Quick and Easy Mashed Rutabagas Recipe (2024)

FAQs

How do you take the bitterness out of rutabagas? ›

How Do You Get the Bitter Taste Out of Rutabagas? If you find that rutabagas are too bitter for you, add up to a tablespoon of sugar to accentuate the sweetness and stir to combine. This will help to counteract the bitterness.

The rutabaga is a root vegetable worth exploring and definitely worthy of the spotlight. It has a vegetal, earthy taste, often compared to a milder carrot, cabbage, or turnip (or amalgam of the three). It pairs well with other root vegetables but can also stand on its own.

All you need to do is start by poking a few holes in the surface of the rutabaga with a fork or the tip of a knife. Then, simply place it in the microwave and cook on high for two to three minutes. This step will soften the rutabaga, making it infinitely easier to peel and cut.

Sweetness: From sugar, honey, fruits or otherwise, sweetness will counteract bitter and sour flavours. It can also be used to cut down the heat of a particularly spicy meal. Saltiness: Salt plays two very important roles in flavouring a dish. Firstly, it balances against bitterness.

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.

Encourages healthy bowels

A cup of boiled and mashed rutabaga provides 4.32 grams (g) of dietary fiber toward the 14 g of fiber per 1000 calories that the American government recommends people consume. Dietary fiber helps to keep the bowels healthy and can decrease the risk of: constipation. hemorrhoids.

Risks and Side Effects

Since rutabaga is a cruciferous vegetable, it contains raffinose, which is a complex sugar that can sometimes cause abdominal discomfort, bloating and flatulence.

Rutabagas are a hearty vegetable packed with fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. They promote feelings of fullness, which can prevent weight gain. Furthermore, they contain powerful compounds that help fight inflammation, prevent premature aging, and are associated with a reduced risk of various cancers.

When (and how) to buy perfect rutabagas. Rutabagas are mainly harvested from October to November, but since they are easily stored, you'll find them until March. Best check with your local farmer's markets or supermarkets with a large selection of local vegetables.

Scrub the rutabaga under running water. Pat dry. towel, place on a microwave-safe plate and microwave for 1 minute on high. Use a peeler or paring knife to remove the skins and reveal the light-colored flesh.

What makes a good rutabaga? ›

Choose rutabagas that are heavy for their size and free of soft spots or sprouts; naturally occurring crevices around the top are normal. In stores, rutabagas are often coated in a food-grade wax to reduce dehydration and prolong shelf life.

Now, rutabaga can be a tad bitter, so the secret to a tasty mashed rutabaga is… Yep. Sugar. Add about a Tablespoon of sugar (or sucanat or honey or whatever sweetener you like) to the cooking water and it will be perfect every time.

Potato has MORE THAN TWICE the carbs and calories of rutabaga!! So next time you want some comfort food, peel, chop up and boil that bad boy. Drain and mash it up with a fork/masher with some cream, cheese and butter and dig in!

Roast the rutabaga in the oven.

Spread the rutabaga out evenly on the baking sheet and place it in the oven. Bake the rutabaga for about 40 minutes, until it's tender and golden brown. After 40 minutes, pierce a chunk with a fork. The rutabaga is ready if the fork enters easily and the rutabaga feels soft.

Squeeze in some vinegar or lemon juice.

Try squeezing some fresh lemon juice or adding a spoonful of vinegar to bitter dishes to neutralize the flavor a bit.

Salt is your friend: Salt acts as a natural counter to bitter tastes. Adding a bit more salt or something salty like capers to bitter-tasting cabbage will dampen the bitter tastes and increase the sensation from the natural sugars.

The humble vegetable is worthy of a second look. Wash greens and roots well. Some suggest soaking the greens in a little salty water. One turnip website from the United Kingdom notes that if you boil them, add a little sugar to tame the scent and add baking soda to reduce bitterness.

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.