Turnip is another new vegetable to me. I have talked before about how, when I was growing up, my family only ate lettuce, carrots, tomatoes and peas so I won’t bore you with that again but suffice it to say I am trying to cook my way through all the vegetables I have never eaten or used. So far I have yet to meet one I don’t like. (See kale, brussel sprouts, eggplant, beets, sunchokes, etc)
When I was with J’s family for Easter they served mashed turnip and it was freaking delicious, so I have been meaning to try it for the last month or so. I looked for turnips last week at Trout Lake but couldn’t find any, but then I saw them at the store last night and decided to go for it.
It was actually pretty funny when I got to the counter at the store. The woman wasn’t sure what it was so I told her, but then she couldn’t find it in the system. Then I started questioning myself, maybe it wasn’t actually a turnip? I didn’t see a price or a label when I picked it up and so I think my expression made her doubt me and she called over several of her coworkers to weigh in on the fact that, yes, it was indeed a turnip. Whew. She said her family had grown up eating more conventional stuff too – so I guess I am not the only one who learned something?
Do you have any good turnip recipes? Would you be able to identify a turnip on sight? I wonder if they are easy to grow…
(serves 2-3)
1 600g turnip, or several, peeled and chopped into even pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/4- 1/3 cup chicken or vegetable stock
salt and pepper to taste
Chop the turnip evenly. Just like potatoes: the bigger the pieces the longer they will take to cook, mine were about 1 1/2 inches or so. Put in a pot and cover with 2 inches of water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil and cook until fork tender. Mine took ~15 minutes. Drain and put back in the stove on low. Add olive oil and stock and mash. Add a healthy pinch of salt and a few grinds of pepper and taste. Correct as necessary.
Similar Recipes:
Mashed Cauliflower
Roasted Beets with Garlic and Marjoram
Grilled Kale and Swiss Chard
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
I have nver cooked with turnips.
Wow you do love your veg, i dislike brussels sprouts, never liked the taste, even though my FIL had heaps in his veg garden.
I DO love veggies, I think it was because I was denied them as a child. Or at least not given them explicitly.
I do remember HATING this curried pumpkin soup my Mum made, though, it was the curry not the pumpkin I hated.
It took me way to long to figure out what FIL stood for.
Hi Kate!
I’m Dallas, the other blogger from Bitchin’ Lifestyle. Angelique told me all about you, so I decided to come check out your blog. It’s great! I am looking forward to coming back. As for turnip recipes, I like to steam cubes of it, and then sauté in a bit of butter and fresh sage leaves. It tastes amazing
I like turnips and carrots or turnip and swedes (rutabega) added to standard mashed potatoes for a change in winter. Growing up in Germany I never really ate turnips as they are not popular there but over here in the UK they are widely available and quite common.
Dallas – that sounds great, and my garden has WAY too much sage. Well, not too much maybe but certainly lots.
Sylvie – you reminded me that I still need to try Rutabega. In fact I don’t even know if I could identify it!
British mum = turnip galore. We used to eat it straight up boiled then mashed (not so good), then I discovered boiled, mashed, with a little mashed potato and butter. Pretty good (and this is coming from a veggie hater)! And the water you boil it in is amazing for gravy.
I grew up much the same as you, and just had my first turnip not too long ago. In fact, I tried it much the same way you did!!
L – adding butter, is that the key? I didn’t realize you were a veggie hater!
Deborah – So, did you like it?