What is Purple Dawn Kumara?

Bold in colour, earthy in flavour.

If you’re looking to add colour to your plate, Purple Dawn kumara is your new friend!

This variety is known for its purple skin and vibrant purple flesh right through. It has a soft texture when cooked, similar to the Orange Kumara or Sweet Potato as its known around the world. Its naturally earthy flavour that isn’t so sweet as some other kumara varieties, make it a very versatile vegetable to pair with garlic, onions and other aromatics in a dish.

Purple kumara also has many nutritional benefits. They are a good source of beta-carotene but are an even richer source of anthocyanin pigments, which act as antioxidants that can help reduce inflammation and boost your immune system. Purple kumara have about three times more anthocyanins than the average blueberry. Move over, blueberries!

What Makes Purple Dawn Different?

Purple Dawn stands out straight away for its colour. It is often confused with the Original Red Kumara, our Owairaka, as it has the same purple skin, but once cut open, Purple Dawn has a rich purple tone right through the flesh.

Roasted, mashed or served as part of a kumara medley, Purple Dawn adds contrast and colour without needing complicated preparation.

Best Ways to Use Purple Dawn Kumara

Purple Dawn works well across a range of different cooking methods. Our personal favourite is mashing, because of its vibrant colour. But here’s some more ideas:

Roast it

Purple Dawn is softer in texture, similar to the Orange Sweet Potato variety. Cut it into wedges or chunks and toss in oil until lightly coated. Sprinkly over your favourite vege seasoning or garlic powder and roast until soft on the inside and crispy on the outside, approx 20 – 30 minutes.

Mash it

This is our favourite! Purple Dawn makes for an amazing mash or purée, ideal when you want a bold colour pop on the plate. It can be mashed, just as you would with standard potatoes or orange sweet potato. For extra depth, try adding roasted garlic, caramelised onion, herbs or a little butter. You can even try miso to add another depth of flavour.

Picture below: Purple Kumara Toast.

Add it to salads and bowls

Roasted Purple Dawn kumara is a great addition to warm salads, grain bowls and seasonal vegetable dishes. Its colour gives the plate more contrast and helps fresh ingredients stand out.

Cooking Tip: Keep the Colour

To help Purple Dawn retain its vibrant purple colour, add a small dash of vinegar to the cooking water when you boil them. This simple step can help preserve the colour, especially when preparing mash or purée.