Potato Types

Purple Potatoes

PURPLE POTATO INFORMATION

Learn more about purple potato calories and nutritional value.  We also provide links to our favorite purple potato recipes, including Blackened Blue Potato Salad and Smoked Paprika Blue Potato Soup.

Appearance: small to medium-size; oblong to fingerling; deep purple, blue or slightly red skin; blue, purple lavender, pink or white flesh
Texture: moist; firm flesh. Note–all blue and purple Peruvian varieties have higher starch content and a floury texture
Flavor: earthy, nutty, low sugar content
Preferred Uses: roasting, grilling, salads, baking

Most blue/purple potatoes have moist, firm flesh that retains its shape while adding rich, vibrant color and luscious taste to salads. The purple color is preserved best by microwaving, but steaming and baking are also great ways to cook blue/purple potatoes. Because of their mild yet distinctly nutty flavor, blue/purple potatoes naturally complement green salad flavors. Red, White and Blues—Combine blue potatoes with whites and reds in salads or roasted medleys to make all three colors “pop”. For more information, watch Potato Types and Tips: Purple/Blue Potatoes below.

PURPLE POTATOES NUTRITION AND CALORIES

One purple potato (approximately 5.2 ounces in size) has 110 calories and is an excellent source of potassium (more than a banana) and vitamin C.  Purples are also a good source of vitamin B6 and are fat, sodium and cholesterol free.

For more recipe ideas, please see our Purple Potato Recipes.