What Do Turnips Taste Like?

What Do Turnips Taste Like

Not all the people I know like turnips. In fact, it can be said that a majority of us find it to include this veggie in our recipes. Some don't know its real purpose while others have no familiarity when it comes to its flavor.


So what do turnips taste like? Is its flavor palette something that we can use in our day-to-day dealing in the kitchen? Read on to find out the answers to these questions.

Quick Background Of Turnips

There are instances where we need to brave our tummies so that we can explore new delicacies out there. If you want to hone the gourmet inside you, it is just prim and proper that you can do some experimentations in your cooking. Of course, you are not going to do something sinister. You only need to know a few ingredients that are not in your usual cooking checklist.

When we talk about turnips, it is quite common for people to be oblivious about it. This one is not the most popular vegetable, and even in the market, it is not commonly sold either.

However, keep in mind that turnips are not "new." As a matter of fact, they are considered as staple ingredients in some regions in the world. If I'm right, turnips are a primary veggie in the Nordic culture. In the United Kingdom, they use turnips instead of pumpkins as Halloween lanterns. But again, they are still not in the limelight, so it makes sense if they are not known to many.

A turnip is a root crop. It is easy to grow and not selective when it comes to the substrate where it can grow. Surprisingly, turnips are part of the family where cauliflowers and cabbages belong.

What Do You Eat Turnips With?

Here are some delicacies that perfectly blend with turnips.

Breadcrumbs and Parmesan

This main dish features the delicious and fine combination of turnips, parmesan, and even your leftover breadcrumbs. In here, I do recommend that you use hakurei turnip. This one is a variety of Japanese turnips that is smaller than most of its counterparts.

Salmon, Turnips, and Other Veggies

Sure enough, turnips work well with fish and other veggies. It is one of the reasons why it is a suitable ingredient that can match recipes that involve sumptuous grasses and protein-rich meats. You can create a roasted salmon recipe that includes finely chopped turnips, walnuts, lemon, and celery. It is a perfect salad recipe for those who are aiming to be healthy.

Turnips In Pastry

Surprisingly, you can also use turnips as an ingredient for specific pastry recipes. A good example of this is a chicken pot pie that includes a rotisserie chicken, turnips, and other spices. Skillet them into perfection until such time you can get a hearty dinner that deserves applause.

Duck Breast

Turnips go well with duck breast. It is quite surprising since duck breast has a unique flavor that requires exquisite preparations. Here, you oven or grill the duck meat until it is perfectly cooked. After that, you should garnish it with a myriad of condiments and additives. Make use of the turnips as the dressing.

What Do Turnips Taste Like?

Unlike other crops, turnips don't have a flat flavor. This means that this particular ingredient doesn't hold a single flavor only. For instance, young turnips tend to be crunchy and semi-sweet, which is pretty similar to carrots.

On the other hand, adult turnips tend to be slightly mushy--same as potatoes. If you prepare old turnips, you need to expect a bitter taste on them, especially when prepared raw. If you cook them properly, you can regain their innate sweetness and fragrance without any hints of earthiness.

Turnips have different varieties.

Therefore, you need to expect that they have a respective taste. Some variants of turnips are quite tangy and sweet, which is pretty reminiscent of celery. Other variants--especially those that are significantly larger--have a woody texture and taste.

At this point, you should realize that there's no exact taste that we can attribute to turnips. It is pretty versatile when it comes to the aspect. Therefore, it is appropriate that you can experiment with different kinds of turnips and see which one can fit your menu. After all, cooking it properly can really revamp its taste and overall appeal.

You might also want to learn how to select the appropriate turnip variant for you. If you are planning to utilize the leaves, then you can settle on any type of turnip. There should be no problem with that. Regardless of the size and age of turnip, its leaves remain to be versatile and delicious.

Ways To Cook Turnips

Ways To Cook Turnips

There are different ways you can prepare turnips. You'll realize that these turnips are not as bland and exotic as you previously assumed.

  • Steamed, Baked, or Boiled - Perhaps these are the most basic approaches in cooking turnips. Just think of them like potatoes. Whatever cooking preparations you can do with potatoes, you can do with turnips. You can boil them in stews, make them into soups, or bake and stir-fry them. You can also steam them with delectable additives like butter, lemon juice, or salt.
  • Mash Turnips - Just like I said, whatever goes with potatoes can also be applied in turnips. You can always make mashed turnips in your kitchen, and it doesn't really consume too much of your time. You can even combine potatoes in the equation so that you can create a whole new flavor!
  • Coleslaw - Instead of using cabbage in your coleslaw recipe, why not try shredded turnips? Trust me. Turnips can amplify the sweet and citrus taste of this food!
  • Eat Them Raw - There's no harm if you want to eat these turnips raw. If they are properly cleaned and prepared, turnips are extremely delectable even without any cooking preparation!


Overall, the main point here is that you should not abhor turnips. Even if it is not a popular ingredient in the kitchen, it is still a versatile choice in making different delicacies. All of its parts are usable, so there are no wastes that are yielded. Furthermore, it is highly nutritious, too. When it comes to taste, I can say that turnips won't offend your tongue. The only thing that you need to do here is to learn how to cook it. By doing so, you can maximize its full flavor and nutritional content.
