BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (2024)

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (1)Helene Dsouza

Low carb mashed turnips served as a side dish.

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

4 servings

4.6 from 12 votes

VIDEO RECIPE

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (2)

Best mashed turnips prepared with whole or frozen turnips, all low carb.

Watch how to make mashed turnips with my short video clip and process shots further below.

This is your holiday side dish if you like a healthy, easy to prepare, low-calorie mash.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (3)

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (4)

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Jump to:
  • πŸ“• What are turnips?
  • πŸ”ͺ How to prepare turnips?
  • πŸ₯„ How to mash it?
  • ❄️ Freezing
  • πŸ₯£ Serving
  • πŸ’­ FAQs
  • πŸ‘οΈ More side dish ideas
  • πŸ“– Recipe
  • πŸ’¬ Comments

πŸ“• What are turnips?

Turnips are round-shaped roots, which average the size of a fist.

Varieties exist, but the most common turnips are white and pink or purple, mainly wherever the roots have grown out of the soil.

Turnips are made of the root and the greens, both can be consumed and used in your cooking.

I like to make a turnip soup greens with the tops, which taste by the way like mustard greens.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (5)

The roots can be prepared like most root vegetables and young baby turnips can be even enjoyed raw uncooked.

The turnip vegetable is sometimes associated with little table radish (aka radi), daikon radish, celery root and kohlrabi (aka german turnip).

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (6)

πŸ”ͺ How to prepare turnips?

Turnips are harvested with the root and the greens attached.

You can cut off the greens from the roots and use the tops in a soup.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (7)

The root vegetable tends to be covered in mud, especially if it rained just before.

Use a vegetable brush to scrub off mud and impurities.

Then move on to peel and cut your turnips.

How do you peel Turnips

Turnips tend to come in various sizes, from small to large.

I found the easiest way to peel a turnip is to use a regular small knife because the turnip skin can be tough.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (8)

You can try to peel your turnip too with a quality peeler but I personally found it to be cumbersome compared to peeling the root with a regular small knife.

I peel my turnip as a whole, but if you have a monster turnip to work on, then I recommend you cut it into two and peel it when it's in a manageable size.

How to cut Turnips?

Cutting turnips is the easiest part ever!

Turnip root flesh is rather hard (except baby turnips), so you will need a large knife to cut through clean in one go.

After you have peeled your turnip root, cut it into two and then into smaller cubes.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (9)

It's just as you would cut a potato.

To prepare the mash, try to cut the turnip cubes smaller so that they cook faster.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (10)

πŸ₯„ How to mash it?

You can prepare your mashed turnips once you have peeled your turnip root and cut it into smaller pieces to cook.

I illustrate the process in 3 straight forward easy to follow steps.

Find the complete recipe with instructions and ingredient details at the bottom of this post in the printable recipe card with the how-to video.

Step 1

Place cut turnip root pieces into a pot and cover with water.

Season with salt so that the turnip mash will have flavor.

Don't skip seasoning with salt or else your mashed turnips will turn out boring and bland.

Bring to a boil and cook your turnips soft.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (11)

Step 2

Take your cooked turnips from the heat and strain.

Place the turnip pieces back into the pot.

Season with ground black pepper and add thick cream to the cooked roots.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (12)

Step 3

Turn the turnip pieces into a mash over medium to low heat with a potato masher or a hand blender.

Root juices tend to come out during the mashing process so that's why you need to mash it over the heat so that the mash gets formed well.

Reduce to the desired mash consistency.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (13)

Prepare to serve up your mash when still hot, garnished with chopped fresh chives and a dollop of butter, ghee or cream.

❄️ Freezing

Yes, you can freeze mashed turnips.

Just prepare the mashed turnips as per recipe instructions.

You may want to create batches because smaller portions are quicker to defrost.

Place in an airtight freezer-friendly container.

You can store the turnip mash for about 6 or more months in the freezer if not defrosted in between.

To defrost simply keep in the fridge overnight or place on a thawing tray to help you defrost your mash equally.

Then you are just left with heating up the mashed turnips again so that you can serve it up as a side dish.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (14)

πŸ₯£ Serving

I love my mashed turnips in a rather unconventional way and it's pretty much the same way that I eat my mashed potatoes.

Mashed potatoes and fried or poached eggs with a little green salad at the side are how I serve up my mashed turnip roots.

That's a balanced, wholesome healthier meal.

However, YOU might enjoy these mashed turnips as a side dish with a roasted turkey, gravy and other delicious holiday side dishes.

The turnip mash makes a great side dish with roasted pork, meatloaf, roasted chicken and grilled fish.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (15)

πŸ’­ FAQs

How long to boil turnips for mashing?

The cooking time of your turnips depends on the cut size. Turnips peeled and cut into 1-inch cubes, take about 20 minutes to cook through.

How to thicken mashed turnips?

This turnip mash is thickened with cream. A low-calorie option to thicken your mashed turnip if it is too watery would be to use a tablespoon of all-purpose flour instead of cream in the cooking process. The flour helps to thicken the turnip puree.

Do mashed turnips taste like potatoes

No mashed turnips don't taste like potatoes but the taste is similar, especially if you chose to season your turnip mash further.

What spices go well with turnips?

Season and enhance your mash by creating variations of mashed turnip recipes. You can pep up your mash with dried oregano, nutmeg or ground caraway. Seasoning blends such as Italian seasoning and Herb de Provence are suitable as well.

πŸ‘οΈ More side dish ideas

  • Basic Mashed Potato
  • Pumpkin Carrot Mash
  • Kohlrabi Potato Mash
  • Mashed Cauliflower by therisingspoon.com
BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (16)

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (17)

Global Food Recipes

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πŸ“– Recipe

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (18)

Mashed Turnips Recipe

Low carb mashed turnips served as a side dish.

4.59 from 12 votes

Print Pin Rate

Course: Side Dish

Cuisine: American

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 177.44kcal

Recipe by: Helene Dsouza

Ingredients

For the mash:

  • 2.2 pounds Turnip peeled and cut
  • Water to boil
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • pinch Black Pepper Ground
  • 4.4 ounces Cream *see Notes

To garnish:

  • Butter
  • Chives chopped fresh

US - Metric

Instructions

  • Place cut turnips into a pot and cover with water. Season with salt.

  • Boil and cook turnips soft.

  • Strain cooked turnips and discard water. Take turnips back to the pot.

  • Season with black pepper and add the cream.

  • Mash or blend your turnips over low to medium heat to the desired consistency.

  • Serve hot with a dollop of butter and freshly chopped chives.

Notes

  1. Use a thick cream in the mash. Liquid cream would make these mashed turnips watery. Use something like Fresh Cream or Sour Cream.

Nutrition

Nutrition Facts

Mashed Turnips Recipe

Amount Per Serving

Calories 177.44Calories from Fat 106

% Daily Value*

Fat 11.79g18%

Saturated Fat 7.21g36%

Cholesterol 42.72mg14%

Sodium 760.37mg32%

Potassium 499.88mg14%

Carbohydrates 16.91g6%

Fiber 4.49g18%

Sugar 9.52g11%

Protein 2.89g6%

Vitamin A 458.41IU9%

Vitamin C 52.39mg64%

Calcium 95.11mg10%

Iron 0.75mg4%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com (2024)

FAQs

BEST Mashed Turnips Recipe [+VIDEO] 🍠 MasalaHerb.com? β€Ί

If you want to try a different cooking method, I tend to like turnip boiled and mashed. If the turnip is old (and likely bitter) you can add an apple. I've also read that you can stir in baking soda after the turnips have boiled to remove the bitterness.

How to get the bitterness out of turnips? β€Ί

If you want to try a different cooking method, I tend to like turnip boiled and mashed. If the turnip is old (and likely bitter) you can add an apple. I've also read that you can stir in baking soda after the turnips have boiled to remove the bitterness.

Why put baking soda in turnips? β€Ί

One turnip website from the United Kingdom notes that if you boil them, add a little sugar to tame the scent and add baking soda to reduce bitterness.

What is the best way to cook and eat turnips? β€Ί

Baked, Boiled or Steamed. Use turnips any way you would use a potato, and then some. Try them baked or boiled in stews, soups and stir-fries, or lightly steamed with some butter, salt or lemon juice for flavor. homemade coleslaw.

Do you have to peel turnips before cooking? β€Ί

It's not essential to peel turnips before cooking. If this skin appears to be thin enough you can leave it on and cook as is. However if the skin feels thick and leathery, you can peel it off with a sharp knife or vegetable peeler. Both the roots and leaves, also known as turnip greens, are safe to eat.

What makes turnips taste better? β€Ί

How do you get the bitterness out of turnips? Smaller turnips tend to be sweeter and less bitter, so start by selecting fresh, small, tender turnips and peeling them. Adding a little sugar to your turnips after cooking can also help to counteract any bitterness.

How do you make mashed turnips not bitter? β€Ί

Peel and cut turnip like you would for mashed potatoes. Put in pot of water until covered and your sugar. Turnips can be very bitter so the sugar takes the bitter out.

What is the disadvantage of using baking soda to vegetables? β€Ί

This is a bad practice, however, and you should avoid adding baking soda when boiling any type of vegetable. It has various unwelcome effects, such as softening the vegetable, altering the vegetable's flavor, destroying thiamine content, and hastening the loss of vitamin C.

Is a turnip the same as a rutabaga? β€Ί

Rutabagas are also generally much larger than turnips. So for a quick rule of thumb, the brownish-yellowish ones are rutabagas, and the smaller white and purple ones are turnips. In terms of their flavor, rutabagas are slightly sweeter-tasting than turnips whereas turnips have a slightly more radishy flavor.

What is the healthiest way to eat turnips? β€Ί

Boil or steam turnips and add them to mashed potatoes for extra vitamins and minerals. Grate them raw into salads or slaws. Roast them with other root vegetables like carrots and sweet potatoes, and bring out their natural sweetness.

What do turnips go well with? β€Ί

25 Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be
  • Honey-Glazed Radishes and Turnips. Con Poulos. ...
  • Roasted Chicken with Winter Vegetables. ...
  • Root Vegetable Gratin. ...
  • Pan-Fried Turnips. ...
  • Brown Butter Mashed Turnip with Roasted Garlic. ...
  • Turnip Fried Rice. ...
  • Braised Turnip Rice Bowl. ...
  • Parmesan Crusted Roasted Turnips.
Jun 2, 2022

How to tell if a turnip is bad? β€Ί

You can tell if turnips have gone bad if any part of them is soft or has dark patches. If the color changes from what it was when you purchased the turnip, they have likely gone bad, and you should discard them.

Are turnips a super food? β€Ί

Turnips are a cruciferous vegetable with multiple health benefits. They boast an impressive nutritional profile, and their bioactive compounds, such as glucosinolates, may support blood sugar control, protect against harmful bacteria, and provide anticancer and anti-inflammatory effects.

Do you put turnips in the fridge? β€Ί

Turnips can be stored two weeks in refrigerator or 8 to 10 months in freezer. To prevent cross-contamination, keep turnips away from raw meat and meat juices. Wash hands before and after handling fresh produce. For best quality and nutritional value, preserve no more than your family can consume in 12 months.

How do you soften bitterness? β€Ί

The Fix: Balance bitter flavors by introducing something salty, sweet, or sour. For naturally bitter foods such as kale, you can soften the flavor by add a lemony vinaigrette, Parmesan cheese, and pomegranate seeds. You can also elevate kale by tossing it olive oil and salt, then roasting it in the oven until crispy.

What happens when you add salt to a bitter vegetable? β€Ί

Experiments 1 and 2 showed that addition of small amounts of sugar and salt each reduced the bitterness (and increased sweetness and saltiness) from all three vegetables without altering other sensory properties (e.g. texture or aroma).

Do you wax turnips? β€Ί

The process of waxing turnips originated at Guelph Agricultural College in an effort to maintain the freshness of the root vegetable. Most everyone would like a juicy turnip to serve at their holiday dining room table but we likely don't ever think about the shiny wax that we feel on turnips!

How do you make bitter vegetables less bitter? β€Ί

The foods that help reduce bitterness are:
  1. Salt while cooking and/or while eating (like on bitter salad greens)
  2. Sweet or Spicy.
  3. Sour or Acids like lemon or vinegar.
  4. Long cooking like braising (think southern collard greens that are cooked for hours)
  5. Blanch first.
Jul 7, 2021

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