There are at least 100 ways to enjoy rutabagas. Here are a just few suggestions to introduce this wonderful vegetable:
RAW: First, peel them with a vegetable peeler. Slice and enjoy as a snack. Chop, dice, or grate them and add to salads. Create a unique salad with diced rutabagas and other vegetables of your choice. Grate them and add to cole slaw. Grate and combine with carrot salad.
COOKED: Rutabagas can be roasted, boiled, steamed, stir-fried, mashed, or stewed. Cook them with potatoes and mash together. Quarter them and roast along with potatoes. Enhance the flavor of stews with chopped or quartered rutabagas. Dice them and add to soups. Stir-fry with onions.
Today's busy lifestyle often makes us seek out healthy recipes that fall into that easy-to-prepare category. Here's a rutabaga winner.
- Peel rutabagas with a vegetable peeler, and cut into chunks. Put them into a 4-quart (4 liter) saucepan, add the salt and about 2" (5 cm) of water to cover. Cover saucepan, and bring to a boil over high heat.
- Turn heat down to medium and cook about 12 - 15 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain, reserving cooking liquid. Using a potato masher, coarsely mash rutabagas in the saucepan, adding cooking liquid as needed for moisture.
- Add olive oil and nutmeg. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Transfer to a serving bowl, sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg, and garnish with a sprig of fresh sage or herb of your choice. Serves 6.
