Looking for turnip recipes for healthy eating? You've come to the right place! These easy, low carb, healthy turnip recipes can be on the table in 30 minutes or less and will transform turnips into your new favorite side dish.
Root vegetables
Root vegetables are some of the most forgiving vegetables to work with. What's a root vegetable, you ask?
Some of the most common root vegetables include potatoes, carrots, beets, turnips, parsnips, onions and shallots, radishes, and sweet potatoes.
(Speaking of sweet potatoes, they're one of my favorites. If you're in need of sweet potato recipes, I have lots! Check out my sweet potato recipe archives here.)
I also find root vegetables some of the most rewarding to grow. For example, let's take the humble turnip. You plant a turnip seed. The turnip greens grow big and fluffy but you can't see what's happening down under the ground.
You just have to wait the minimum number of days to maturity. Then, you can grab the greens down at the base and pull it out, and you (hopefully) have turnips!
Whether you're growing larger turnips or baby turnips, the process is the same. It's the same, in fact, for all root vegetables, although their number of days underground will vary depending on what's growing. Regardless of how long it's been, pulling them up is like digging for buried treasure. So satisfying.
I used to be a turnip skeptic. But I've been trying my hand at a few turnip recipes over the years, and I'm a turnip convert.
Turnip recipes
My three best turnip recipes are roasted turnips, turnip fries, and mashed turnips. They're not quite as starchy as potatoes, so don't expect them to be as dense - but they make a great low-carb alternative and are tasty to boot. They also make the perfect side dish for most any meal!
What kind of turnips to use
White turnips are the most common, and likely what you'll find at your grocery store. Smaller turnips tend to be a bit less bitter, if you're going to eat them raw. The outer peel is always tough and usually dirty (from the dirt!) so I recommend always peeling them before using, regardless of size. The best way to get started with turnips is to just buy some and find an easy recipe to try them out. Here are three healthy recipes that make a simple side dish that you can get on a dinner plate in 25-30 minutes!
Roasted turnips
Looking for a go-to vegetable recipe that almost everyone will love? You've found it with these roasted turnips. All you need is a baking sheet, a bit of olive oil, and some herbs and spices and you're ready to go. This one makes a great healthy side dish when you're short on time.
Turnip Fries
This turnip fries recipe is great for large turnips. Once you use your vegetable peeler to peel the outer layer off, you can cut them into thin matchsticks and bake them for an easy side dish and a great alternative to potato fries. They have a quick cooking time and are a good idea when you are just trying out turnips for the first time!
Mashed Turnips
This is my favorite turnip dish for special occasions or when you have company coming for dinner. A great way to fancy these mashed turnips up a little bit is to serve them with some cracked black pepper and fresh herbs, then give a little olive oil drizzle on top.
Turnip Recipes
This turnips recipe is a doppelgänger for roasted potatoes. It's the perfect side dish if you're looking for lower carb options than the starchy alternative. As a stand-in, they're perfect for anyone following a low-carb diet, the keto diet, or anyone just looking to try an easy recipe for turnips for the first time!
These low carb turnip fries are a delicious way to get a healthy serving of vegetables. Pair them with ketchup or your favorite dipping sauce as a nutritious side dish or snack!
The perfect low carb alternative to traditional mashed potatoes! With a sweet, slightly nutty flavor, these creamy mashed turnips transform into a smooth, delicious side dish easy enough for a weeknight but sophisticated enough for a holiday table.
Other turnip recipes
Now - I don't do dairy, especially in the form of lots of cheese and heavy cream, because it upsets my stomach and makes my face break out.
That said, if you can tolerate dairy, you might look for something like this turnip gratin - or mix it up with some turnips, carrots, and potatoes and make a root vegetable gratin like this one - it's so beautiful, and you could sub turnips in for any of the other ingredients!
Another one I've been coming across is turnip casserole. This is also one that does not necessarily fall in the healthy or paleo realm of things - however - I think you could easily make some swaps and subs and still get great flavor while keeping it paleo.
Use ghee for butter, coconut sugar for brown sugar, almond flour for bread crumbs, and then follow the topping from this recipe, and you're there!
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