Skillet Coconut Turnips

 

Do soups, mash, or casserole come to mind when you hear the word TURNIPS!! Wait, there’s more.. Why not try this simple southern Indian take.. roasting turnips on the skillet brings out their sweetness. and of course fresh coconut slivers add that special sweet touch none other can..

Ingredients 3 cups washed, peeled and cut turnipsGarnish 1 tsp fresh grated coconut Or dry if only that’s available 1 tsp chopped fresh cilantro 1 ½ tsp Fresh lime juice

Spice Mix 3/4 tsp mustard seeds 3/4 tsp urad dal seeds 6-8 curry leaves 1 tbsp chopped fresh ginger 2 hot chili peppers, sliced Pinch hing salt to taste 1 tbsp coconut oil

Serves 4Pots n pans Skillet

Method
• Wash and peel turnips.. cut them into thick matchstick sized bits. Easiest way to do that is to cut the peeled turnips into slices and then stacking 2 slices at a time cut into matchstick bits. This technique is called julienne..Here’s what julienned turnips look like-these are long and thin – I cut thicker matchsticks and then cut them in half so they were short & chunky..

• Steam cut turnips till cooked but still crisp never overcooked or soggy.

• Heat skillet. Add oil and then mustard seeds. When they splutter add urad seeds.

• When urad turns golden brown, add the following in quick succession- curry leaves, fresh ginger, hot green pepper & hing.

• Stir the spices together and then toss in the cooked turnips. Add salt and stir to coat turnips with spice oil. You may like to cover the skillet to allow turnips to roast lightly.

• When turnips are lightly roasted , add lime juice, stir once & then turn off the stove.

• Add grated coconut and fresh cilantro. Cover skillet and let rest about 1 minute.

• When you take off the lid, you’ll be assailed with the fragrance of turnips, coconut and lime.

• Stir everything together. Serve with rice.

Health benefits
Turnips are great for bones. They’re a great source of calcium and potassium, essential minerals for healthy bone growth and helping to prevent bone diseases such as osteoporosis.

1 cup of turnips carries just 57 calories and just 1 gram of fat.. And its not just this low number that should draw us to turnips. Consider… . in the same 1 cup comes 8 g of carbohydrates, 5 g of dietary fiber and another 5 g of protein. With just 2 gm of natural sugars and only 31 mg of sodium, look to this vegetable when you want to power up or considering a natural but healthy weight loss plan.

Low fat is not all.. turnips come with a laundry list of vitamins and minerals. Loads of vitamins A and C, some vitamin E and an incredible amount of vitamin K(helps coagulate blood). SOS watch out for the Vitamin K if you are on medication….some existing medical conditions need to avoid extreme vitamin levels. Discuss this with your doctor if unsure.

I wonder why we haven’t heard much about turnips. Is it because they are a humble root vegetable that’s known to be bitter?  I think you might be swayed to love this vegetable after you taste this sweet & spicy version.. don’t the turnips look satisyingly pretty..

— soul of spice —

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