By Diana Rattray
Tested by Victoria Heydt
August 2, 2021
Source: The Spruce Eats
Photo Source: Unsplash, SJ
Prep: 15 mins
Cook: 30 mins
Total: 45 mins
Servings: 8 servings
Rutabagas are a root vegetable and are sometimes referred to as the Swedish turnip. You can use rutabagas as you would use almost any other root vegetable, which means they're a great substitute for mashed potatoes and also delicious when combined with potatoes and then mashed. The recipe comes together very quickly, and you can do the mashing right in the pot you've cooked them in. Save some of the cooking water if you feel the need to thin them out a little bit after mashing and adding the butter, salt, and pepper.
Rutabagas are in the Brassica genus and are thought to be an ancient cross between a turnip and a cabbage. They're mildly sweeter than turnips but still retain some bitterness; some people describe the taste as bittersweet. Serve these mashed rutabagas as a side dish to any meat or poultry entrée (think roasted chicken) or alongside a ham or pot roast.
"The mashed rutabagas have a buttery texture, and the amount of seasoning is just wonderful! I always forget that peeling and chopping a rutabaga is not as intimidating as it first appears. I just lopped off the ends and then peeled the waxy skin off using a Y-peeler." —Victoria Heydt
Ingredients
2 to 3 pounds rutabagas
2 teaspoons salt, divided
1/3 cup butter
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Steps to Make It
Gather the ingredients.
Peel rutabagas and cut into chunks.
Put the rutabagas in a large saucepan and cover with water.
Add 1 teaspoon of the salt.
Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer for about 25 to 30 minutes or until tender.
Drain and let the rutabagas dry in a colander or in the pan with the top ajar.
Mash the rutabagas with the butter, remaining 1 teaspoon of salt, and the black pepper.
Serve and enjoy.
How to Store and Freeze
You can freeze rutabagas for future use in recipes by either blanching chunks and then freezing them or freezing a puree.
Mashed rutabagas will keep in the refrigerator in an airtight container for three to five days.
To freeze, pack mashed rutabaga into freezer storage bags and squeeze out as much air as possible. Freeze for up to 12 months. Reheat frozen mashed rutabaga in a saucepan over medium-low heat, adding a little milk or butter if need be. Cook, stirring frequently until hot.
Recipe Variations
Mashed rutabagas are delicious with this sage brown butter sauce.
Add 1/2 cup of sour cream or plain Greek yogurt and 2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or parsley.
Instead of using all rutabagas, use a combination of other root vegetables such as carrots, parsnips, and/or Yukon gold potatoes along with rutabagas.
Fold in caramelized onions and/or roasted garlic as the last step.
Add a few tablespoons of buttermilk, a dash of cinnamon, and a tablespoon of maple syrup to play up this veggie's sweetness.
How Do You Get the Bitter Taste Out of Rutabagas? If you find that rutabagas are too bitter for you, add up to a tablespoon of sugar to accentuate the sweetness and stir to combine. This will help to counteract the bitterness.
Do You Peel Rutabagas Before Cooking? The outside of a rutabaga is often waxed to preserve it for the winter, so you'll want to peel the vegetable before cooking and eating it. Luckily, rutabagas are easy to peel with a standard vegetable peeler or a paring knife.
How can you introduce other recipes with rutabaga into your diet? Why? How could rutabaga improve your health?
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