Recipe: Kohlrabi Bistro Salad (2024)

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Katie Webster

Katie Webster

Katie Webster is a cookbook author, food blogger at HealthySeasonalRecipes.com and her mission is to make dinnertime easy for busy families. She is a former test kitchen alum from EatingWell magazine and has been professionally developing recipes for more than 20 years. She is also a fitness instructor, mom of two, and loves to garden.

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updated May 1, 2019

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Recipe: Kohlrabi Bistro Salad (1)

Serves4

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Recipe: Kohlrabi Bistro Salad (2)

Borrowing flavors from the classic French frisée and poached egg bistro salad, this salad departs from the expected snarl of frilly greens and instead starts with a base of crunchy julienne-cut kohlrabi. I’ve also added in a touch of bittersweet Belgian endive for contrast. True to form, it is topped with a perfectly runny yolk egg and of course a sprinkling of smoky crumbled bacon.

When I was pregnant with my first daughter, I came as close as I will ever get to feeling what it is like to be a picky eater. I’ve always been inexplicably able to eat pretty much anything, but during that pregnancy I saw how the other side lives. Foods that I’d normally eat in bountiful amounts suddenly didn’t appeal to me, or even didn’t agree with me. I craved iced animal cookies — it was bizarre. Even after the morning sickness went away, I couldn’t handle cruciferous vegetables. For a girl who loves her vegetables, this was a pretty strange experience.

In an ironic twist of fate, that year was also an epic year for kohlrabi at the farm where we were CSA members. Calling it a bumper crop would be putting it mildly. Every week, the chalkboard would prescribe an unrealistically giant number of poundage of kohlrabi for us all to weigh out for ourselves. This was much to the chagrin of my pregnant and ever-protesting digestive system!

Luckily kohlrabi, when the leaves are removed, will keep forever in the back of the produce bin. If we had a root cellar, that summer would have rendered it full of kohlrabi. I ended up storing as much as I could and gave as much away as friends and family would allow.

When my daughter arrived in the fall, my tastes for veggies thankfully returned to normal. I was able to dive into the kohlrabi with veggie-loving enthusiasm at last. Up until that fall I had only really tried it cooked, but with so much of it, I ended up being quite adventurous with the ways I prepared it. I discovered that I loved it best when I peeled away the tough outer layer and then cut it into thin strips for our salads — no cooking required.

If you’ve never had kohlrabi before, I would liken it to the inside of a broccoli stem. It is very crunchy and crisp, and has a sweet and mildly peppery flavor. Although the green variety seems much more common, I’ve seen both purple and green kohlrabi. (Both are pale green inside.) In the winter months, you’ll often find it with the stems removed. In the late summer, it’s often sold bunched together like beets, with the leaves attached.

In today’s salad I’ve cut away the tough outer layer to feature the kohlrabi raw.

Then I julienne cut it on my mandoline. If you don’t have a mandoline, you can do this by hand or use a spiralizer. If you want to use a box grater, I won’t tell!

I subbed the kohlrabi in for curly endive (or frisée) in a French bistro-style salad. You know the classic that’s topped with crumbled bacon and poached egg? I love the way the runny yolk becomes part of the tarragon- and Dijon-spiked vinaigrette. (Note: If consuming undercooked eggs is a concern, use pasteurized shell eggs or cook eggs all the way through (for about five-and-a-half minutes.)

Comments

Serves 4

Nutritional Info

Ingredients

  • Splash white vinegar

  • 4

    large eggs

  • 2 tablespoons

    cider vinegar

  • 1 tablespoon

    minced shallot

  • 1 1/2 teaspoon

    Dijon mustard

  • 1/4 cup

    extra-virgin olive oil

  • 2 teaspoons

    chopped fresh tarragon

  • 1/2 teaspoon

    salt

  • Freshly ground pepper to taste

  • 6 cups

    peeled adn julienne-cut kohlrabi

  • 1 head

    Belgian endive, cut into bias strips

  • 4 strips

    thick-cut bacon, cooked and crumbled

Instructions

  1. Bring several inches of water plus a splash of white vinegar to a boil over high heat in a wide sauté pan or deep skillet. Crack eggs one at a time into a small ramekin and then slide into the water. Keep an eye on the boil/simmer of the water. The temperature of the water should drop from the cold eggs. When it comes back up to a simmer, reduce the heat to maintain a very gentle simmer. If the water is boiling, reduce heat. Cook eggs 4 minutes for runny yolks. Remove from the water with a slotted spoon to a plate lined with a clean towel.

  2. Meanwhile, whisk cider vinegar, shallot, and Dijon in a large salad bowl. Whisk in oil, tarragon, salt, and pepper. Add kohlrabi and endive and toss to coat. Divide salad among four dinner plates. Top with crumbled bacon and the hot poached egg.

Filed in:

dinner

Gluten-Free

Healthy Living

Lunch

Root Vegetables

Salad

Recipe: Kohlrabi Bistro Salad (2024)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat kohlrabi? ›

Slices and sticks can be stir-fried, and the whole stem can be hollowed out and stuffed with a veggie and rice or meat filling and baked like stuffed peppers. Kohlrabi greens are the top leaves that shoot off up the sides, and they can be cooked like spinach, or thinly sliced and added raw to salads.

What does Bistro salad contain? ›

In a bowl, toss lettuce, chives, dill and tomatoes with enough vinaigrette to lightly coat. On a platter, arrange dressed greens and tomatoes, eggs, potatoes, Gruyère and ham. Drizzle with more vinaigrette, and season with salt and pepper.

Do you need to peel kohlrabi? ›

Wise words from Brad: "Always peel the bulb, because the outside layer is rather fibrous and unpleasant. It won't break down after being cooked." Use a sharp knife to remove the skin, as it's too thick for a traditional vegetable peeler. Kohlrabi is equally tasty raw or cooked.

Can you eat kohlrabi skin? ›

When serving raw, you may want to gauge the thickness of the skin—if it feels particularly thick and rubbery, you can remove it with a vegetable peeler. But the skin is perfectly edible. Many people actually eat kohlrabi right out of the garden, like an apple, in big crunchy bites.

Is kohlrabi a laxative? ›

Kohlrabi is a good source of both soluble and insoluble fiber. The former is water-soluble and helps maintain healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels. On the other hand, insoluble fiber isn't broken down in your intestine, helping add bulk to your stool and promote regular bowel movements ( 19 ).

Is kohlrabi inflammatory? ›

A study by Jung et al. in 2014 showed that the green and purple-red kohlrabi varieties have flavonoids and phenolics compounds that act as anti-inflammatory agents. The kohlrabi extracts also inhibit the production of compounds that are involved in inflammatory processes.

What makes a bistro different? ›

A bistro is a type of restaurant and is just further defined as smaller and more casual than a fine dining establishment. Often, a bistro is described as more of a neighborhood restaurant with community ties, and a warm, cozy, inviting atmosphere.

What is bistro salad Aldi? ›

A mix of lambs lettuce, beetroot, red chard and ruby red chard.

Why are restaurant salads so high in calories? ›

Some factors that may impact the healthiness of restaurant salads include: 1. Dressings: High-calorie and high-fat dressings can turn a seemingly healthy salad into a calorie-packed meal. Creamy dressings like ranch or Caesar tend to be higher in calories, while vinaigrettes are generally lighter options.

Can you eat too much kohlrabi? ›

Kohlrabi is a healthy ingredient, and it's low in calories. Eating too much of any cruciferous vegetable can cause gas that can make you uncomfortable. Moderate your portion sizes to help ensure that you are able to enjoy the benefits of kohlrabi without negative digestive effects.

Should I refrigerate kohlrabi? ›

Kohlrabi can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks. Storage life can be extended if kohlrabi is placed in sealed perforated plastic bags. To prevent cross-contamination, keep kohlrabi away from raw meat and meat juices. Wash hands before and after handling fresh produce.

How do you cut kohlrabi for salad? ›

Use a paring knife to remove the tough outer skin from each half. Slice the kohlrabi into 1-inch rounds. If you want smaller pieces, dice those rounds into cubes. For raw preparations, thinly slice the kohlrabi with a mandoline or grate it.

Why is my kohlrabi bitter? ›

The best quality kohlrabi—sweet, crisp, juicy—results from fast growth without heat or moisture stress. If the plants are overheated or struggling to take up water, they will produce chemicals that have strong, bitter flavors.

Is kohlrabi good for you to Lose Weight? ›

Kohlrabi is taken by mouth as an antioxidant and for cancer, heart disease, constipation, diabetes, gout, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, high cholesterol, liver disease, menstrual symptoms, a pain disorder called sciatica, scurvy, weight loss, and wound healing.

What is the smell of kohlrabi? ›

Kohlrabi may look like a root vegetable, but it is actually related to cabbage, with a cabbage-like smell and the taste of broccoli stems.

How do you prepare kohlrabi to eat? ›

For a simple side dish, sauté the sliced kohlrabi in a bit of butter in a skillet. Once it begins to show some caramelization, season it with salt, nutmeg, and a little sugar​ for increased sweetness. Continue cooking until slightly al dente, with a bit of crispness, and serve it immediately.

What does kohlrabi taste like to eat? ›

What Does Kohlrabi Taste Like? Kohlrabi tastes similar to a broccoli stalk, but a bit more tender and sweet. Don't forget to remove the tough outer peel, then use the bulb either raw or cooked. It can be prepared much like a broccoli stalk, too—if raw, shred it and use it in slaw or thinly slice and use in a salad.

What does kohlrabi do for your body? ›

Kohlrabi is taken by mouth as an antioxidant and for cancer, heart disease, constipation, diabetes, gout, hemorrhoids, hot flashes, high cholesterol, liver disease, menstrual symptoms, a pain disorder called sciatica, scurvy, weight loss, and wound healing. Kohlrabi is applied to the skin for hair loss.

Does kohlrabi get soft when cooked? ›

It becomes a stew until the kohlrabi is soft and tender but still holds its shape.” Kohlrabi can also be cooked German style as a side dish braised in a creamy bechamel sauce. It can be eaten like you would a side of braised cabbage alongside meatballs or schnitzel.

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