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Don’t “turn up your nose”, turnips are way better than you think. This humble vegetable has a wallflower reputation, it’s at the party but it’s not dancing. So, how do you make a turnip dance? You add a little curry and garlic, pair it with a great partner like potato and next thing you know your taste buds are doing a cha-cha. Turnips are root vegetables, cousin to radish and arugula, they have a crisp texture when raw and a creamy texture when cooked. Raw turnip adds a savory, peppery bite to dishes that will soften to more of a savory, slightly sweet nibble when cooked. Turnips are teeming with taste! Our recipe for Turnip-Potato Mash brings together the earthy-sweet flavor of potato, the slight peppery flavor of turnip, and the deep savory & sweet spice of curry and garlic. Flavorful, delicious and colorful, Turnip-Potato Mash will dance across your tongue in Siberian Wallflower colored shoes!

Ingredients:

  • 1 medium turnip
  • 2 medium potatoes
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil or butter
  • 1/4 cup milk or broth
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp curry powder
  • Salt & pepper, to taste
Main Ingredient(s): Potatoes, Turnips

Steps:

  • Scrub & trim turnip and potatoes; peel.
  • Cut potatoes. Cut turnips into smaller pieces than potatoes, as they cook slower.
  • Add cut vegetables to a medium pot and fill with cold water until water level well covers vegetables.
  • Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce heat to medium, maintaining a soft boil. Cook until vegetables are soft, about 15-20 minutes depending on the size of your cuts. Turn off heat and drain. Return to pot.
  • In the pot, mash the vegetables until smooth with only a few small lumps.
  • Add milk, olive oil, garlic, curry, salt & pepper. Beat with a spoon until well blended.
  • Taste, adjust seasoning. Serve hot.

Fun fact: Wallflowers, so named because they reseed freely and are prone to growing in wall crevices and pavement cracks, are a medicinal herb with vibrant blooms; Siberian Wallflowers often have warm yellow flowers similar to the color of this dish.

Photo of Turnip-Potato Mash topped with chopped chives in colorful bowl
Photo of Turnips with tops
Photo of assorted potatoes
VT Fresh Cooked, Ate, Approved graphic with a check mark.

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VT Fresh is funded in part by the USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer. In Vermont, SNAP is called 3SquaresVT. It can help low income people buy foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact the Vermont Foodbank toll-free at 855-855-6181.

Published On: December 6, 2023