All Things Purple Potatoes - Waves In The Kitchen

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Vibrant purple potatoes are the antioxidant-rich jewels of the potato world.

In this ultimate guide, I’ll share where they come from, why they’re more nutritious, what they taste like, the different varieties, the best ways to cook them — and the internet’s most deliciously purple potato pics.

Purple potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, purple radishes, pink radishes, and red beet slices. — purple potatoes, purple sweet potatoes, purple radishes, and purple beets

What are Purple Potatoes & Where are They From?

Purple potatoes are a broad term used to describe potatoes with naturally purple skin — including conventional, hybrid, and heirloom varieties. Their skin color ranges from nearly black to deep indigo, royal purple, and soft violet, while the flesh can be solid or marbled purple, red or white.

Like all potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), they trace their roots to the Andes Mountains of South America. Native to Peru and Bolivia, these richly pigmented tubers spread to Europe in the 16th century via Spanish explorers and were introduced to the United States in the mid-1980s.

Today, purple potatoes are commercially cultivated in South America, North America, and Europe.

Small purple potatoes cut intro rounds, rounds are on a black baking sheet sprinkled with salt and overhead shot. — little purple potatoes cut intro rounds

Purple potatoes are sometimes referred to as blue potatoes.

What do Purple Potatoes Taste Like

Purple potatoes have a more distinct, earthy, and slightly nutty flavor compared to the mild, neutral taste of russets. While russets are high in starch and low in moisture — giving them that light, airy, fluffy texture — purple potatoes contain less starch, making them denser, moister, and firmer, similar to Yukon Golds.

The flavor difference is subtle — not loud, but nuanced. You’ll have to develop your potato palate to truly appreciate it.

Thinly sliced pink, purple and white potato rounds; tossed with olive oil, sat and pepper; overhead shot. — all the pretty potato colors!

The Antioxidant Power of Purple Potatoes

Purple potatoes get their vibrant color from anthocyanins — natural plant pigments with powerful antioxidant properties.

Anthocyanins are responsible for the red, purple, and blue tones in fruits and vegetables like red okra, purple cauliflower, and pink apples.

Because purple potatoes are anthocyanin-rich, they contain more antioxidants than their non-purple counterparts — up to four times as many as Russet potatoes. That stunning violet hue isn’t just beautiful — it’s biologically beneficial.

Little purple potatoes cut into wedges with a few white potatoes on the baking sheet as well; overhead shot. — the purple wedges are the healthiest wedges!

Purple, pink and white fingerling potatoes cut in half with olive oil, salt, pepper, rosemary, oregano, garlic and a few carrots, all mixed together on a sheet pan; overhead shot. — purple fingerlings

Purple Potato Varieties

There are over 3,500 varieties of potatoes worldwide — and dozens of them come in shades of purple.

While the greatest potato diversity exists in Peru and Bolivia, you can still find a wide preciously purple varieties around the world. They come in all shapes and sizes, from small fingerlings to large oblong tubers.

The most common varieties include:

All Blue
Purple Peruvian
Magic Molly
Purple Majesty

Adirondack Blue
Purple Fiesta
Vitelotte
Purple Pelisse

Brigus
Michigan Purple
Purple Eyes
Purple Viking
Congo

All Blue is the most common purple potato in U.S. grocery stores. A small- to medium sized heirloom variety with dark blue skin, violet-blue flesh and creamy texture. Generally classified as medium-starch (all-purpose) spuds, best for baking, roasting, and mashing.

Purple Potato Season & Availability

Once considered rare, purple potatoes are now widely available at most major supermarkets — and, of course, at farmers markets (my preferred place to shop for produce).

They’re available year-round, with peak season in the fall, and food taste best grown in its own season.

Daniela Gerson holding a cast iron skillet with purple potatoes cut in half on a black background; overhead shot. — this variety is called Magic Molly

How to Cook Purple Potatoes

You can cook purple potatoes in all the same ways you’d cook any other potato.

Just like other potatoes, the skins are completely edible and filled with nutrients.

Purple potatoes are very versatile. Generally classified as medium-starch (all-purpose) spuds, best for baking, roasting, and mashing.

Purple potatoes can be used in any recipe that calls for potatoes. And the results will be antioxidant-richer.

Want Potato Recipes?

Looking for potato recipes? Especially purple ones - the antioxidant-rich members of the potato family. Sweet potatoes included.

No-Mayo Potato Salad - A bright, herbaceous potato salad tossed in smoky paprika vinaigrette.
Crispy Smashed Potatoes - boiled, flattened, then roasted until golden brown and ultra crispy – the best of all potato worlds.
Hasselback Potato Gratin - The best of creamy potato gratin and crispy hasselback potatoes in one epic mash-up.
Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries - Extremely crispy oven-baked sweet potato fries served with spicy chipotle aioli.
Purple Sweet Potato Pie - A vibrant purple twist on classic Southern sweet potato pie with gingersnap crust and pecan streusel.
Sweet Potato Salad with Feta & Lime Vinaigrette - A colorful sweet potato salad with feta and a bright maple-lime vinaigrette.

Purple Potato Photo Gallery

Par-boiled purple potatoes smashed on a gold(ish) baking sheet; sprinkled with flaky salt and overhead shot. — par-boiled & smashed purple potatoes

Purple smashed potatoes just out of the oven; on gold(ish) baking sheet and overhead shot. — par-boiled & smashed purple potatoes

Crispy smashed purple, red and white potatoes, all done and overhead shot. — smashed potatoes all done!

In process shot of roasting smashed purple, red and white potatoes; on a black baking sheet halfway thru cooking; overhead shot. — smashed potatoes all done!

Raw purple potatoes cut into wedges on a baking sheet; overhead shot. — purple potatoes cut intro wedges

Purple potato wedges in a baking dish with chicken broth, oregano, and olive oil; overhead shot. — with olive oil, broth and oregano

Purple potato wedge just out of the oven roasted with chicken broth, olive oil, oregano and lemon; overhead shot. — with olive oil, broth and oregano

Purple potato wedges in a baking dish with chicken broth, oregano, olive oil and topped with lemon slices. Overhead shot. — lemon slices added pre-oven

More Purple Veggies

If purple potatoes caught your eye – you’re not alone. Purple veggies are kind of my love language. Check out these other preciously purple produce guides

Purple Cauliflower - the vibrant, antioxidant-packed cousin of classic white cauliflower.
Purple Brussel Sprouts - the sweeter, nuttier, antioxidant-rich cousin of the classic green sprout.
Purple Kale – the glam, antioxidant-rich version of classic green kale.
Radicchio - the vibrant purple veggie that brings bold color to winter cooking.

If you spot purple potatoes, I’d love to see — tag me on Instagram, @danielagerson, so I can see your pretty purple potato creations.

There’s a whole wide world of colorful fruits and vegetables out there, and I hope this guide inspires you to play with more of them in the kitchen.

Let’s make waves in the kitchen.