Buttered rutabagas are an easy nutritious fall and winter side dish, perfect for your holiday tables. This mild and sweet root veggie is surprisingly delish!
buttered rutabagas are a simple classic
Buttered Rutabagas were a staple on our Thanksgiving table when I was growing up and I’m revisiting them today ~ these delicious pale orange turnips are misunderstood and probably the most overlooked veggie in the produce section.
did you know?
Rutabagas (or neeps, sweedes, baigies, snadgers, or narkies, depending on where you live) originated as a wild cross between a cabbage and a turnip, and it happened somewhere in Scandinavia or Russia in the Middle Ages. Over the years they’ve been associated with livestock feed and wartime shortages ~ and they’re definitely a ‘homey’ veg ~ but when cooked properly, they’re utterly delicious!
Rutabagas are mild, slightly sweet, slightly bitter, and not at all starchy. This rustic root veg has been around for centuries, but my first experience of them was on my grandparents’ Thanksgiving tables. There’s nothing fancy about these buttered rutabagas, but they have a deliciously satisfying flavor and texture that plays well with so many other foods. When you cook them until they’re just tender like I do, and top them with lots of butter and a sprinkle of sea salt and fresh cracked black pepper, they’re SO GOOD!
how to choose rutabaga
Look for rutabaga near the turnips and carrots in your produce section. Rutabagas come in all sizes, from petite to giant. I like to use the smaller ones when I can find them, they’re more tender, flavorful, and easier to peel.
how to peel and cut rutabaga
One of the things about raw rutabagas is that they are rock solid. Like winter squash, or beets, these root veggies are dense and tough to cut. The first thing you need to do is peel them. Rutabaga have a thick peel, and they are often waxed to preserve them longer.
- Use a good sharp chef’s knife to cut the ends off the rutabaga.
- Remove the peel with a vegetable peeler. Be sure to remove all the green layers, right down the the orange flesh. If your rutabaga is large, you can use a knife to slice off the peel.
- Once peeled, I like to slice the rutabaga and then dice the slices. The width of your slices can vary depending on what size dice you want.
- I like to cut my rutabaga into a fairly small dice so it will cook quickly and evenly. I think it looks pretty, too, but as I remember it, the rutabaga on my grandparents’ holiday tables was cut in large, uneven hunks. Go with whatever fits your style ๐
what do rutabaga taste like?
The flavor of rutabaga is mild, buttery and somewhat sweet. It has a less intense flavor than beets or turnips, and I think more appealing than overly sweet and starchy sweet potatoes. If you’ve never had them, there’s only one way to find out if you like or dislike them…give them a try!
did you know?
If you don’t like rutabaga or turnips, there might be a scientific reason, some people are genetically more sensitive to the bitter tastes in root veggies and find them unpleasant.
how to cook rutabaga
You can serve rutabaga roasted, mashed, braised, boiled, or even fried! In fact you can cook rutabaga is all the same ways you cook potatoes, turnips, or winter squash. I love it simply boiled, with lots of butter. Simply cover diced rutabaga in cold water and boil for just about 10 minutes, or until barely tender. Check this with the tip of a small sharp knife. Drain, and add butter, salt and pepper. It’s that simple. You can keep them warm, covered, at the back of the stove until needed.
can you eat rutabaga raw?
Yes, I love to shred it and add to a winter slaw!
prep rutabaga ahead of time
You can definitely prep the rutabaga beforehand, it keeps well. Peel and cut it a day or two before you need it and store in a zip lock baggie in the fridge.
how to freeze rutabaga
You can freeze rutabaga but must blanch it in boiling water for a few minutes, first. Then cool and pack in heavy duty freezer bags.
are rutabaga healthy?
Yes! Rutabagas are members of the cruciferous vegetable group, well known for their super healthy properties. They’re low in carbs and calories, but packed with vitamins, minerals, anti-oxidants, and fiber.
Buttered Rutabaga
Ingredients
- 3 lbs rutabaga
- 4 Tbsp butter, or more to taste
- 1 tsp salt, or more to taste
- fresh cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Peel the rutabaga. Trim the ends, and then cut into an even dice. I went with a 1/2 inch size, you can do larger if you like.
- Put the rutabaga in a large pot and cover with cold water. Add 1 tsp salt and bring to a boil. Cover, turn down the heat and cook until just tender, but not soft or mushy. Mine took only 10 minutes.
- Drain and return to the pan. Add butter, salt, and pepper to taste. Keep warm on the stove until needed.
I love rutabagas this way. As a kid and adult I was one of a few who would eat them and I think it’s partly because folks aren’t familiar with rutabagas. I’ve added a little sugar with the butter for those who haven’t yet acquired the taste.
Like so many acquired tastes, once you fall for them, you fall hard!
I absolutely looooove turnip! It is awesome with tomato sauce. My mother and I could literally have that as a meal ^ ^ This sounds lovely! xx
My T-Gives menu is set, but I love this so much I know they will grace my table very soon. Buttered veggies is so reminiscent of my childhood. GREG
Butter makes everything better ~ have a great Turkey Day Greg!
Rutabagas and parsnips tend to be one of those things people eat for Thanksgiving. Then forget about for the rest of the year. Me too, too often, although I’ve gotten much better at using them than I used to be. So good! And these rutabagas look terrific — they really do take to butter, don’t they? Thanks! And Happy Thanksgiving!
My Mom insists that turnip be on every Thanksgiving table. She would love this simple, but delicious recipes! Happy Thanksgiving, Sue!
Nice idea for serving rutabagas. I haven’t cooked them in a while because my husband doesn’t seem to care much for them. My favorite way to prepare them is to roast them with olive oil and black pepper. Yum. I’ve been pushing my husband’s food boundaries since we married 8 years ago, and I’m thinking it may be time to push them againโฆ Besides which he does like his butter on his veggies, so this preparation might work better for him.
My maternal side of family emigrated to Canada 3 generations ago.from England
we had wonderful buttered mashed turnips for many meals
The problem is that only recently did we find out that those wonderful “turnips” were rutabagas!!!!!!!
Funny you should mention that, Joan, because I said that yesterday’s red cabbage came from my German great grandmother, and I think these rutabaga must have come from the British side of the family. I think rutabaga are called turnips in certain areas!
Some areas of NC call them rudabaga-turnips.
I thinly slice my fresh rutabagas, boil and then pour off water, recover with fresh water to make sure bitterness goes “down the drain”. Then I re-drain them, add lots of butter, some salt, pepper and a tablespoon of brown sugar and mash vigourously till nice and smooth. They are delicious and a favourite especially with fowl dinners. OR every fall, I do about 10 at once but, after the second boiling, I bag them and freeze for future meals. Then just heat for 10 to 15 minutes straight from frozen and prepare as for fresh rutabaga or turnip.Every bit as good from frozen.
I love the idea of that stocked freezer!
This is quite embarrassing, but I’ve never eaten a rutabaga. Guess what’s going to be on my shopping list? I can’t wait!
Ooooh Chris, you need to get with the program, they’re so good!
Now I know why there was a run on rutabagas at the store! Not a one in sight ๐ I can’t believe how simple this recipe is with such a beautiful result. Love it! Happy Thanksgiving Sue!
Love rutabaga! So delicious when properly prepared. Yours looks fab.!