Education:
What is a Rutabaga? It's a cross between turnips and wild cabbage and are thought to have been first bred in Russia or Scandinavia in the late Middle Ages.
It's a cool weather vegetable, full of fiber, vitamin C, and potassium. Rutabagas can withstand very cold temperatures. They are slow growers and need a long growing season.
Read an interesting, short article about rutabagas here: What Is a Rutabaga and What Should You Do With It?
From the Editors of Simply Recipes website I found this out:
Rutabagas Vs. Turnips
Although rutabagas are often mistaken for purple turnips, they are different root vegetables. Rutabagas are sweeter, and when cooked, they have a creamier consistency than their turnip cousins.
Read more ...
Mashed Rutabagas Vs. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed rutabagas can be a low-carb substitute for mashed potatoes. Although they are higher in sugar, they contain half the calories of mashed potatoes.
But why choose? You can actually mix the two and make mashed rutabagas with potatoes!
When are Rutabagas in Season?
You'll start seeing these fun root vegetables in October. They are harvested from October through November but may be seen in the produce section of your grocery store well into March, due to their long storage life. Read more here ...
Application:
I've been eating rutabagas my entire life; my mother introduced them to me when I was a child. She would peel them and cut them into small cubes and boil them with salt until tender.
Even though they are a root vegetable with a tiny bitter bite, I always thought they tasted a little sweet, like carrots taste sweet; but rutabagas and carrots do not taste the same.
I have a friend who cooked them the same way as my mom but she mashed them like a mashed potato dish. They were yummy as well.
I grew rutabagas this fall/winter season. Today I saw these ready to harvest! They are usually much larger when purchased in a store. Honestly, with the freezing temperatures we had here and my lack of adequate winter protection for them, I didn't think any would survive, but these did. I have big plans for these little babies. One of the best things about rutabagas is that they can store for up to 3 months in your pantry!
Recipes:
My favorite ways to cook and eat rutabagas is to either roast them or steam them with seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, turmeric).
However, the other day I saw a recipe for Rutabaga Slaw! Whaaaaaat? Never heard of it so I'm going to try it with my little harvest.
Here is the recipe so you can try it too! Winter Rutabaga Slaw
Here is another recipe: Simple Roasted Rutabaga
Let me know if you try these recipes! :)
