These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (2025)

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (1)

The humble turnip has a mild enough flavor to take on the starring role in just about any dish, from quick and easy dinner recipes to more complicated gratins and even simple slow cooker recipes. And as if it's not delicious enough as is, it gets an impressive makeover when it's prepared according to our favorite recipes. Move over, carrots and potatoes: We believe this root vegetable deserves to be a kitchen staple in its own right.

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1

Green Salad with Turnips, Strawberries, and Pepitas

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (3)

Tokyo turnips also known as white turnips, are small, tender, and bitter-sweet, making them perfect as a raw addition to a green salad.

Get the recipe for Green Salad with Turnips, Strawberries, and Pepitas.

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2

Honey-Glazed Radishes and Turnips

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (5)

Here, a combo of savory chicken broth and sweet honey serve to temper turnips, turning them mild and delicious.

Get the recipe for Honey-Glazed Radishes and Turnips.

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3

Roasted Chicken with Winter Vegetables

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (7)

Put this so-easy-it's-genius dinner into your regular rotation: The chicken rests on top of the root vegetables, helping it to stay crisp. And the vegetables benefit from being bathed in drippings as they roast.

Get the recipe for Roasted Chicken with Winter Vegetables.

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4

Root Vegetable Gratin

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (9)

This hearty dish makes an excellent side to a feast, or a delightful main. Use veggie stock to keep it vegetarian.

Get the recipe for Root Vegetable Gratin.

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5

Pan-Fried Turnips

Thyme and breadcrumbs make this turnip-based dish a winner. It's a guaranteed crowd-pleaser!

Get the recipe for Pan-Fried Turnips at Naturally Ella.

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6

Brown Butter Mashed Turnip with Roasted Garlic

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (13)

If the gorgeous color of this mashed turnip dish isn't enough to entice you, the aroma of roasted garlic surely will. It's delicious enough to take the place of mashed potatoes on any menu.

Get the recipe for Brown Butter Mashed Turnip with Roasted Garlic at Girl Heart Food.

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7

Turnip Fried Rice

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (15)

This paleo-style dish is made with ginger, coconut aminos, broccoli, carrots, and egg for a simple, delicious flavor. It's a great, lighter alternative to traditional fried rice.

Get the recipe for Turnip Fried Rice at The Roasted Root.

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8

Braised Turnip Rice Bowl

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (17)

In this flavorful recipe, white Chinese turnip takes center stage. It's accompanied by fresh shiitake mushrooms, minced ginger, and Sichuan peppercorns.

Get the recipe for Braised Turnip Rice Bowl at The Woks of Life.

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9

Parmesan Crusted Roasted Turnips

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (19)

Crushed potatoes get a serious upgrade in this sophisticated turnip dish. Better yet, they're incredibly easy to make.

Get the recipe for Parmesan Crusted Roasted Turnips at From a Chef's Kitchen.

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10

Turnip and Leek Blue Cheese Gratin

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (21)

This leftover-friendly dish would be a crowd-pleasing side at your Thanksgiving feast.

Get the recipe for Turnip and Leek Blue Cheese Gratin at Natural Comfort Kitchen.

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11

Turnip Dhal

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (23)

Dhal, an Indian meal made with lentils, is a hearty dish that will keep you full for hours. Bonus: This recipe is made in just 30 minutes.

Get the recipe for Turnip Dhal at Veggie Jam.

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12

Grilled Turnips with Olive Oil

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (25)

This simple side dish is seasoned with salt and pepper, and drizzled with a dill-infused olive oil.

Get the recipe for Grilled Turnips with Olive Oil at Naturally Ella.

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13

Sweet Potato, Turnip, and Parsnip Latkes

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (27)

Top these crispy pancakes with a dollop of sour cream.

Get the recipe for Sweet Potato, Turnip, and Parsnip Latkes at Kitchen Confidante.

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14

Beet and Turnip Gratin

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (29)

The rosette pattern is pretty, but you can also just lay your turnips and beets flat in the skillet. It will taste just as good!

Get the recipe for Beet and Turnip Gratin at Kitchen Konfidence.

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15

Raw Turnip Salad

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (31)

Raw recipes are super healthy and don't require any cooking. Consider it the best of both worlds!

Get the recipe for Raw Turnip Salad at Maria Ushakova.

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16

Cinnamon Apple Turnip Soup

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (33)

Make this slightly sweet soup in advance and heat on the stove when you want to warm up on chilly days.

Get the recipe for Cinnamon Apple Turnip Soup at Turnip the Oven.

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17

Root Vegetable Hash Egg Skillet

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (35)

Tenderize all the veggies in the skillet by keeping the lid on as they cook. Finish off with dill, tarragon, and feta cheese.

Get the recipe for Root Vegetable Hash Egg Skillet at Naturally Ella.

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18

Roasted Potato and Turnip Mash

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (37)

Give your usual mashed potato recipe a twist by adding roasted turnips.

Get the recipe for Roasted Potato and Turnip Mash at Fashionable Foods.

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19

Herb Roasted Sweet Potato and Turnip Skillet

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (39)

This recipe couldn't be simpler: Just slice your vegetables, add butter and spices, and pop your skillet in the oven for 40 minutes.

Get the recipe for Herb Roasted Sweet Potato and Turnip Skillet at Jessi's Kitchen.

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20

Roasted Turnip Hummus

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (41)

Serve this easy hummus recipes with pita chips and freshly cut veggies.

Get the recipe for Roasted Turnip Hummus at It's a Veg World After All.

These Turnip Recipes That Prove Just How Delicious the Veggie Can Be (2025)

FAQs

What is the best way to eat turnips? ›

Top 10 Ways To Enjoy Turnips
  1. Roast 'em!
  2. Switch Your Greens! ...
  3. Sow Some Seeds. ...
  4. Eat 'em Raw. ...
  5. Julienne Them. ...
  6. A New Kind of Coleslaw. ...
  7. Mash 'em! And you thought you could only mash potatoes! ...
  8. Baked, Boiled or Steamed. Use turnips any way you would use a potato, and then some. ...

What vegetable is similar to a turnip? ›

Rutabagas (Brassica napus) are a type of oblong root vegetable similar to turnips, although rutabagas are actually the result of a cross between turnips and cabbages. They have a slightly bitter taste and are usually yellow or purple in appearance.

What is the flavor of a turnip? ›

Mildly spicy when raw, turnips turn sweet, nutty, and earthy when cooked. This goes for texture, too: raw turnips have a crisp, starchy flesh. Cooked turnips turn soft and velvety—a little like another cold-weather favorite, the parsnip.

What pairs well with turnips? ›

Turnips pairs well with...
  • Carrots 207 recipes best choice.
  • Potatoes 128 recipes best choice.
  • Parsnips 95 recipes best choice.
  • Onions 246 recipes.
  • Garlic 182 recipes.
  • Thyme 57 recipes.
  • Broth, Chicken 82 recipes.
  • Celery 67 recipes.

Are turnips healthier for you than potatoes? ›

Turnips are a healthy alternative to potatoes; they're lower in calories and have fewer carbs. Smaller, sweeter turnips can be sliced into wedges and eaten raw like an apple. Raw baby turnips can be sliced or diced and used in salads.

How to make turnips taste better? ›

A small amount of sugar is often added to help smooth out any rough flavour edges, but when working with garden-grown turnips that mature in cool soil, taste before adding sugar. Or here's another idea: add a finely chopped apple to the hot drained vegetables along with a pinch of cinnamon.

What vegetable is a crossbreed between cabbage and turnips? ›

The rutabaga is an often overlooked, but sweet and nutrient-packed, root vegetable. Originating sometime in the 17th century, it's a hybrid between a turnip and a wild cabbage.

Are turnips very healthy? ›

Turnips have an excellent nutritional profile. Like other cruciferous vegetables, they're low in calories but pack plenty of vitamins and minerals. A 1-cup (130-gram) serving of cubed raw turnips contains ( 3 ): Calories: 36.

What do Americans call turnips? ›

rutabaga

Do I need to peel turnips? ›

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.

Can you eat turnips raw? ›

Though they are most commonly cooked, turnips can be enjoyed raw as well. If you plan to eat them raw, simply peel and slice the turnip like an apple to eat with dips or add to the top of your salad. Be sure to slice off the root end and remove the greens – which can be saved for cooking as well.

Which is sweeter turnip or parsnip? ›

While they're both root vegetables packed with nutrients, parsnips and turnips are not quite the same—parsnips are similar to carrots and have a sweet, candy-like flavor profile. Turnips, on the other hand, are in the Brassica rapa family and are much less sweet.

Are turnips good for your bowels? ›

Good for Your Gut

Like all plant-based whole foods, turnips contain dietary fiber. Fiber is a non-digestible carbohydrate that serves important functions in the body, including maintaining healthy blood sugar and cholesterol levels, promoting regular bowel movements, and supporting weight management, among others.

What is the healthiest way to eat turnips? ›

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 meat goes best with turnips? ›

If you're cooking a chicken or a pork roast, simply add the turnips to the pan to roast with them. The juices from the roast will flavor the turnips beautifully. Mix things up by roasting other root vegetables—potatoes, parsnips, carrots, and rutabagas are all goods choices.

Is it better to eat turnips raw or cooked? ›

Turnips have a crisp, white inner flesh and a zesty, peppery flavor. People can eat them raw or cooked. However, roasting turnips tends to bring out their best flavors and qualities.

Do turnips need to be peeled before eating? ›

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.

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