Butter-Braised Carrots with Thyme
Braised in sweet butter and tossed with garlic and thyme, these carrots are truly sublime.
Ingredients:
1½ pounds carrots, peeled and cut into thick matchsticks
2 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, thinly sliced (if desired)
2 thyme sprigs
1¾ cups chicken stock
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 375°. In a large ovenproof skillet (one that has an accompanying lid, which will be used later), melt the butter over moderately low heat. Add the carrots, garlic and thyme and season with salt and pepper. Cook, tossing frequently, until the carrots are tender but not browned, about 10 minutes. Add the chicken stock, bring to a boil and remove from the heat.
2. Cover the skillet with the lid. Braise the carrots in the oven for about 30 minutes, or until they are very tender. Discard the thyme sprigs and serve.
Braised Turnips & Carrots
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Ingredients:
½ pound purple top turnips, green tops removed
½ pound carrots, green tops removed
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 peeled shallots
1 cup chicken stock
Juice from ½ lemon
3 tablespoons fresh thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Wash and scrub both the turnip and carrots, then cut into 1-inch-long pieces.
2. Heat butter and oil over medium-high heat in a large sauce pan, then and add shallots, turnips and carrots. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until vegetables begin to caramelize.
3. Add chicken stock, and a dash each of salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and turn heat down to low. Let simmer for another 10 minutes, or until stock has mostly been absorbed by veggies. Add lemon juice and fresh thyme, then season to taste with more salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.
Sautéed Turnips with Garlic Scapes
Tossed with flavorful garlic scapes, these turnip and greens are incredibly tender thanks to a quick simmer in chicken stock.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Tokyo Market turnips with greens
2-3 garlic scapes, finely minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chicken stock
¼ cup golden raisins, plumped in water and drained
Method:
1. Thoroughly wash turnips, then trim greens from turnip bulbs. Set greens out on a paper towel to drain. Meanwhile, trim turnip bulb ends and thinly slice. Then, coarsely chop greens.
2. Heat garlic scapes in oil over medium heat in a large skillet until garlic begins to sizzle. Add the turnips and greens. Turn and coat with oil as you wilt the greens.
2. Add broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer 3 to 5 minutes to soften.
3. Transfer turnips, greens and garlic to a serving platter and top with plumped golden raisins.
Braised Root Vegetables & Cabbage with Fruit
This ingenious recipe from Food & Wine boasts extra flavor thanks to the addition of apples and pears.
Ingredients:
4 carrots, peeled and sliced into ½-inch-thick pieces
4 large radishes, quartered
1 large rutabaga, peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 head red cabbage, cored and coarsely chopped
1 small onion, peeled and thinly sliced
1 sweet apple, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 pear, peeled, cored and cut into 1-inch pieces
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons olive olive
2 garlic cloves, crushed
½ cup chicken stock or water
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat the oven to 350°. In a large, deep skillet, melt the butter in the olive oil. When the foam subsides, add the onion, carrot, radish, rutabaga, cabbage, apple and garlic. Season with salt and black pepper and cook over high heat, stirring, until the vegetables are lightly browned in spots, about 6 minutes. Add the chicken broth and bring to a boil. Cover and braise in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until tender.
2. Remove from the oven, stir in the pear pieces and cook over high heat until the liquid is evaporated and the pear is tender, about 5 minutes. Transfer the braised fruits and vegetables to a bowl and serve.
Butter-Braised Turnips
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Ingredients:
1 pound turnips, green tops removed, washed and roughly chopped
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 peeled shallots
1 cup chicken stock
Juice from ½ lemon
3 tablespoons fresh thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Wash and scrub the turnips, then cut into 1-inch-long pieces.
2. Heat butter and oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan, then and add shallots and turnips. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the turnips begin to caramelize.
3. Add chicken stock, and a dash each of salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and turn heat down to low. Let simmer for another 5 minutes, or until stock has started to be absorbed by turnips. Add the turnip greens and simmer another 5 minutes, or until all the stock has been absorbed and the greens are wilted and tender. Add lemon juice and fresh thyme, then season to taste with more salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.
Honey-Glazed Baby Carrots
The inherent sweetness of carrots is further enhanced in this glazed side dish from local chef John Sundstrom’s Lark: Cooking Against the Grain.
Ingredients:
1¼ pounds baby carrots
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 ½ tablespoons honey
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Prepare an ice bath. Bring a large saucepan of salted water to a boil. Boil the carrots for 2-3 minutes until just tender. Strain the carrots from water and immediately place them in the ice bath.
2. Remove the carrot skin by gently rubbing it off with a dry kitchen towel. (It should come off quite easily.)
3. Heat a sauté pan over medium-high heat. Add honey and butter to the pan and melt together. Add the carrots and toss to coat. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Cook until the carrots are heated through and the honey and butter mixture has formed a sticky glaze. Adjust seasoning to taste, serve hot.
Glazed Hakurei Turnips
These buttery glazed turnips are sure to delight.
Ingredients:
1 large bunch Hakurei turnips, trimmed and greens reserved
¼ cup butter
3 tablespoons sugar
Sea salt
Method:
1. Place turnips in a large skillet; add water to cover turnips halfway. Add butter, sugar, and a large pinch of salt; bring to a boil. Cook, stirring occasionally, until liquid is syrupy and turnips are tender, about 15 minutes. (If turnips are tender before liquid has reduced, use a slotted spoon to transfer turnips to a plate and reduce liquid until syrupy. Return turnips to pan and stir to coat well.)
2. Add turnip greens to skillet and cook over medium heat, stirring occasionally, until just wilted, 2-3 minutes. Season with salt.
Sautéed Turnips with Garlic & Greens
Tossed with flavorful garlic, these turnip greens are incredibly tender thanks to a quick simmer in chicken stock.
Ingredients:
1 bunch Hakurei turnips with greens
4 cups kale greens, removed of any tough ribs
4 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 cup chicken stock
¼ cup golden raisins, plumped in water and drained
Method:
1. Thoroughly wash turnips, then trim greens from turnip bulbs. Set greens out on a paper towel to drain. Meanwhile, trim the turnip bulb ends and thinly slice. Then, coarsely chop greens.
2. Heat garlic in oil over medium heat in a large skillet until garlic begins to sizzle. Add the turnips and their greens, plus the kale greens. Turn and coat with oil as you wilt the greens.
3. Add broth. Bring to a boil. Cover and reduce heat to low. Simmer for 10 to 12 minutes to soften.
4. Transfer turnips, greens and garlic to a serving platter and top with plumped golden raisins.
Variation: This dish is excellent topped with swarm Andouille sausage slices!
Butter-Braised Turnips with Greens & Baby Shiitake Mushrooms
Simmered in rich chicken stock, this dish is finished with lemon juice and thyme for fresh appeal.
Ingredients:
1 pound baby turnips, green tops removed and then washed and patted dry with a paper towel
2 cups baby Shiitake mushrooms, washed thoroughly
1 tablespoons butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 peeled shallots
1 cup chicken stock
Juice from ½ lemon
3 tablespoons fresh thyme
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Wash and scrub the turnips, then cut into 1-inch-long pieces.
2. Heat butter and oil over medium-high heat in a large saucepan, then add shallots and turnips. Sauté for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until the turnips begin to caramelize.
3. Add chicken stock, reserved turnip greens and baby Shiitake mushrooms, as well as a dash each of salt and pepper. Cover with a lid and turn heat down to low. Let simmer for another 10 minutes, or until stock has mostly been absorbed by vegetables. Add lemon juice and fresh thyme, then season to taste with more salt and pepper as needed. Serve warm.
Roasted Potatoes, Turnips & Carrots
These easy roasted veggies are a great brunch side dish. (Or, try topping a hearty serving with a poached egg for a satisfying entrée.)
Ingredients:
2 pounds fingerling potatoes, washed and sliced into halves (if smaller) or quarters (if large)
1 small bunch carrots, peeled and sliced into matchsticks
1 bunch Hakurei turnips, washed, scrubbed and sliced into halves (if smaller) or quarters (if large)
1 red onion, peeled and chopped into small wedges
1-2 tablespoons olive or grapeseed oil
½ teaspoon sweet paprika
Freshly-chopped parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. Place potatoes, carrots, turnips and onions in a baking dish large enough for vegetables to spread out into a single layer. (Don’t crowd, or the vegetables won’t have a chance to crisp and brown. If necessary, divide the vegetables onto two baking sheets.) Add oil and spices and toss evenly to coat.
2. Roast in the oven for 30 minutes, stirring once or two during roasting, until potatoes are pierced easily with a fork. Remove from the oven, drizzle with about a teaspoon of olive oil and garnish with the fresh parsley.
Variation: These vegetables are also lovely with sautéed Shiitake mushrooms tossed in!