You may see rutabagas at the farmers market or on the menu at your favorite upscale dining establishment, and you might know that rutabagas are a root vegetable, but, if you’re like most home cooks, that’s about as far as your relationship with rutabagas go. You don’t have any in the pantry at home and you’re unlikely to think, “Hm, we should really have rutabagas with dinner tonight.”
Rutabagas are a root vegetable and are a cross between turnips and cabbage. Rutabagas have a slightly bitter flavor and taste like a less-sweet carrot. When cooked, rutabagas become sweeter and taste similar to potatoes.
What is a Rutabaga and What Does Rutabaga Taste Like?
Rutabagas (or “swedes” in the UK, from “Swedish turnip”) are indeed a root vegetable, and they’re in the same family as turnips, but also non-root vegetables such as broccoli, cauliflower, and cabbage. Rutabaga’s flavor is overall low-key, but there are some hints of carrot and turnip in there. Rutabagas can be eaten raw or cooked and, when cooked, rutabagas offer a consistency similar to that of a carrot or a potato. You can cook rutabagas just about any way you like — mashed, roasted, boiled, turned into a soup, etc. In addition to eating the root vegetable part of the rutabaga plant, you can also eat the greens (similarly to how you might eat turnip greens) in a salad; the leaves are known for having a zesty flavor profile.
In addition to being extremely versatile, rutabagas are also easy for the home gardener to grow. They’re hardy enough to grow in the fall and, in fact, do best growing in colder climates.
Why Add Rutabaga to Mashed Potatoes
Because of their versatility and mild flavor, rutabagas can be added to many dishes or recipes where you might otherwise use another root vegetable. If you want to explore adding this vegetable to your diet, one of the easiest places to do so is in your mashed potatoes. By subbing part of the potatoes out for rutabagas, you get a somewhat creamier texture, but also more flavor than you might by just combining boiled potatoes with butter, milk, salt, and pepper.
Beyond just the extra flavor and texture, rutabagas also come with some serious health benefits, and without the empty carbs that potatoes contain. Rutabagas contain antioxidants that can help fight cancer and aging, are very high in fiber (with 12% of your daily recommended intake per serving), and contain lots of vitamin C and potassium.
It’s worth noting that the idea of combining mashed potatoes and rutabagas isn’t a novelty. In fact, it’s the basis for a classic Scottish dish known as Neeps & Tatties. In this beloved recipe, “neeps” is a term for rutabagas, and “tatties” refers to potatoes. The two vegetables are boiled and mashed (sometimes together, sometimes separate) to create a hearty, comforting side dish that’s often served with haggis during Burns Supper, a celebration of the renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns.
Rutabaga Fries ?? What Do They TASTE Like?
FAQ
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