Caramelized Roasted Turnips Recipe (2024)

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by Katerina

4.89 from 9 votes

Nov 23, 2020, Updated Jun 14, 2024

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Roasted Turnips make an excellent side dish to any meal! With just a mix of shallots, seasonings, and butter, this recipe is easy yet delivers crispy, tender, and caramelized turnips.

I can recall the first time I made cooked turnips; I was SO pleasantly surprised by their transformation in the oven. I served them with carnitas pork tacos, and the combination was absolutely amazing. Go figure! These humble root vegetables develop a slightly sweet and earthy flavor, with a crispy exterior and tender interior that is simply irresistible.

If you’re wondering how to roast turnips, this easy recipe is all you need. With just a few simple ingredients and steps, you’ll be serving up a side dish that’s not only tasty but also packed with nutrients. Perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions, I promise that these roasted turnips will become a new favorite in your household.

Why I Love This Roasted Turnips Recipe

Crispy and caramelized: These turnips achieve a perfect balance of tenderness and flavor, with a crispy exterior and a sweet, earthy interior that makes every bite delightful.
Quick and easy: This recipe requires just 10 minutes of prep time and 30 minutes to cook. It fits perfectly into any busy schedule, making it an effortless addition to your meal rotation.
A flavorful combination: The ingredients come together beautifully, with butter adding richness, shallots providing a subtle sweetness, chives bringing a mild onion flavor, and spices enhancing the overall flavors and texture.

Ingredients You’ll Need

To make this easy roasted turnips recipe, you’ll only need a few simple ingredients. These basic pantry staples will help you transform turnips into a flavorful dish!

Turnips with purple tops: You’ll need approximately 2 pounds, and cut the turnips into 1/2-inch wedges for even cooking.
Shallots: These add a subtle onion flavor that complements the turnips. Thinly sliced for even roasting.
Olive oil: Helps to coat the turnips and shallots so they roast evenly and develop a delicious caramelization.
Dried chives: Fresh chives can be used as a substitute.
Garlic powder: You can substitute with fresh minced garlic if desired.
Smoked or sweet paprika: Enhances the flavor with a hint of smokiness or sweetness, depending on your preference.
Salt & Black Pepper: Essential for seasoning and bringing out the natural flavors of the turnips. Kosher salt can also be used.
Butter: Cut into small pieces for even distribution.
Chopped fresh parsley: For garnish, adding a fresh touch to the dish.
Crushed red pepper flakes: Optional garnish for a bit of heat and extra flavor.

How To Roast Turnips

If you are looking for a delicious and simple side dish to complement your meals, this roasted turnips recipe is just what you need! Roasting turnips brings out their natural sweetness and creates a nicely caramelized exterior.

Prep. Preheat the oven to 450˚F.
Prepare the turnips. Place turnips and shallots in a baking dish or on a baking sheet and toss with olive oil. Add dried chives, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper; toss to combine. Scatter butter pieces over the top.
Cook. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, stirring halfway through, until tender.
Season to taste and serve. Remove from oven and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Garnish with fresh herbs and a squeeze of lemon juice, if you like, before serving.

Recipe Tips And Variations

Use Your Turnip Greens: If you have turnip greens, don’t let them go to waste! Turnip greens are the leafy tops of the turnip root and are packed with nutrients. They can be used in a variety of ways, similar to other leafy greens like kale or spinach. Sauté them with garlic, olive oil, and a splash of lemon juice for a simple and flavorful side dish. You can also add them to soups, stews, salads, smoothies, stir-fries, or even make a unique turnip greens pesto.
Oil Substitutions: If you prefer or need to use a different type of oil, olive oil can be substituted with avocado oil, coconut oil, or even ghee. Each of these options will add its own unique flavor to the dish.
Preheating the Oven: Always preheat the oven to ensure your turnips roast properly. Preheating prevents the veggies from becoming soggy and steamed rather than crispy. This step is crucial for achieving that perfect caramelized exterior.
Broiling for Extra Crispness: If your turnips are not as caramelized as you would like them to be after roasting, try broiling them for a couple of minutes. The high heat of the broiler is great for adding extra crispness and a beautiful golden-brown finish.

Do You Have To Peel Turnips

You don’t need to peel turnips, but you should because peeling helps to get a softer texture. Also, wash and scrub them under running water because turnips are root veggies, which means they grow in the ground and can have dirt on their surface.

How To Serve Roasted Turnips

Sizzling turnips pair beautifully with this delicious maple butter whole roasted chicken, creating a fantastic balance of flavors. They also make a smashing side dish for my mozzarella stuffed crockpot meatloaf, adding a unique twist to a classic meal. Additionally, the roasted veggies contrast nicely with a comforting pasta dish like this creamy asparagus pasta.

For a special holiday meal, consider serving these turnips alongside a juicy roast lamb or a festive roast turkey breast. Turnips complement rich holiday meats perfectly, making them an ideal addition to your holiday table. To complete the feast, add some fresh cranberry sauce and a warm, crusty skillet bread.

Storing And Reheating

To refrigerate, cool the turnips and place them in an airtight container. Store them in the refrigerator for up to 3 days or in the freezer for up to 3 months.
To reheat, place refrigerated or frozen turnips in an ovenproof dish and bake at 350˚F until heated through (5 to 10 minutes for refrigerated, 20 to 30 minutes for frozen).

More Roasted Vegetables Recipes

Garlic Butter Roasted Parsnips
Roasted Garlic Parmesan Carrots
Oven Roasted Asparagus with Hollandaise Sauce
Oven Roasted Vegetables
Roasted Green Beans

ENJOY!

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Roasted Turnips Recipe

by Katerina | Diethood

Roasted Turnips are a delicious addition to any meal! Made with a blend of turnips, shallots, spices, and butter, this easy recipe yields bites that are crisp, tender, and beautifully caramelized.

Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 40 minutes minutes

Servings: 8

Ingredients

▢ 2 pounds turnips with purple tops, cut into 1/2-inch wedges
▢ 2 shallots, thinly sliced
▢ 1 tablespoon olive oil
▢ 4 teaspoons minced dried chives
▢ 1 teaspoon garlic powder
▢ 1 teaspoon smoked or sweet paprika
▢ ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
▢ ¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
▢ 4 tablespoons butter, cut into about 10 pieces
▢ chopped fresh parsley, for garnish
▢ crushed red pepper flakes,, for garnish, optional

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 450˚F.
Place turnips and shallots in a 9×13 baking dish and toss them with the olive oil.
To the turnips, add the chives, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper; toss gently to combine. Scatter the butter pieces over the top.
Roast for 25 to 30 minutes or until tender, stirring them halfway through cooking. If the turnips are cut larger than suggested, you will need to roast them a bit longer or until tender.
Remove from oven and taste for salt and pepper; adjust accordingly.
Garnish with parsley and pepper flakes, and serve.

Equipment

Notes

Cleaning: Turnips should be well-cleaned, as they can have dirt on their surface.
Peeling: While not mandatory, peeling helps to get a softer texture.
Slicing: They can be cut into wedges, cubes, or slices.
Roasting Temperature: Typically, turnips are roasted at a high temperature, and it can take up to 30 minutes to get them crispy and golden brown. The cooking time will depend on the size of the turnips.
Flavoring: A dash of maple syrup or honey can bring out their natural sweetness.

Nutrition

Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.

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