Turnips are one of those veggies that are often overlooked when it comes to the Sunday roast, often because they don’t taste the best when boiled or steamed. But what if we told you there were other, more delicious ways of preparing turnips? How about roasting?
To roast turnips, rinse and cut them up before tossing them in olive oil and seasoning. You can then roast them – alongside other veggies if you wish – until they caramelise and soften slightly
How to Roast Turnips
This is a wonderful way to prepare turnips (and other veggies) as the roasting process caramelises them and sweetens them up significantly.
As such, roasted turnips are the perfect side serving for various delicious meals. Here are the steps you need to follow to roast your turnips to perfection:
- Preheat Oven
Switch on your oven and preheat to 450F or 230C. - Prepare Turnips
Rinse your turnips under the cold tap and slice them accordingly. You can choose to peel them or roast them with the peel. If the skins are damaged or thick then it can be a good idea to peel. - Season
Place turnips in a bowl and season them with olive oil, salt, and pepper. Make sure you shake them well to ensure all the turnips are well coated. You could also add dried herbs or spices here. - Place on a Baking Tray
Add a sheet of greaseproof paper to a baking tray and lay your seasoned turnips out on top, ensuring they’re well-spaced. - Roast
Place your tray of turnips into the centre of the oven and roast for 25 minutes. - Serve and Enjoy
Your delicious caramelised turnips are ready to serve up and enjoy.
Turnips will roast well with a range of root vegetables including parsnips, swede, carrots, celeriac and potatoes. 
How to Roast Turnips Successfully
If you want things to go your way when roasting turnips then follow these 3 simple tips:
- Roast Other Veggies Together – You can roast turnips alongside the likes of carrots and parsnips to enjoy a delicious side serving of roasted veggies. While it’s perfectly fine to roast them on their own, consider adding other veggies to help your family receive their five-a-day.
- Add Butter for More Flavour – When you’re seasoning your turnips before placing them in the oven, adding a couple of knobs of unsalted butter can help improve their flavour. And while this makes them a little unhealthy, it’s a great trick to know for a little extra indulgence.
- Use Herbs – In addition to your seasoning, certain herbs – such as rosemary and thyme – can also work wonders regarding the taste and flavour of roasted turnips. The key is finding a recipe that works for you, and don’t be afraid to add multiple herbs and spices to bring the dish to life.
Why You Should Roast Turnips?
We love roasted turnips, and we think you will too! Here are some reasons to try it:
Delicious!
Roasted turnips that have been well seasoned taste incredible. You will no longer have to struggle to get your kids to eat their five-a-day when they taste how delicious roasted turnips are, trust us!
Possible to Roast Lots of Veggies
Turnips are one of a number of veggies that can be roasted simultaneously. This gives you an excellent opportunity to roast various veggies up in the oven at the same time before serving them up as the perfect side dish for your chosen meal.
Why You Shouldn’t Roast Turnips?
Although we love roasted turnips, not everyone will agree. And here’s why:
Not Particularly Healthy
It’s fair to say that coating veggies in salt, oil, and butter isn’t the healthiest way to enjoy them! Even if it is delicious!
But providing you enjoy roasted turnips once in a while, you don’t need to worry about the extra calories!
More Effort Required
For some people, the additional hassle of slicing, seasoning, and then roasting turnips isn’t welcome.
If you want your turnips ready in the shortest time possible, then dicing them up and microwaving them is your best bet, even though they won’t taste as good as roasted turnips.
Is It Safe to Roast Turnips?
Yes, there’s nothing to worry about from a safety perspective when it comes to roasting turnips.
As is the case with cooking any type of vegetable, just make sure you have a fresh turnipto begin with, and it’s free from any discolouration or bruising.
Then, when you come to roast it, you shouldn’t encounter any issues, providing you follow the steps introduced above.
Do Turnips Roast Well?
Turnips roast extremely well, and we would go as far as to say that it’s one of the best ways to enjoy this veggie.
The main thing to remember is that roasted turnips aren’t as healthy as those that have been boiled, microwaved, or steamed, so you should only really roast them once in a while to really enjoy their benefits.
Roasting most vegetables will bring out the sweetness in their flavour profile. The same can be said for turnips which taste like a mild, sweet carrot or swede once roasted.
Roasting TurnipsFAQs
Still sitting there with further questions about roasting turnips? Perhaps these FAQs will help you out:
Some people find roasted turnips a little bitter but this is the flavour of turnips. They have a little bitterness alongside carrot-like sweetness. If you roast them with plenty of seasoning then you can mask this subtle bitterness.
No, turnips do not need to be peeled to eat them. Some larger turnips will be more bitter if you leave the tough skin on them so it’s a good idea to peel them. Baby turnips do not need to be peeled.
Ross is a freelance writer with a passion for delicious food and drinks, having worked in the hospitality industry in the past. He began working with Let’s Foodie when it first launched to provide information on how to reheat, freeze and microwave different foods.
