You'll love the earthy, smoky, and buttery flavor that comes out in this Easy Mashed Rutabaga Recipe. Rutabaga is a winter root vegetable that can easily substitute potatoes in many recipes. Get creative and enjoy rutabaga throughout the winter season!
What are Rutabagas?
What are rutabagas? Rutabagas are root vegetables (grown underground) like potatoes, turnips, parsnips, beets, carrots, celeriac, and radishes. With a harvest between fall and early spring, they are seasonally abundant in the winter months. Rutabagas are in the cabbage family, giving them a cross-taste between turnips and cabbage. If you've had a turnip, you have a good idea of what they taste like. They are earthy, slightly bitter, buttery, and sweet-savory taste.
Mashed Rutabaga Variations
There are many ways to vary the taste of mashed rutabaga by adding other ingredients:
- Turnips – half turnip/half rutabaga
- Potatoes – russet, unpeeled red potatoes (chunkier)
- Creamers – plant-based milk, sour cream, yogurt
- Plant-based milk – oat, hemp, almond, oat creamer
- Spices – nutmeg, cinnamon, pepper
- Herbs – dill, cilantro, basil
- Salt – smoked, spicy
A Delicious Substitute For Potatoes
You'll find many recipes that usually use potatoes that taste even better with rutabagas. Here are some easy ways to cook with rutabagas:
- skillet home fries
- gratin
- fries
- raw salad
- soup
Are Rutabagas Sustainable?
Rutabagas are easy to grow and relatively low maintenance. They require a moderate amount of moisture, giving them a low water footprint, and don't need full sunlight. Since they can grow in partial shade, they make a good companion crop for corn and pole-growing beans and peas, which grow vertically. Rutabagas are hearty, cruciferous vegetables allowing them to thrive in cool climates. As a result, they have become increasingly popular in Northern European cuisine and especially in Sweden, earning them the nickname “swedes.” Although they are relatively easy to grow and maintain and don’t often need the help of pesticides and herbicides, it is always important to know where your produce is coming from and to support local farmers that farm organically without the use of chemicals. To learn more about supporting local farmers or becoming a part of a CSA, check out how to join a CSA!
If you need more guidance on how to make this recipe, click on the link below.
Easy Mashed Rutabga Recipe
Ingredients
- 34 ounces rutabaga 1 ½ large large cubed
- 2 tablespoon vegan butter
- 1 teaspoon smoked sea salt Maldon
- 1 tablespoon chives chopped
Instructions
- Scrub, peel, slice, and cube the rutabaga into chunks. Tip: large chunks are easier to cut, but small chunks will cook quicker.
- Place in a medium-size pot, cover with water, and ½ teaspoon salt. Cook on medium heat for 20-30 minutes until fork tender.
- Strain the water from the pot using the lid. Add vegan butter and hand-mash the rutabaga directly in the pot.
- Stir in the smoked sea salt, adding extra to your taste buds.
- Heat in the pot until the desired temperature. Stir in half the chives and top with remaining to serve.
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