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Original poster

Anyone else never tried turnip?

86 replies

ifonly4 · 26/02/2023 16:57

DH and myself got talking earlier about the shortage of some vegetables and our preferences. I eat most thing these days, but tendency for me is to revert to all the foods I loved as a fussy child - salad, fruit, cheese and dried bread - so I comfortably confessed to DH I'd never tried turnip. DH admitted he hasn't as well. Anyone else?

If you've tried, what are they like?

Looking at Tescos online, there aren't any to purchase, not even out of stock.

OP posts:
nancyglancy · 27/02/2023 06:17

They are also lush in a sausage casserole or any meat stew.

incognitodorrito · 27/02/2023 06:18

Adds a lovely depth in taste to soup.

TroysMammy · 27/02/2023 06:22

I've grown them, very easy and delicious roasted. I've also grown khol rabi which is another type of turnip.

Emmamoo89 · 27/02/2023 06:26

Love turnip

Girasoli · 27/02/2023 07:48

I've never tried turnip but I've had swede in mash, I'm not keen.

Celeriac is lovely though.

QuietlyConfident · 27/02/2023 07:55

I was always hugely confused by talk of Scots carving lanterns out of turnips before the advent of pumpkins. I thought they must have been tiny and an absolute bastard to carve. Knowing that they were actually using the things that I call swedes makes much more sense.

I've had tiny turnips in poncy British restaurants, and I get them in veg boxes - tend to turn them into mixed root veg mash or put them in casseroles and stews.

AuntieMarys · 27/02/2023 08:03

I love both turnips and swedes. Grew up having them regularly as multiple dad grew them...Still have them today

spidereggs · 27/02/2023 08:07

To enjoy it at its best,

You will also need haggis, mash and a whisky sauceSmile

borntobequiet · 27/02/2023 08:07

Small turnips sliced, lightly boiled or steamed are really nice especially eaten with that butter with salt crystals in it.

gingercat02 · 27/02/2023 08:08

dementedpixie · 26/02/2023 17:18

Small one is a turnip and the large one is a Swede. In Scotland a swede will also be called turnip

Other way round in Northern Ireland. Big one turnip (lovely boiled with lots of butter and pepper) little one swede (bitter and horrible)

Farmersweeklyreader · 27/02/2023 08:42

I’m from the Scottish Borders, English side 🙂
Swede - baigy
Always had a baigy lantern for Halloween growing up although they seemed to be much bigger when I was a child.
Everyone where I am from calls them baigys. I thought it was a Scottish thing but maybe not?

SinnerBoy · 27/02/2023 08:51

A Swede - short for Swedish turnip, which Scandinavians call rutabaga. I had some on Friday, leftovers on Saturday, bloody lovely. I also do it mashed with butter and carrots - clapshot, in Aberdeen.

You can shave it raw, with a potato peeler and pickle in in wine, or cider vinegar, with ginger.

Little whit turnips are nice, grated into a mixed salad.

ClaraThePigeon · 27/02/2023 08:53

Everyone where I am from calls them baigys. I thought it was a Scottish thing but maybe not?

I'm Scottish and I've never heard the term. I'm from Glasgow though.

PamperedEnLaPampa · 27/02/2023 08:57

Isn't it a Rutabaga, which is a Swedish turnip, hence 'Swede'?

BlackeyedSusan · 27/02/2023 08:58

Swede...one used to carve their Halloween lanterns out of Swedes and eat the innards as you we t.

There was a great recipe on Broadcasting House(Radio4) on Sunday morning.

Crumpetdisappointment · 27/02/2023 08:59

i love swede
mashed swede and carrot.
i add turnips to casseroles as it bulks out the meal and is quite inoffensive but havent bought one for years.

Zippitydoodaa · 27/02/2023 09:08

I live in Scotland and all my life called the large one a Turnip and the small one a swede.

SinnerBoy · 27/02/2023 09:13

PamperedEnLaPampa · Today 08:57

Isn't it a Rutabaga, which is a Swedish turnip, hence 'Swede'?

I thought that's what I wrote....

cobblers123 · 27/02/2023 09:15

I only ever eat them in stews, I've never eaten them on their own. I always buy them if I see them but it's not that often that I do.

Corsica2023 · 27/02/2023 09:22

Excellent veg. Have them in casseroles and my horses love them too

TheDogsMother · 27/02/2023 09:31

I started out in Scotland so the larger orange one is a turnip to me. Good in soup, casseroles and delicious mashed with butter and black pepper.

CuddyDuck · 27/02/2023 09:33

Farmersweeklyreader · 27/02/2023 08:42

I’m from the Scottish Borders, English side 🙂
Swede - baigy
Always had a baigy lantern for Halloween growing up although they seemed to be much bigger when I was a child.
Everyone where I am from calls them baigys. I thought it was a Scottish thing but maybe not?

My FIL calls then this too. He's from north Northumberland. Never heard anyone else call a turnip swede a baigy!

Fluffygreenslippers · 27/02/2023 09:36

I think i’ve eaten turnip, it was quite woody tasting even when soft. Not awful. Also does anyone else remember that book ‘the enormous turnip’? Or was it a fever dream? 😐

EyesOnThePies · 27/02/2023 09:41

If you’ve had a decent Cornish Pasty you’ve probably had turnip and / or swede.

bellac11 · 27/02/2023 09:42

I find turnips quite bitter and too peppery. Such a shame

I also find swedes to have a sort of 'off' flavour.

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