Parsnips, Rutabagas and Turnips?
By LindaOH
@LindaOHio (156159)
United States
May 29, 2023 2:53am CST
I have never eaten or cooked with parsnips, rutabagas or turnips. Have you?
They are all root vegetables such as the potato and beet. The parsnip is said to have a sweet flavor and is closely related to the carrot and parsley.
To those of you that have tasted any of these -- what did they taste like? How did you eat them? I know some can be eaten cooked or raw. The leaves also have uses as well.
I'd love to know your experience with these vegetables.
Photo Credit: Pixabay - The photo is of parsnips.
23 people like this
23 responses
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
29 May
I like turnips raw but don't like them cooked. (Raw turnip roots taste kind of spicy and are firm fleshed, like an apple.) The greens from turnips are okay. They taste kind of like peppery spinach... just not as strong.
We grew parsnips on the farm but mom always gave those away. She didn't like them but some of her friends did. I've never tried rutabagas.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
29 May
We know rutabagas as swedes. If I've making a vegetable soup, all of these would go in it together with and whatever else I happened to have. carrots. Vince doesn't like any of them so I rarely use them now. Baked parsnip is nice too.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (325759)
• Rockingham, Australia
5 Jun
@LindaOHio They're great in stews or casseroles. I'd suggest you use them like you would carrots - either diced or sliced. Sometimes in restaurants they're served mashed.
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@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
5 Jun
@JudyEv Thanks for the info. I wonder how they would be in a stew? Something to consider.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74553)
• East Tawas, Michigan
29 May
I have tasted parsnips(my grandma cooked them), rutabagas(mom added them in pasties) and turnips(mom cooked them). Nope, I've never purchased or cooked these three vegetables. They taste a bit like sweet potatoes.
1 person likes this
@kobesbuddy (74553)
• East Tawas, Michigan
30 May
@LindaOHio Potatoes don't taste sweet. These other root vegetables have a hint of sweet flavor.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
30 May
Oh! Thanks. I had no idea what they tasted like.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99425)
• Atlanta, Georgia
30 May
@LindaOHio You’re welcome. You might decide to try them.
1 person likes this
@Nakitakona (56302)
• Philippines
31 May
Turnips are very common here. They're sold in the market during market day and small vendors are selling them in front of the school. They're cut thinly into pieces and put in a plastic with vinegar.
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@LadyDuck (458091)
• Switzerland
29 May
@LindaOHio - I do not like at all, but my husband likes the spicy taste.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
29 May
A pungent aftertaste. Interesting. Thanks.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48937)
• United States
31 May
I love all three of them. The rutabaga is my favorite of them. I like them the best with bacon, black pepper and a bit of Splenda brown sugar. I eat parsnips like mashed potatoes and even have gravy on them sometimes. I roast turnips.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
30 May
Melted cheese makes everything better.
1 person likes this
@lovebuglena (43074)
• Staten Island, New York
31 May
I know that parsnip and parsley root look very similar. Hard to tell them apart for me just by looking at them. One time I was buying one of them in the store (don't remember which) and the cashier thought it was the other one. I had to tell her what it was so she could adjust the price.
I like the turnip that's white and purple on the outside. It's great shredded with some mayo and maybe sour cream. But I also like to just add it to a salad. Tasty.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
29 May
Anna says they are not as sweet as carrots and have a pungent aftertaste. Is that the way US parsnips are?
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
30 May
Thank you very much for the information!
1 person likes this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
30 May
@LindaOHio You are welcome. My Momma and Grandmother always used cast iron cookware, so everything they cooked was delicious.
1 person likes this
@MarieCoyle (28493)
•
30 May
I grew up eating parsnips regularly, my family loved them. I still do. Turnips can be good if they are seasoned correctly. I will eat thin slices of raw turnip. And turnip greens are very good to eat as well. I have never been a big fan of rutabagas, but to be honest I haven't known anyone that ever even grew them in their gardens or fixed them. I guess they just weren't popular when I grew up, and I had pretty much forgotten about them.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
30 May
Thank you very much for the information!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (157551)
• United States
29 May
I have cooked parsnips and turnips for others. Some like parsnips candied, like carrots. We use rutabagas when my husband makes pasties--a hand held meat pie. They are milder than turnip. Some recipes refer to them as Swedes.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
30 May
Many had good stories about these veggies.
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@LindaOHio (156159)
• United States
30 May
Quite a few members have used them which is surprising.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (73407)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
29 May
My mom made great soups including these vegetables especially turnips, I have not had any in ages and miss the taste. From what I know no one sells these vegetables ready in frozen form.
1 person likes this
