It was purple.
At Ana Crespillo's fruit market Monday morning, San Geraldo picked up some unbelievably beautiful carrots. He tasted some as he cut them up for the soup. He said they were unbelievably delicious. They were also purple.
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| PURPLE CARROTS AT ANA CRESPILLO'S MARKET, LOS BOLICHES. (CLICK ANY IMAGE TO "PURPLIZE.") |
I just learned that until the late 16th century, most carrots were purple, with mutations in yellow and white. At that time, Dutch growers began developing the orange carrots that we now know so well.
Sadly, no Dutch growers were available to tell San Geraldo what purple carrots would do to his soup. The potatoes and other vegetables — and the chicken — took on a sickly lavender hue. The broth was a richer shade of lavender. Surprisingly... or perhaps not surprisingly... it tasted just like chicken soup.
But, it was similar to the color of borscht (made from beets).
I hate borscht, but I liked the soup.
San Geraldo loves borscht, but not purple chicken soup.
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| COOKED PURPLE CARROT. |
Maybe, like Doris Day, I'm in love, I'm in love, I'm in love...
And, speaking of a purple cow...
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| SAN GERALDO SPOTTED THIS PEELING PAINT FROM HIS WINDOW. IT LOOKS JUST LIKE A BUFFALO. |
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| THIS IS WHAT I SEE WHEN I LOOK OUT THAT WINDOW. |
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| INSPIRATION FOR THE SONG: POEM BY GELETT BURGESS, 1895. (ILLUSTRATION BY BURGESS, TOO.) |
I've never heard of purple carrots and haven't seen them in our local grocery store. At least I don't think I have. I'd better take another look.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteThey are delicious. Just maybe not a good choice for broth (but then again).
Oh, the humanity, purple carrots? It may very well mark the beginning of the end of Western civilization.
ReplyDeletesaludos,
raulito
Raulito:
DeleteJust going back to our root(s) vegetables.
I've seen the white carrot, but never the purple. i might look for some, and make purple potato soup with purple carrots and, of course,. purple basil.
ReplyDeleteIt may taste terrible, but might look gorgeous!
Bob:
DeleteIt would probably taste wonderful... but San Geraldo would not describe the look as gorgeous.
You sell that in New York and he would be starting a trend! I love homemade soup. He does spoil you you know.
ReplyDeleteCheapchick:
DeleteHe definitely does spoil me (but I DO clean up after him... and that's no easy job)!
My mother went to work when my siblings and I were in grade school so we learned real early on to cook and bake. My brother and I were always experimenting with things and I remember putting food coloring in some whipped cream we'd whipped up... and it was a beautiful purple. However, when we put it on the peaches, neither of us could eat that food.... it all turned purple. I know it tasted okay, but isn't it funny how used to things being a certain color that it affects our taste? We were in Germany several years ago and it was the first time I'd seen (what looked like) green cauliflower. We passed it up. These days I think I could eat The Saint's purple chicken soup with no trouble.
ReplyDeleteSharon:
DeleteBroccoflower! (I called it coccoli.)
There was nothing wrong with the purple chicken soup that couldn't be overcome by closing your eyes.
Whatever you say, Mitchell!
ReplyDeleteI have seen these in farmer's markets here but have never ventured to try them. Now I will. Thank you.
Jim:
DeleteThe carrots themselves are delicious and would be great in salad or cooked separately... unless you like the color purple.
Mitchell I have never seen purple carrot and I would like to try it..
ReplyDeleteGosia:
DeleteIt's interesting that we find them so unusual since they were the first carrots.
I'm so going to be growing purple carrots now! I'd eat San G's lovely lavender soup any day! Loved the last photo; it's the first poem the kidling memorised, the second being:
ReplyDeleteThere was a little girl
Who had a little curl,
Right in the middle of her forehead.
When she was good
She was very very good,
But when she was bad, she was horrid!
Gotta love dear Oscar Wilde... And who doesn't adore Ms. Day?
Jacqueline:
DeleteMy mother used to recite the "little curl" poem... through many generations of little girls. Wasn't it Longfellow who wrote it?
Purple soup. Pass. Purple carrots, ok.
ReplyDeleteAndrew:
DeleteThat's how San Geraldo feels about it.
Well I saw the thing comin' out of the sky
ReplyDeleteIt had one long horn, one big eye
I commenced to shakin' and I said "ooh-eee"
It looks like a purple people eater to me.
Walt The Fourth:
DeleteAs you can imagine, that song DID pop into my head for use here. It's continued to play in my head ever since.
Indeed
ReplyDeleteWhen I first saw the purple carrots I thought where on earth did you find these originals?
Spo:
DeleteIt amazes me how many of us had never seen these before given that that's what all carrots looked like (well... 400 years ago). I took a friend to the market yesterday to see them and as I explained the history, Ana, filled in a lot more. She not only sells the produce, she knows all about it and its evolution. Fascinating.
Just as well that 'buffalo' didn't more resemble a bearded man with long hair. You wouldn't have been able to get in or out for the massed throngs shouting "Un milagro!", plus assorted international TV crews. But I think that particular image is more likely to appear on pizzas - or dirty underwear!
ReplyDeleteRay:
DeleteThis made me laugh out loud. Just want until some more paint peels away.
Holy cow! Lavender chicken soup! What a hoot!
ReplyDeleteJudy:
DeleteOr... what a cluck!
Love those Heritage Carrots of various colours so unlike the standard carrot. They have become very popular in Canada in Farmer's Markets.
ReplyDeleteLaurent:
DeleteIt never dawned on me they'd be called "heritage" carrots. Of course! Like heritage tomatoes. The collection of colors make for beautiful art.
I've grown purple carrots but I had no idea that THEY were the originals, not orange!
ReplyDeleteKnatolee:
DeleteI was surprised when I read the history of carrots. I assumed these purple, and shades of yellow I'd seen were modern variations. I suppose I should read more and find out why the Dutch felt the need to change the color. (Maybe it was because purple chicken soup looked so peculiar.)