So what makes a vegetable (or fruit) sexy? Colour? Taste? Texture? Marketing? I think it's a combination. It's highly unlikely calling your love one "My little turnip" is ever going to score big in the romance department. You won't find people saying "She's the turnip of my eye"!
Labels can be a sad thing, whether it is vegetable or person. Once you stuck with it, it's almost impossible to get rid of it.
So why are turnips dull and radish not? They are part of the same family and have a very similar taste and texture. Why have turnips been relegated to hearty winter soups and radish to sexy summer salads?
This weekend I picked 3 beautiful turnips from my father's garden. I certainly was not going to be making hearty winter soup with the weather we are having now - so I made this wonderful turnip salad. If you only try one recipe from this blog - this should be it. It will blow your mind just how good it is - and super easy to make.
Turnip Salad
3 small Turnips cut into julienne ( the bigger ones can be a little "woody")
10ml - 15ml good quality Mayonnaise (not salad cream)
A pinch or two of sugar
5ml Lime juice
Salt and WHITE pepper (I like lots of white pepper)
Combine all the ingredients - and check the seasoning, and adjust according to taste.
Keep chilled until you are ready to serve.
I found this really good with fish.
You're right - sadly turnips have a bad rap. Starving peasant food. This salad could start a whole new image for the much maligned turnip!
ReplyDeleteWould never have thought of this. So you eat the turnip raw? Will have to try it out.
ReplyDeleteInteresting idea. Who knew you could eat raw turnips?? You are right - they suffer from a defininte PR problem!! I'm thinking you could do a remoulade with turnips, like you would with celeriac...
ReplyDeleteI really think I should give this one a go - the raw taste will hopefully appeal more to me than the cooked version.
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