Pan Roasted Kohlrabi (Can You Believe This Tastes Like Brussels Sprouts!)

I know this sounds nutty, but this recipe transforms the kohlrabi and makes them taste like brussels sprouts.  I guess it makes sense since both veggies are in the brassica family.  When Brad made these we were delighted at the outcome.  That night we ate four whole kohlrabi!! So if you've got a crisper filled with kohlrabi, I recommend that you give this recipe a shot.  We made two versions: one with butter and one with olive oil and both were fantastic.  We heard this recipe when we were listening to The Splendid Table last week.  It's a Mario Batali recipe for Pan Roasted Turnips, but we substituted kohlrabi instead and we're so glad we did.  

• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter (or olive oil)
• 2 kohlrabi, peeled and cut into 1/2-1 inch cubes (try the original recipe using turnips!)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 tablespoons poppy seeds
• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1/4 cup red wine vinegar

1. In a 10- to 12-inch sauté pan, heat the butter (or olive oil) over medium-high heat until it melts and begins to brown.

2. Add the kohlrabi, season with salt and pepper, and toss to coat well.

3. Add the poppy seeds and sauté until the turnips are light golden brown, 8 to 9 minutes.

4. Add the paprika, tossing to coat.

5. Add the vinegar, bring to a boil, and cook until it has evaporated. Serve hot.

Kohlrabi Salad

We know, we know, we're giving you another kohlrabi to figure of what to do with.  I found this recipe on Food 52 and thought it looked like a nice, simple, and quick way to use up that kohlrabi.  This recipe serves 2.

• 1 head kohlrabi
• 1/2 apple, such as Gala
• 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil
• 1/2 bird's eye chili or a squirt of sriracha
• 1 pinch cumin
• 1/2 teaspoon fish sauce
• 3 tablespoons chopped cilantro
• Salt & freshly ground pepper to taste

1. With a sharp knife, cut off the “branches” of the kohlrabi. Peel it with a vegetable peeler.
2. Cut the kohlrabi into matchsticks either using a sharp knife of a mandolin (I used the latter). Do the same with the apple.
3. Toss the kohlrabi and the apple with the remaining ingredients and chill before eating.

Day Before CSA Pick Up Stir-fry

It's the day before CSA pick up and you look in your fridge and realize you still have a smattering of produce from last week (any maybe even a bok choy from two weeks ago).  This is a good time to whip together a spontaneous, no-recipe-needed, fridge-cleanin' stir fry!  Since I said there is no need for a recipe, let me just give you a few guidelines I like to follow when making a stir fry.  

First off, just about any vegetable can be thrown into a stir fry and either taste delicious or be hidden amongst the deliciousness that is this dish.  Radishes, kohlrabi, cabbage, no problem!  

Secondly, I like to have something in the onion family, a few roots, and some leaves.  It's all the better if you've got some tasty cilantro or parsley hanging around.  You can add the vegetable mix to either noodles, rice, or some other grain.  There are many kinds of sauce you can make and add in and I've added a couple of types towards the bottom of this page.

• Take a wok or large frying pan out and add a slosh of olive oil and set at medium heat.  
• Add onion family first (scallions, onion, garlic, leeks, garlic scapes) and let sizzle.  Cook for a bit until the onions/scallions/leeks are translucent or start to soften.
• Then add any root-ish veggies (radishes, kohlrabi, beets, carrots, turnips) that you sliced up all cute and cook for a bit until they feel tender.
• Stems!  If you've got some bok choy, chard, or beets throw those stems in before the greens so they cook down a bit.  These only take 3-5 minutes to cook.  Don't use kale stems!  They will make your dish no bueno.
• Follow with some leafy greens.  This could be bok choy, chard, kale, collards, turnip greens, radish greens, or some salad mix.  If I use salad mix, I like to add it right at the end and just have it wilt a teensy bit.  Cook all other greens until they brighten up and wilt.
• Remove from heat and add sauce.  Mix around.  Serve over rice, noodles, or your choice of grain.

Peanut Sauce

• 1/2 cup natural peanut butter (we prefer chunky)
• 1 T. honey
• 1/4 cup water
• If using salted peanut butter no salt is needed.  If unsalted, add 1 t. salt.
• 1-2 T. lemon juice
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• red pepper flakes to spice things up, if you're into that kinda thing

Put ingredients into a bowl and whisk until smooth.

Soy Sauce Sauce

• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1/2 cup water
• 1 T. rice vinegar
• 1 t. sesame oil (I've omitted that and used olive oil instead)
• pinch of hot pepper flakes
• 1 t. grated ginger
• a touch of honey

Put ingredients into a bowl and whisk until smooth.

Kohlrabi Fritters

Ingredients:

1 kohlrabi
1/2 cup scallions (finely chopped)
1/2 cup all purpose flour (or gluten free all purpose or whole wheat)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs, lightly beaten
olive oil for frying

Remove leaves of kohlrabi (save for later) and then peel off outer skin of the root.  Grate kohlrabi and add to scallions.  You’ll need 3 cups, so if your kohlrabi and onion combo isn't quite large enough add another vegetable such as garlic scapes or radishes. Wrap the kohlrabi in cheesecloth or a clean dish towel and squeeze as much water out as you can. Transfer the kohlrabi/onion combo to a mixing bowl, and combine with remaining ingredients.  Destem those kohlrabi leaves you saved, chop them up and throw them in the bowl with everything else.

Heat a thin layer of oil over medium high heat in a cast iron skillet. Pan-fry kohlrabi in 1/4 cup scoops, about 2 minutes per side until golden. Drain on paper towels. Serve with a cilantro lime sauce, hot sauce, or another another sauce of your choice.

Adapted from Early Morning Farm