Rutabaga Borscht

Rutabagas in a basket

What to do with a basket full of rutabagas?

2 Tbsp oil or butter
1 1/2 chopped onion
1 1/2 cups chopped potatoes
1 or more cup chopped beets
1 large carrot sliced
1 stalk of celery sliced
3 cups chopped rutabaga
1 cup tomato, diced or puréed
1 tsp caraway seed
4 cups stock (veggie or chicken)
2 tsp salt
Black pepper to taste
1/4 tsp dill weed
2 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 1/2 Tbsp honey

Sautee onions in oil or butter. Add caraway and salt.  When soft add the other veggies, stock/water and remaining ingredients.  Simmer until tender for at least 30 minutes. Whiz in the blender until smooth.  Serve with sour cream or yogurt dollop on top.

We thank Pam & Liam Antrim for this recipe.

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Creamy, Smoky Whipped Rutabaga

Rutabagas in a basket

Does anyone else love rutabagas even more than potatoes?

3 1/2 to 4 pounds rutabagas (two small or one large vegetable)
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter
4 garlic cloves, peeled and roughly chopped
1 1/2 tsp. kosher salt
1 cup whole milk
4 ounces cream cheese, cut into small chunks
2 Tbsp. olive oil
2 tsp. smoked paprika
Freshly ground black pepper

Using a veggie peeler, remove the skin from the rutabaga(s). Then cut them into small slices about 1 inch thick.

Heat the butter in a large, heavy 4-quart pot, set over medium heat. When the butter has melted, stir in the chopped rutabaga and the garlic. Stir to coat the vegetables in butter, then sprinkle them with the salt. Pour in the milk and bring to a simmer, then turn the heat to low and cover the pot. Cook for 30 minutes, or until the rutabaga is very tender and can be easily pierced with a fork. Turn off the heat and remove the lid. Let the vegetables cool for about 5 minutes.

At this point you can either leave the rutabaga in the pot and use a hand mixer to whip it, or you can transfer it to the bowl of a stand mixer and use the paddle.

Drop the cream cheese into the rutabaga and use the hand mixer or stand mixer to mash it into the vegetables. The rutabaga will crumble then slowly turn into a mashed potato consistency. Add the olive oil and smoked paprika and mix thoroughly. Taste and add more salt and some black pepper, if necessary. Serve immediately.

Recipe adapted from thekitchn.com.

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Root Vegetable Puree

Serves 4 to 6
Prep time: 30 minutes
Cook time: 30 minutes

4 large parsnips, peeled and chopped into 1-inch cubes (about 3 cups)
1 rutabaga, peeled and chopped into 1-inch cubes (about 2 cups)
1 potato, peeled and chopped into 1-inch cubes (about 1 cup)
3 tsp. olive oil
½ tsp. salt, or to taste
¾ cup yogurt
2 to 3 cloves garlic
Water to thin, if desired

Preheat oven to 400° F.

Place vegetables in roasting pans. Mix with olive oil and sprinkle with salt, and cover. Roast for about 30 minutes, or until vegetables are fork tender. Allow vegetables to cool.

Place in a food processor (in batches, if necessary), along with yogurt and garlic, adding water if needed. Process until smooth.

Try serving the puree under a spoonful of your favorite soup!

Original recipe by Virginia Newman.

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Rutabaga Chipotle Soup

rutabagas

Add the smokiness of chipotle peppers to the turnipy spice of rutabagas!

3 tablespoons butter
1 medium yellow onion, diced
2 celery stalks, diced
2 large rutabagas, peeled and diced (about 5 cups)
4 cups broth of choice
2 cups heavy cream
1/4 to 1 teaspoon dried ground chipotle, depending on your taste
1/4 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon  ground pepper
Salt to taste

Melt butter in a large pot and add onion and celery, cooking until browned. Season with salt. Add the rutabaga and the broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until the rutabaga is fork-tender, about 30 minutes. Add the chipotle and the pepper. Stir well.

Process in a blender or food processor until smooth, and pass through a fine mesh sieve to remove any chunks. Stir in the cream and taste. Gently simmer for 15 minutes. Add more salt, pepper, chipotle, or paprika if you think it needs it.

We thank thekitchn.com for this recipe.

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Rutabaga Saute

rutabagas

Enjoy the sweetness of these lovely rutabagas!

1 tablespoon butter
1 medium leek, sliced fine
2-3 mushrooms, chopped
1 medium rutabaga, grated
1/2 pound ground meat (Nash’s pork or Clark’s beef)
1/2 cup broth or stock of any kind
1 small package Itsy-Bitsy Greens, any kind
1/2 teaspoon salt and pepper to taste
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 cup grated cheese, any kind

Sauté the leek in the butter until it starts to soften, 3 minutes. Add the ground meat and sauté until cooked through. Add mushrooms, rutabaga, salt, pepper, paprika and broth. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for about 10-15 minutes. Towards the end, toss on the greens and cover to wilt. You could also add about 1 cup of any leafy green, chopped fine; just add it when you add the broth to cook through. At the end, sprinkle the cheese on top, cover and wait a couple of minutes for it to melt. Voila!

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About Nash’s Root Medley

Root medley

Explore the rainbow of Nash’s root medley: carrots, beets, parsnips, rutabagas, sunchokes and potatoes might find their way into your bag!

Root vegetables each offer their unique nutrition profiles, but all of them are packed with nutritional benefits because of the extended time they spend in the rich, prime, alluvial soils of the Dungeness Valley. The more nutrient-rich the soil they are grown in, the more nutrient-packed these powerhouses will be.

The root medley is a great way to have an easy, colorful, and nourishing vegetable option for your winter dinner. Wrap roots loosely in a plastic bag and they will last for a few weeks in your fridge. However, potatoes are best stored in a cool, dry, and dark place.

According to food energetics, root vegetables provide a grounding and relaxed energy. Another huge plus: no need to peel these root vegetables, because most of the nutrients are held near the skin. Just use a brush to scrub them clean.

Here’s our favorite way to enjoy all those wonderful flavors:

Roasted Root Veggies

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Slice beets, potatoes, rutabagas, and sunchokes to half-inch cubes and slice the carrots and parsnips to half-inch rounds.

Place all vegetables into a casserole dish and drizzle with olive oil or melted butter. (You may need a second dish. You want your vegetables to be all in one layer to cook evenly.) Sprinkle with any herbs or spices of your choosing and mix to ensure oil or butter covers all roots. Cover your dish with with a lid or tin foil if you desire vegetables that will be more moist and tender. Leave your dish uncovered if you like crisp veggies.

Roast until fork tender, about 40-50 minutes.

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Golden Rutabaga Sunset

turnips...or rutabagas

Here on the farm, we lovingly call them “rooterbabies.”

Yield: 5 to 6 servings

1 large rutabaga, coarsely shredded
1 medium yam, coarsely shredded
1 medium onion, sliced vertically into half moons
1 large leaf kale, rib discarded, chopped into bite size pieces
1/2 cup water
1/2 cup raisins
Pinch of cayenne, salt and pepper
2 tablespoons chopped green onions for garnish
1 sprig fresh herbs (parsley, cilantro, basil) for garnish

Combine the rutabaga, yam, onion, and kale in a large, deep skillet. Add the water and cook, stirring over high heat for 4 to 7 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Add 1 or more tablespoons of water as needed to cook the vegetables and prevent burning. Add the raisins and cayenne, and season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to an attractive serving bowl or platter and garnish with the green onions and herbs.

Recipe adapted from VegParadise.com.

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Mashed Rutabaga

rutabagas

Rutabagas may look a bit like giant turnips, but they’re oh-so-sweet.

Yield: 6 servings

4 large rutabagas, cut into bite-size chunks
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup yogurt
2 tablespoons butter

You don’t need to peel Nash’s rutabagas, or any organic vegetable for that matter, unless consistency is an important consideration for your dishes. The skin will be a bit tougher than the inside of the rutabaga, but cooking and mashing breaks this down. The majority of the nutrients are held near the skin, so it’s a win-win—easier prep and more nutrients!

Put the rutabaga chunks into a 4-quart saucepan and add the salt. Fill with water to cover. Cover the saucepan and bring to a boil over high heat. Decrease the heat to medium and cook about 12 to 15 minutes, or until the rutabagas are fork tender. Drain, reserving the cooking liquid. Using a potato masher or a fork, mash rutabagas in the saucepan. Add yogurt and butter and additional reserved cooking liquid as needed to create a creamy, moist texture. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

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Roasted Root Vegetables

root medley - parsnips, carrots, beets, potatoes, turnips, rutabagas

A melange of tasty and nutrient-rich roots!

About Nash’s Root Medley
Root vegetables each offer their unique nutrition profiles, but all of them are packed with nutritional benefits because of the extended time they spend in the ground. The more nutrient-rich the soil they are grown in, the more nutrient-packed these power houses will be, and you can’t beat the Sequim-Dungeness Valley for nutrient-rich soils!

A root medley is a great way to have an easy, colorful, and nourishing vegetable option for your winter dinner. Wrap roots loosely in a plastic bag and they will last for a few weeks in your fridge. Potatoes are best stored in a cool, dry, and dark place. According to food energetics, root vegetables provide a grounding and relaxed energy. Give them all a try and see how they make you feel! Another huge plus: no need to peel these root veggies as most of the nutrients are near the skin. Just scrub with a brush. You can find five-pound bags of Nash’s organic root medley at our Nash’s Farm Store.

Roasted Root Veggies
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Slice beets, potatoes, rutabagas, and sunchokes to 1/2-inch cubes and slice the carrots and parsnips to 1/2-inch rounds.

Place all vegetables into a casserole dish and drizzle with olive oil or melted butter (You may need a second dish so that your vegetables are all in one layer to cook evenly). Sprinkle with any herbs or spices of your choosing and mix to ensure oil or butter covers all the roots. Cover your dish with with a lid or tin foil if you desire vegetables that will be more moist and tender. Leave your dish uncovered if you desire more crisp veggies. Roast until fork-tender, about 40-50 minutes.

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Vegetable Tempura

Bunch carrots, bagged carrots, green onions, red onions, gold beets, red beets at farmer's market

Raw veggies are absolutely lovely, but sometimes it’s fun to mix it up with tempura for a special occasion.

Serves four to six as an appetizer.

Dipping Sauce
2 scallions, minced
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons honey
1 tablespoon grated ginger root
2 minced garlic cloves
1 teaspoon dry mustard

Batter
2 cups all purpose flour
4 teaspoons baking powder
2 cups cold water
1/4 cup dark sesame oil

Veggies
5 cups seasonal fresh veggies, such as broccoli, zucchini, carrots, sweet potatoes, mushrooms, etc.

For the dipping sauce, combine the scallions, soy sauce, water, vinegar, honey, ginger, garlic, and mustard in a bowl. Cover and refrigerate for an hour to let the flavors blend.

For the batter, mix together the flour and baking powder. Add the cold water and sesame oil all at once and whisk until the consistency of pancake batter and very smooth. Refrigerate until ready to prepare the tempura.

Blot the vegetables dry, season with salt and pepper and dip into the batter. Coat them evenly.

Pour the oil into a tall pot to a depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium heat until around 350 degrees F. Work in batches to avoid crowding. Slip the batter-coated vegetables into the hot oil, deep-frying until the batter is a golden brown and puffy, 3-4 minutes. Turn the veggies so they cook evenly. Remove from the pot with tongs. Drain on an absorbent towel. Serve with dipping sauce.

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