Cosmic Purple Carrots
Estimated Inventory, bunch : 0
This item was last sold on : 04/06/26
Description/Taste
Cosmic Purple carrots are elongated roots, averaging 15 to 20 centimeters in length, and have a slender, conical to cylindrical shape, featuring rounded shoulders tapering to a pointed tip on the non-stem end. The roots are connected to long, crisp stems averaging 10 to 38 centimeters in length, with frilly, lacey green leaves. The stems occasionally showcase pigmented hues where they attach to the root and transition to pale green shades near the leaves. Cosmic Purple carrots may vary in shape, depending on soil conditions, but are straight in ideal environments. The root’s exterior ranges from red-purple to dark purple hues, and the skin is semi-smooth, ridged, and firm, covered in many fine root hairs. Underneath the surface, the flesh is crisp, dense, and aqueous, appearing in shades of dark purple, orange, and yellow. Cosmic Purple carrots are known for their contrasting interior and exterior hues and are edible raw or cooked. The variety has a sweet, vegetal, and earthy flavor with subtle nutty, peppery, and spice-like nuances.
Seasons/Availability
Cosmic Purple carrots are available year-round.
Current Facts
Cosmic Purple carrots, botanically classified as Daucus carota, are a specialty variety belonging to the Apiaceae family. The elongated, pigmented roots were created in the United States in 2005 and are descendants of the original purple carrot varieties native to Central Asia. Cosmic Purple carrots develop underground and produce upright leafy tops, maturing 65 to 75 days after planting. The variety is believed to be a Danvers-type carrot, characterized by its tapered appearance with rounded shoulders, and is favored by consumers for its purple-red skin and complementary yellow-orange interior. Cosmic Purple carrots are a fast-growing variety with some disease resistance, making them an easy-to-grow plant. The colored roots are also known as Cosmic Purple carrots and are favored by consumers for their distinct hues, crunchy, snappy texture, and sweet, subtly peppery flavor. Cosmic Purple carrots are a versatile crop utilized by chefs and home cooks in fresh and cooked culinary preparations.
Nutritional Value
Cosmic Purple carrots have not been extensively studied for their nutritional properties. Purple carrots, in general, are a source of fiber to regulate the digestive track and vitamins A, B, C, and K to maintain healthy organs, contribute to energy production, aid in faster wound healing, and strengthen the immune system. Purple carrots also provide minerals in varying quantities, including iron, potassium, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and manganese. These minerals help the body produce proteins for oxygen transport through the bloodstream, balance fluid levels, support bone and tooth health, and control daily nerve functions. Purple carrots are notably rich in anthocyanins, which possess antioxidant properties that help reduce inflammation and promote overall body health.
Applications
Cosmic Purple carrots have a sweet, subtly peppery taste suited for fresh and cooked preparations. The variety is valued for its darkly pigmented exterior and bright core, often sliced diagonally to showcase this unique coloring. Cosmic Purple carrots are consumed as a snack with dips or grated and added to salads and slaws. They can also be spiralized and tossed as a noodle substitute, chopped into grain bowls, or pressed into juice for smoothies, health drinks, and other beverages. In addition to fresh applications, Cosmic Purple carrots become softer and sweeter when cooked, and are popularly prepared using methods such as roasting, sautéing, frying, boiling, and steaming. The variety is simmered into soups, curries, and stews, glazed and served as a simple side, or steamed and consumed as an accompaniment to roasted meats. Try adding carrots to casseroles, roasts, and shepherd’s pie, or tossing them into stir-fries. Carrots are also grated into baked goods, such as muffins and cakes, fried into fritters, or fermented into a tangy pickle. Cosmic Purple carrots pair well with aromatics such as garlic, onions, and ginger, herbs, including thyme, rosemary, dill, and oregano, and meats like beef, pork, and poultry. Whole, unwashed carrots will keep for several weeks when loosely stored in a plastic bag with good air circulation in the refrigerator's crisper drawer.
Ethnic/Cultural Info
Dr. Philipp Simon, carrot geneticist and creator of the Cosmic Purple carrot, has been breeding and researching carrots for over forty years at the USDA Agricultural Research Station in Madison, Wisconsin. The goals of this USDA and University breeding program are to uncover new information surrounding carrots, advancements in breeding, and to continue genomic mapping of fresh market carrots, which account for the majority of carrots sold in the United States. Dr. Simon and team have increased nutritional value, disease resistance, and improved genetic traits of new carrot varieties and have released several colorful cultivars to expand diversity within the fresh market. Dr. Simon also collaborated with a team to map and publish the genetic code, known as the genome, of the carrot in 2016, providing a better framework for future carrot breeding.
Geography/History
Cosmic Purple carrots were developed in the United States through the USDA Agricultural Research Station in Madison, Wisconsin, in 2005. Geneticist Dr. Philipp Simon and staff at the research station sought to create new colored carrot varieties with improved resistance to disease, nutritional properties, and flavor. Purple carrots, in general, originate from regions in Afghanistan, with other possible sites in Pakistan and northern Iran. The pigmented roots were later introduced into the eastern Mediterranean sometime between 900 and 1000 AD through human migration and arrived in western Europe around the 14th century. Over time, new varieties of purple carrots were selectively bred for improved traits and growing characteristics. In 2005, Cosmic Purple carrots were released to the public and became a specialty purple cultivar for small-scale growers and home gardeners. Today, Cosmic Purple carrots are sold fresh through farmers’ markets, retailers, and wholesalers worldwide, especially in the United States and Europe. The variety is also available in seed form through online seed catalogs.
Featured Restaurants
Restaurants currently purchasing this product as an ingredient for their menu.
| The Handmade Chef Meal Prep Co. | San Diego CA | 619-368-3705 |
| Syrah Spirit & Wine Parlor | San Diego CA | 619-234-4166 |
| Secret Sister | San Diego CA | 619-281-0718 |
| Terra Restaurant | San Diego CA | 619-293-7088 |
| The Guild Hotel (Banquets) | San Diego CA | 619-764-5108 |
| Lodge at Torrey Pines Main | San Diego CA | 858-453-4420 |
| Starlite Kitchen | San Diego CA | 619-358-9766 |
| Blind Lady | San Diego CA | 619-381-4475 |
| Sepulveda Meats & Provisions | San Diego CA | 619-501-1878 |
| RoVino Rotisserie + Wine | San Diego CA | 619-972-6286 |
| Steady State Roasting | Carlsbad CA | 760-908-1680 |
Recipe Ideas
Recipes that include Cosmic Purple Carrots. One
is easiest, three is harder.| Averie Cooks |
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Herb-roasted Colored Carrots |
| Cecelia's Good Stuff |
|
Braised Purple Carrots |
Cosmic Purple Carrots for sale around the world shared on the Specialty Produce App
