Wisconsin where I spent my summers as a child. It was her favorite and became mine as well. She'd pluck them from the ground, sprinkle salt onto the soft green interior and savor each bite. I very seldom see kohlrabi, but when I do, I make sure to grab at least one!

It's kind of odd what small details of life take you back to your childhood summers. For me, it's The Neverending Story, the smell of chamomile tea, and the taste of a a fresh kohlrabi. My grandma is gone but sweet memories remain.

Now, we eat them raw but you can also baste them with coconut or olive oil and roast them in the oven or grill them. They taste kind of like a cross between cabbage and a brussel sprout and can be cooked in the same manner as both of these vegetables.

So, if you happen to see a stack of kohlrabi at a farmer's market this summer, don't be afraid to try something new and make new memories with the ones you love. :)