Honey-Kissed Baby Turnips & Greens
The real star of this simple side are the tender greens!
Ingredients:
6-8 baby Tokyo Market turnips with greens
1 tablespoon butter
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoon honey
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. Wash turnip bulbs and trim tops and tails. (They do not need to be peeled.) Cut into quarters. Then, wash green tops, separating out and discarding any yellowed leaves. Spin or shake off excess water and chop greens.
2. In a heavy-bottomed skillet, melt butter and add olive oil. When butter starts bubbling, add turnips and shake pan to coat with oil and butter. Let cook over medium heat, stirring and turning periodically, until turnips begin to soften and lightly brown, about 7 minutes.
3. Sprinkle moderately with sea salt, then add honey, stirring constantly to distribute.
4. Toss in greens. Continue to stir and cook until greens have wilted, about 3 minutes. Season to taste with additional salt and several grindings of black pepper.
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!
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.
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.
Baby Beet & Carrot Salad with Herbed Crème Fraîche Dressing
This beautiful salad utilizes both the bright baby beets and tender greens.
Ingredients:
Dressing:
2 green onions, minced
1 teaspoon finely minced garlic (about 2 cloves)
1 teaspoon lemon zest plus 2 tablespoons juice
½ teaspoon onion powder
½ teaspoon garlic powder
¼ teaspoon coarse sea salt, plus more to taste
½ cup crème fraîche
2 tablespoons minced dill
2 tablespoons minced parsley
1 pound baby beets with greens (about 1-inch thick)
1 pound slender young carrots with greens (about 1/2-inch thick)1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon minced parsley
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. For the dressing: Whisk to combine green onion, garlic, and lemon zest and juice, onion and garlic powder, and sea salt in a small mixing bowl. Set aside to marinate for a few minutes. Fold in the crème fraîche, followed by the fresh herbs. Taste and add sea salt as needed. Cover and set in fridge to chill. Just before serving, whisk in 1 to 2 tablespoons water to thin dressing as needed.
2. Preheat oven to 425°. Trim all but ¼-inch of beet and carrot greens (reserve beet greens), and thoroughly scrub vegetables. Set unpeeled beets in a small, 2-inch-deep baking pan. Add ½ inch of cold water and cover tightly with foil. Slide into oven and roast until beets are fork-tender, 20 to 25 minutes. Uncover beets, drain hot water, and set beets aside until cool enough to handle. Slice off beet tops and remove skin under cold running water, either with fingertips or a peeler. (Skin will come off very easily.) Quarter beets and sprinkle with sea salt.
3. Halve carrots and cut on the bias into 4-inch spears. Toss with olive oil and a pinch each sea salt and pepper. Scatter on a rimmed baking sheet and slide into oven to roast alongside beets 10 to 15 minutes, or until carrots just begin to curl up and the edges turn golden.
4. While vegetables cook, rinse and dry beet greens, and arrange leaves on a serving platter. Tuck beets and carrots into the greens. Spoon on the dressing, and finish with a few twists of pepper and minced parsley. Serve immediately.
Braised Fava Greens with Roasted Turnips
The tender, succulent greens are lovely simply sautéed in butter and topped with roasted turnips.
Ingredients:
1 bunch fava greens
1 pound Hakeuri turnips, washed, scrubbed and cut into 1-inch pieces
¼ cup olive oil
2 tablespoons butter
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Freshly-squeezed lemon juice
Method:
1. Preheat oven to 400°. In a large baking sheet, toss turnips with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to oven and roast until tender and golden, about 20 to 25 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, thoroughly clean greens, trimming of any tough stems.
3. Heat a large sauté pan over high heat. Once warm, add butter to melt, then add in greens. Cook, stirring occasionally, until greens are wilted about 3 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, season with salt and a squeeze of lemon juice. Transfer to a serving platter and garnish with roasted turnips.
Poached Duck Eggs over Sautéed Beet & Turnip Greens
This elegant presentation is sure to wow any dinner guest.
Ingredients:
3-4 duck eggs
1 bunch each turnip and beet greens, washed and patted dry
2 tablespoons butter or olive oil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Method:
1. To poach the eggs, half-fill a medium saucepan with water and bring to the boil. Add a hefty pinch of salt. Meanwhile, crack each egg into its own small bowl and add a teaspoon of vinegar to each. Stir the boiling water vigorously with a balloon whisk until you have a whirlpool then immediately (and softly!) slip the egg into the pot. Turn the heat down low, and cook for three minutes. Gently lift eggs out of the pot and drain on paper towels.
2. Meanwhile, melt the butter or heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the greens and cook until they are just wilted and tender, 4 to 6 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper; set aside.
3. To serve, add a serving of the greens to a plate, and then top with a poached egg. Season with salt and pepper, as needed.
Variation: This dish is also excellent served with roasted root vegetables, such as beets, turnips or carrots.
Sauteed Winter Greens with Buttered Baby Leeks
Sublime herb- and cheese-kissed crumbs finish these sautéed greens.
Ingredients:
1 pound braising greens, washed and trimmed of tough stalks
3 baby leeks, white and light green parts only, chopped
3 tablespoons butter
4 tablespoons olive oil
¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme
1 tablespoon grated Grana-style cheese
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper
Lemon wedges for garnish
Method:
1. Heat 1 tablespoon butter and 3 tablespoons olive oil in a large frying pan. When the foaming subsides, add the breadcrumbs and stir constantly over a high heat until crisp and golden. Season with sea salt and freshly ground black pepper and the chopped thyme leaves. Transfer the mixture into a bowl and leave to cool, then stir in grated Grana.
2. In the same frying pan, melt the additional 2 tablespoons of butter and add leeks, cooking over medium-low heat until the leeks are soft and almost caramelized. Add remaining tablespoon of olive oil, turn heat to medium-high and add in braising greens, sautéing until slightly wilted.
3. Arrange greens and leeks neatly on a warmed serving dish and scatter over the bread crumbs. Garnish with lemon wedges and serve immediately.
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.
Steamed Tokyo Turnips
Finished with your choice of toppings, steamed turnips make for a simple, delicate side.
Ingredients:
2 bunches Tokyo turnips, with greens
Sea salt, lemon juice, olive oil, soy sauce or vinegar for serving
Method:
1. Separate turnips and greens. Rinse turnips and wash greens. Remove any yellow or damaged leaves and discard. Quarter both turnips and greens.
2. Place a steamer basket in a saucepan with a tight-fitting lid; add enough water so that it reaches a depth of about ½ inch. Bring water to a boil over high heat. Add turnips and greens to steamer basket, cover, and cook until tender, 5 to 8 minutes. Serve with desired toppings.