Primally Inspired Real food, Natural Remedies, Holistic Living
I know, I know. Turnips are super boring and you’re probably wondering why I’m even talking to you about turnips right now. But hear me out.
You see, I never liked turnips. To me they were bitter, yucky and just plain bleh. Someone promised me that I would like them if I tried roasting them. Well, they were wrong. Yuck!
But I really wanted to like them. Turnips are filled with nutrients and are wonderful for bone, heart, and digestive health. They are loaded with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and even have plant compounds in them called glucosinolates that help the liver process toxins, fight the effects of carcinogens and inhibit the growth of tumors.
So after trying turnips every possible way with no luck at even coming close to actually enjoying them, I pulled out my last resort card – BACON. If bacon couldn’t make me like turnips, then nothing could.
And it worked! Bacon, you’ve come through for me yet again, proving that you really are the duct tape of food.
Not only did I like these turnips, but I couldn’t stop eating them! I even hid the leftovers deep in the fridge so that no one would find them and I could have them all to myself 🙂
To boost the nutrition and flavor profile even more of this tasty side dish, I cooked the turnips in bone broth. The minerals and nutrients in bone broth from healthy animals helps heal our gut lining and strengthens our immune system so I find every chance I can to incorporate it in my cooking.
If you haven’t liked turnips in the past, give this dish a try – it might just change your mind!
- 8 cups of chopped turnips (about 10-12 medium turnips), peeled and diced
- bone broth or water for boiling
- ½ pound of bacon
- 2 tablespoons bacon fat
- 2 tablespoons butter or ghee, melted (Find ghee HERE)
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ⅛ teaspoon onion powder
- sea salt and pepper, to taste (I use THIS sea salt)
- 2 tablespoons fresh chives, snipped or chopped
- Put diced turnips is a large pot and fill with water or bone broth.
- Bring to a boil and let simmer, uncovered, for at least 30 minutes or until tender (the longer you simmer, the better because the less bitter it will be. Sometimes I let them simmer for over an hour!)
- While the turnips are cooking, cook your bacon in skillet over medium heat until crispy.
- Reserve 2 tablespoons of bacon grease and then crumble your bacon.
- Once turnips are done simmering, drain well.
- Return turnips to pot and add all remaining ingredients, except the bacon and chives.
- Mash to desired consistency.
- Fold in bacon.
- Top with fresh chopped chives.
- Enjoy!
Do you like turnips? Do you have a favorite turnip dish I should know about? Let me know!
Made it tonight – it was a HIT! I did use green onions instead of chives, and very glad – as it was delicious. Thanks!
sweet! I love green onions, so I will for sure try that next!
Kelly, I just wanted to let you know how happy I am that I found your blog. While I don’t conform to strict paleo (I like my dairy, wheat and beans, haha!), I do eat clean and whole foods and am also working toward my personal training certification. I cannot tell you how happy it makes me to finally find another fit-minded person that doesn’t conform to all the low-fat nonsense. (^_^)
I will definitely try these. My husband is very picky when it comes to veggies, so it’s always hard trying to get new ones into him. He might like this, though!
You are awesome 🙂 And I’m hoping your husband likes these!
Also, do you have a newsletter? If you do, I can’t find the sign-up link for it…(-_-)
Thanks!
Yes! To the right of the screen right above my picture is a place to enter your email address 😀
omg, I lied. I can’t find it now. LOL. I was messing with my sidebar and I bet I erased it. Oops! I need to add that back in!
okay, fixed it! It’s back 🙂
Hooray! I’m subscribed now. (^_^)
I wonder about leaving the turnips in the bone broth and making a soup of this? I would hate to waste the broth by pouring it down the drain.
Amazing, another keeper!! Yes boiling for longer to reduce bitterness was very helpful advice!
Amazing… Fav new turnips recipe from now on. Finally found a great recipe to use them
So happy to hear!
I love turnips roasted with balsamic vinaigrette, but I can’t wait to try this. It sounds delicious. Bacon really does make everything better. I just had brussel sprouts cooked with bacon for the first time last night, and, of course, I liked them even more 😉 Thanks for sharing.
I was given turnips to grow, and they’re ready to harvest now. I had no idea what to do with them, but mashed with bacon and chives sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing the idea.
Love the boiling in broth idea! I’m trying this today, can’t wait!
Hope you love, Jessica!
Could I make it with normal beef stock do you think or should I just use water if I don’t have bone broth? wanting to make these tonight.
Hi Emma, yes, normal beef stock would be great! And you can certainly just use water, too, but it won’t be quite as flavorful 🙂 Enjoy!
Hi Kelly! This recipe was bomb!! I loved it! My son and fiance’ didn’t care for it too much but that’s OK, LOL!! More for me! 🙂 I love mashed potatoes but don’t tolerate white potatoes well so finding this alternative, healthier (Paleo) way to substitute is AWESOME! This will be a staple dish in my home. Since this was so great, I’ll be experimenting with other recipes on your website as well 🙂 Thank you for sharing!!
Awesome, Alliston!!
If your turnips are bitter, it’s because they weren’t “fed right”. I grow OG ones, and my daughter didn’t even like them: “too sweet” she said. I just sauteed in butter. But this recipe is great to make ahead & freeze, so glad I found it.
Interesting! Thanks, Emily!