Put a Twist on Tradition With Mashed Turnips (2024)

Turnips may get a bad rap, maybe because they tend to be a little on the bitter side—some folks say they taste like a cross between cabbage and radish. Unless you've got a turnip enthusiast in your family, it's also possible you never encountered a really stellar preparation of this root veggie. Turnips, however, are absolutely delicious when cooked properly.

This recipe mashes turnips with butter and a little bit of sugar for a rich side dish with an unexpected sweetness. The sugar helps counteract the bitterness, and this recipe is enough to convert any turnip skeptics in your family. Don't forget the salt and pepper—when you've got a dish this simple, those seasonings become even more important.

These mashed turnips make an excellent side dish and are a great alternative to mashed potatoes, particularly during the winter when the root vegetable is at its best. Serve it alongside chicken or pork dishes and a salad for a well-balanced dinner.

What You'll Need to Make This Mashed Turnips Recipe

A Great Vegetable Peeler

A Nice Big Pot

A Handy Dandy Potato Masher

"This is a super easy, filling, and warming side dish to make alongside any protein. I think a lot of people don't know what to do with turnips, but they are a beautiful root vegetable that makes for a great mashed side dish." —Tracy Wilk

Put a Twist on Tradition With Mashed Turnips (4)

A Note From Our Recipe Tester

Ingredients

Kosher salt, to taste
1 pound turnips, peeled and diced large
2 to 3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

Steps to Make It

Gather the ingredients.
Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat and season with salt.
Once boiling, add the peeled and diced turnips. Cook until fork tender, about 20 to 30 minutes.
Drain the turnips and place them back into the pot. Add the butter, sugar, and pepper, and season with salt to taste.
Using a potato masher, mash the turnips with the butter and seasonings until it reaches your desired consistency. Taste and adjust the seasonings as needed.
Serve hot and enjoy.

Tips

The turnips you select can have a big impact on the flavor of this dish, as turnips are known to have a peppery bite. If you want a soft, delicate flavor, choose small, young turnips. The older and larger the turnip, the more flavorful it will be. Cooking does mellow the flavor considerably, but you'll still notice the difference.
Use a sharp knife to check the tenderness of the turnips. If you can insert the blade with little to no resistance, the turnips are ready.
Don't skip the sugar unless you're on a sugar-free diet. It brings out the natural sweetness of the vegetables.

Recipe Variations

It's easy to turn the mashed turnips into a vegan dish. Simply use vegan butter or a similar dairy-free, plant-based substitute for the butter.
A variety of herbs and spices can be added to the mashed turnips. Try a tablespoon of finely chopped sage or rosemary, a clove or two of roasted or sautéed garlic, or a pinch of paprika or ground ginger.
If your turnips came with the greens, don't throw them away. Rinse and finely chop them and add them in while mashing. Or turn them into their own turnip green side dish.
For creamier and slightly tart mashed turnips, add a heaping tablespoon of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt with the butter.
Add other root vegetables such as carrots, potatoes, rutabagas, or parsnips to the boiling water if you like. Make sure all of the vegetables are very tender before draining.

How to Store and Freeze

Mashed turnips will keep for three to five days, covered, in the refrigerator. You can also freeze them if needed. It's a good idea to freeze them in portions in a freezer-safe container or a zip-close freezer bag—they'll keep for up to three months that way.

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.

Can you use turnips instead of potatoes?

Turnips have a different flavor profile than potatoes but cook up similarly. If you want to add more flavor to a soup, pan of roasted veggies, or mash, try swapping some or all of the potatoes for turnips.

Vegetable Sides
American Sides

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
106	Calories
9g	Fat
7g	Carbs
1g	Protein

Show Full Nutrition Label

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories	106
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 9g	11%
Saturated Fat 5g	27%
Cholesterol 23mg	8%
Sodium 165mg	7%
Total Carbohydrate 7g	2%
Dietary Fiber 2g	8%
Total Sugars 4g
Protein 1g
Vitamin C 13mg	66%
Calcium 41mg	3%
Iron 0mg	1%
Potassium 205mg	4%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

Recipe Tags:

vegetarian
dinner
southern
weeknight

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Put a Twist on Tradition With Mashed Turnips (2024)

FAQs

How do you make mashed turnips not bitter? ›

Adding a little sugar to your turnips after cooking can also help to counteract any bitterness.

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Are mashed turnips better than mashed potatoes? ›

In fact, I'd go so far as to claim that turnips, when mashed, are better than their potato counterparts, and a far more interesting vehicle for gravy. Cooked turnips are firm yet velvety, slightly nutty, and bring a bit more oomph to your holiday spread.

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Do turnips need to be peeled before roasting? ›

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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How to add flavor to turnips? ›

Try adding fresh herbs (rosemary is particularly delicious with the spicy bite of turnips) or spices, or combine the turnips with other root vegetables as you like.

Why add baking soda to turnip greens? ›

Add baking soda.

Adding a pinch to the water once you begin the cooking process helps to keep the color of the greens more vibrant.

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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.

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Are turnips better 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.

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Do you wash turnips before cooking? ›

Like any root vegetable, turnips should be given a good rinse to remove dirt or grit; a soft brush is an excellent aid.

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What are the benefits of mashed turnips? ›

Turnips and other cruciferous vegetables that are high in fiber help make people feel fuller for longer, and they are low in calories. Eating high fiber meals also helps keep blood sugar levels stable. The fiber content in turnips may also prevent constipation and promote regularity for a healthy digestive tract.

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What's the difference between a turnip and a rutabaga? ›

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.

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Are turnips good or bad for you? ›

Supports bone health: Turnips contain calcium and vitamin K, essential nutrients for maintaining strong bones. Fights inflammation: The antioxidants in turnips help reduce inflammation in the body. Promotes heart health: Potassium in turnips helps regulate blood pressure, reducing the risk of heart disease.

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Do turnips need to be refrigerated? ›

Storage and food safety

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.

Keep Reading ›

How are turnips usually cooked? ›

Bring a large pot of water to a boil and cook turnips until tender, 35 to 45 minutes. Strain and rinse. Mash turnips with a fork in a large mixing bowl.

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Do turnips take longer to cook than potatoes? ›

Add the turnips and potatoes to a large stockpot and fill the pot with water, enough to cover the vegetables. Heat over medium-high heat and bring to a boil, then simmer until the turnips are tender (they may take longer to cook than the potatoes), about 15 minutes.

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How to get the bitter taste out of turnip greens? ›

Blanch Them

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

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How do you get the bitter taste out of mashed potatoes? ›

Salt draws out the natural sweetness of potatoes as they boil, intensifying their earthy goodness to prevent them from tasting bland or bitter. The potatoes absorb that salty, briny quality into every nook and cranny as they cook so every bite of your mashed potatoes brims with savory, mouthwatering flavor.

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Does turnip have a bitter taste? ›

Turnips have a slightly bitter taste to them, so cooking the onions in this recipe will be the key to getting more of a sweet taste out of the dish! The bigger a turnip is, the more bitter it tastes so aim to choose ones from the market that are about the size of a tennis ball.

Learn More Now ›

How do you reduce bitterness in vegetables? ›

Acidity can draw out a pleasant flavour from bitter greens. If they're being used for a salad, it's good to add a vinaigrette with plenty of acid to brighten it up. If you are sauteing, you can add some vinegar or citrus to the greens to finish them off.

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