Turnips

Turnips are a root vegetable commonly associated with potatoes or beets, but their closest relatives are radishes and arugula, which are also members of the mustard family. They are packed with Vitamin C.

We offer purple-top turnips and Tokyo turnips.

Purple top turnips are a larger variety.

The Tokyo turnips are a smaller, milder, juicier turnip.

How do you cook them?

raw: They are bitter-sweet  raw, try them sliced with sea salt, dipped in tahini or sprinkled over a salad.

steamed: You can steam them with the greens still intact! Just spread the turnips with the greens still attached on a steamer rack over boiling water, cover and cook until just barely tender, about 3 to 6 minutes depending upon the size of the turnips. (Choose turnips of equal size for even steaming of the bunch.) When tender, drain the turnips and greens on a kitchen towel and season to your liking.

boiled: Boil the turnips with a potato to cut down on bitterness, or change the water a couple times during boiling. There is no need to peel the turnips first when boiling. Cut the stems to within 1/2″  or you can boil the greens right along with the turnips. Submerge the whole turnips (no larger than 3 inches wide) in boiling water. If you have larger turnips, cut them in halves or quarters, or do so anyway to cut the cooking time. Older and larger turnips tend to be more bitter than their sweet smaller sisters. So try cooking them uncovered so the bitter gasses can escape. This may take longer.  Simmer for approximately 25-30 minutes, depending on their size. Once they are tender, turnips can be chopped, sliced or diced  or mashed at this point.

carmelized: Try Chef Andrew’s Carmelized Tokyo Turnips. Yum!

pickled: This recipe for Quick Turnip Pickles is like a Japanese sunomono salad!

roasted: Or you can roast them with other roots for a delicious roasted treat.

sauteed: You can saute the smaller turnips whole or cube them. Just heat some oil, maybe saute some onions first and toss them in until golden and tender.

curried: Try this ayurvedic recipe for curried mashed turnips.