topic Re: Turnips in Recipes

Turnips

maximillian — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:16:41 GMT

For some reason, I had never cooked turnips until today. I am a "senior citizen," so I have cooked many meals over the decades.

My PCP is working with me to get my weight and blood pressure under control. Some days I eat in a healthy way; other days I just can't stand to be good. Anyway, I have been looking for ideas about healthy foods to cook to add variety to my meal plans. I read on line that turnips are a good choice. They have nutrients we need and are relatively low calorie, depending on how they are prepared, of course.

Today I peeled turnips, cut them into wedges and roasted them. I drizzled a little olive oil on them and sprinkled on a little salt. I probably should omit the salt next time-I can just use pepper instead. Much to my surprise, I really liked them! Who knew?

Any tips or healthy recipes for me for turnips? I have seen a way to braise them too-I think I will try that soon.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Re: Turnips

colleena — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:24:31 GMT

@maximillian I knew nothing about turnips but good for you for cooking something new, good for you & it coming out well - good job!

Re: Turnips

PA Mom-mom — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:32:04 GMT

@maximillian I wasn't a fan when I was young. Mom always made mashed turnips when we had fried rabbit. I ate them, but wasn't too impressed. I now like them very much. Lately, I've roasted them, with much success, and also used them in stews instead of, or along with, potatoes.

Re: Turnips

Kachina624 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:35:14 GMT

@maximillian. I had a co-worker once who ate a turnip raw every day like one would eat an apple.

Re: Turnips

SaveTheTurtles — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:40:39 GMT

It's funny that of all vegetables out there you zeroed in on a turnip. I bet if you added broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, turnips, sweet potato or a squash and did a roasted veg combo with a little olive oil or whatever it would be delightful. I've done this, it is! The sky's the limit for creativity. You could make a healthy vegetable soup too.

Re: Turnips

rockygems123 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 02:47:59 GMT

@maximillian wrote:
For some reason, I had never cooked turnips until today. I am a "senior citizen," so I have cooked many meals over the decades.

My PCP is working with me to get my weight and blood pressure under control. Some days I eat in a healthy way; other days I just can't stand to be good. Anyway, I have been looking for ideas about healthy foods to cook to add variety to my meal plans. I read on line that turnips are a good choice. They have nutrients we need and are relatively low calorie, depending on how they are prepared, of course.

Today I peeled turnips, cut them into wedges and roasted them. I drizzled a little olive oil on them and sprinkled on a little salt. I probably should omit the salt next time-I can just use pepper instead. Much to my surprise, I really liked them! Who knew?

Any tips or healthy recipes for me for turnips? I have seen a way to braise them too-I think I will try that soon.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

@maximillian

Sounds like you're off to a great start! I've eaten turnips all my life peeled with salt like a radish. I love roasted turnips, radishes and parsnips. I also slice sweet potatoes and roast those medallions, broccoli, brussel sprouts with bacon and onions, asparagus with balsamic vinegar topped with parmesan when taken out.

All pretty much tossed with olive oil, salt & pepper. Not sure if any of these could work for you but they're healthy.

Tried kale chips last week, yuk lol. I use kale a lot in dishes but roasted by themselves didn't do anything for me.

Turnips also can be used in a stew along with parsnips, potatoes and the usual carrots along with celery.

Re: Turnips

happilyretiredgirl — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 03:47:26 GMT

@maximillian I love turnips and there are many ways to fix them. I like to bake them just like scallops potatoes, but since you are watching what you eat you could omit the cheese or add a little low fat cheese they are delicious. I also eat them raw and sometimes dip them in ranch dressing for a snack. Good luck with your healthy journey.

Re: Turnips

Sooner — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 03:51:00 GMT

To me it's a toss up which is worse: Turnips or turnip greens. Because relatives raised them, they were a frequent item on our table when I was growing up.

Washing the greens was one of my chores--which didn't add to their allure.

Re: Turnips

Etoile308 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 04:38:51 GMT

I wash, peel, dice into inch sized cubes, boil in slightly salted water until tender, then put a pat of butter on top.

Re: Turnips

on the bay — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 04:41:20 GMT

@maximillian,

Aren't they good?!

I have always liked how they taste. I am getting ideas too and never thought of the idea of replacing potatoes with them or scalloped turnips or roasted.

I know this sounds kind of strange but I've always liked them just boiled and that's all. I have had them with some added butter but I just like to taste them plain.

There are so many good cooks here and next time I get groceries I am going to get some turnips and experiment some. I forget about things even when I like them!

Re: Turnips

HLP — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 07:48:23 GMT

@maximillian wrote:
For some reason, I had never cooked turnips until today. I am a "senior citizen," so I have cooked many meals over the decades.

My PCP is working with me to get my weight and blood pressure under control. Some days I eat in a healthy way; other days I just can't stand to be good. Anyway, I have been looking for ideas about healthy foods to cook to add variety to my meal plans. I read on line that turnips are a good choice. They have nutrients we need and are relatively low calorie, depending on how they are prepared, of course.

Today I peeled turnips, cut them into wedges and roasted them. I drizzled a little olive oil on them and sprinkled on a little salt. I probably should omit the salt next time-I can just use pepper instead. Much to my surprise, I really liked them! Who knew?

Any tips or healthy recipes for me for turnips? I have seen a way to braise them too-I think I will try that soon.

Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks.

Mortons makes a substitute salt, in a little salt shaker. Amazon around $7.50, lasts a long time , but is very good if you are salt restricted, as I am.

Re: Turnips

AuntMame — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 07:58:55 GMT

There are different types of turnips with different tastes. The ones I love most are "salad turnips" or Japanese hakurei turnips. They're very small, just a little bit larger than a big radish. They have a very mild taste, almost sweet. They lack the tang of the big green turnips. They taste wonderful sliced up in salads. And the greens taste great too. Around here I've found them only at farmer's markets during the summer. They're definitely worth searching for.

Re: Turnips

Lilysmom1 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 09:03:21 GMT

@Kachina624 ,I nibble on raw turnips all the time. They are a staple veggie in our home. My father had a HUGE vegetable garden and root veggies like turnips were standard plantings.

When I met DH, his family ate squash like we ate turnip. The first time I had it, I thought it was turnip so I got a surprise. I have grown to like squash although my preference is turnip.

I use turnip steamed, boiled and in soups and stews.

Lately the texture of many is woody and the turnip is very hard which is a real turnoff. When they are like this, I let them age a bit before I cook them.

@maximillian

Re: Turnips

LindaSal — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 12:39:23 GMT

The only way I've cooked turnips is to boil them, boil some carrots then drain and mash them altogether. Surprisingly my kids loved this dish when they were young and still request it at Thanksgiving. No added butter or salt needed!

Re: Turnips

candys mine — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:16:20 GMT

@Etoile308 Sorta the same for me but I steam them.

Re: Turnips

Carolina925 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:24:01 GMT

My mother fixed them often, always cooked in the turnip greens. I always liked them but haven't made them since she passed. They were always very readily available in our grocery stores here in the south and she had a brother who was a farmer who would supply us with fresh. I'll have to look for them again, would like to try them in my air fryer with a little olive oil and also mashed as some have mentioned. Good luck on your new healthy journey.

Re: Turnips

Natureluvr — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 13:53:14 GMT

Parsnips
Fresh Thyme
Honey
Olive Oil
1. Scrub the parsnips clean, then slice in half lengthways.
2. Parboil the parsnips in boiling salted water for 10 minutes, then drain well.
3. Pick the thyme leaves. Toss the parsnips with the honey, thyme, a pinch of sea salt and black pepper, butter and 2 tablespoons of oil.
4. Tip into a roasting tray and arrange in one layer, then roast for 40 minutes, or until golden.

Re: Turnips

wagirl — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:37:03 GMT

Turnips have always intrigued me--not sure if I have tried them before? Think putting them in a stew sounds good. so you peel them? And are they like a potatoe? Do they get mushy if you cook them too long? It's been hard finding any veg this time of year---but always there are turnips and parsnips.

Re: Turnips

Zhills — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 15:39:46 GMT

Boil the turnip greens with ham and include the roots! Great Southern dish!

Re: Turnips

Kachina624 — Fri, 12 Jan 2024 16:53:45 GMT

@Lilysmom1. Do you also eat Rutabagas? My sister and I have a running joke about them. Mom cooked some once and made us try them. We agreed they were the nastiest thing we'd ever eaten.