Here in Texas, turnips are in season which means we will be incorporating these cruciferous root vegetables into some of our meals. One reason why we love using seasonal ingredients is because it not only helps us to get creative with how we use them but we prefer supporting local farmers and using what nature provides us! If you’re like most people, you probably haven’t cooked with turnips a whole lot before. Before you pick out the perfect turnip, there are some guidelines you should follow. Look for firm, heavy roots with smooth skin, a sweet aroma and the greens at the top should be crisp.
How would we describe a turnip? They are like a cross between a carrot and a potato! Most people will say they taste pretty bland and they would be right but they can actually be quite tasty when seasoned right!
Keep in mind if you are diabetic, like any high-starch vegetable, they contain a high-sugar content. However, if you are not diabetic then turnips can actually be a real health benefit for you as they are high in fiber and contain a lot of B vitamins. Another reason to love turnips? They have a long shelf life so you don’t have to worry about leaving them in the fridge for awhile.
So how you can use these potato-like veggies in your next meal? As a general rule you can pretty much prepare these anyway you would a potato, you can mash and bake them, etc. but here are some creative ideas for you!
Roast them and drizzle them in a dressing/sauce
Just like potatoes are great roasted, so are turnips! Bake them in the oven with some shallots and add a tasty mustard vinaigrette and you’ve got yourself a delicious spring side dish!
Get the recipe here
Swap Your Cooked Spinach or Collard Greens for Turnip Greens
Turnip greens are rich in Vitamin K and are delicious simply roasted up in a pan with some olive oil, red pepper flakes, onions and simple seasonings.
Get the recipe here.
Add it to soup
Even though the weather is starting to warm up, soups still make a great dinner when it gets a little chilly in this unpredictable season! Pretty much any
soup recipe that calls for potatoes, you can swap for turnips! Or make this delicious spring turnip soup (recipe below).
Get the recipe here.
Add Turnips to Salads
You can add raw turnips to a salad or cube them and roast them in the oven and toss them in a bed of arugula with goat cheese and garden tomatoes.
Since turnips have a similar texture to carrots, these pair with salads perfectly!
Get the recipe here.
Make Mashed Turnips
The obvious thing to do with turnips is to mash them like you would potatoes! Since they can be pretty bland, you could
even mix them with regular mashed potatoes for a slightly sweeter taste. You really can’t go wrong when you add butter, fresh
garden herbs and minced garlic.
Get the recipe here.