Recipe: Roasted Hakurei & Israeli Couscous Salad

2022 Spring Week 2 Newsletter

Recipe & Pic From Not Eating Out In New York

1 bunch hakurei turnips with greens
1 cup Israeli couscous
1 garlic clove, minced
pinch of optional red chili flakes
1/4 cup chopped red onion
juice from half a lemon
4-5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Trim bulbs from greens leaving a small stub of the stems attached. Wash both well to remove dirt. Halve each turnip, keeping the long tails intact. Finely chop the greens.

Toss the turnips with 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil, pinches of salt and pepper, and the optional chili flakes. Place flat side-down on a roasting pan. Roast for 5-10 minutes, or just until the bottoms are lightly browned. Toss around in the pan with tongs, and continue roasting another 3-5 minutes. Remove from heat and let cool.

Meanwhile, bring a pot of 3 cups water to a bowl and add the couscous. Continue to boil for 8-10 minutes until couscous is tender. Drain.

Heat 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil over medium-high flame and add the garlic. Once fragrant, toss in the leaves and a pinch of salt and pepper. Sautee until just wilted, 1-2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl and let cool.

Combine the chopped onion with the cooled couscous and greens. Add fresh lemon juice, an extra tablespoon or so of olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with the roasted turnips on top.

Recipe: Schmaltzy Hakurei Turnips With Rosemary

from Food & Wine

Try incorporating braising greens and/or other root veggies!

2 lbs hakurei turnips with tops 

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon pure maple syrup, divided

2 teaspoons sherry vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided, plus more to taste

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper

1/4 cup melted schmaltz (chicken fat) or unsalted butter, divided

1/4 cup finely chopped shallot

2 teaspoons finely chopped garlic

1 1/2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh rosemary

2 tablespoons water

Trim turnip stems to 1/2 inch; reserve greens. Cut trimmed turnips into 3/4-inch wedges to equal 5 cups. Coarsely chop turnip greens to equal 8 loosely packed cups. (Reserve any remaining turnips and greens for another use.)

Whisk together oil, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, vinegar, Dijon, and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a large bowl. Add chopped turnip greens; massage to coat greens. Let stand at room temperature 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, toss together turnip wedges, pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons schmaltz in a bowl. Arrange turnip mixture in a single layer in a 12- to 14-inch skillet. Cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until turnips are crisp-tender and browned, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

Meanwhile, toss together turnip wedges, pepper, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and 2 tablespoons schmaltz in a bowl. Arrange turnip mixture in a single layer in a 12- to 14-inch skillet. Cook over medium-high, stirring occasionally, until turnips are crisp-tender and browned, 15 to 17 minutes. Transfer to a large bowl.

Recipe: Kale & Hakurei Turnip Stir Fry

from The Recipe Depository

1/2 cup lardons or bacon cut into batons
1 tbsp olive oil
1 1/2 cup hakurei turnips, cubed
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
2-3 cups kale leaves, chopped
1 bay leaf
2 tbsp white wine vinegar
2 tbsp water
Salt and pepper

Cook and brown the bacon in a wok until almost crisp.  Remove and set aside.  Take out all but 1 tablespoon of the bacon fat, then add the tablespoon of olive oil.

Add the turnips to the wok, stir frying until lightly browned.  Remove and set aside.  Add the kale leaves and stir fry until wilted.

Put the bacon and turnips back into the wok, add the bay leaf, vinegar, water, salt and pepper.  Steam for about 5 minutes until the kale is crisp tender.

Recipe: Turnip Salad With Yogurt & Basil

adapted from Dishing Up The Dirt

1 bunch of Japanese turnips, with their tops if they're nice and fresh, trimmed so there's just a nice 1/4 inch of green stems left

1 lemon, halved

1/2 teaspoon dried red chili flakes

kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1/2 cup plain whole-milk yogurt (not greek yogurt)

about 1/2 cup lightly packed basil, finely chopped

4 scallions, trimmed (including 1/2 inch of the green tops) sliced on a sharp angle, soaked in ice water for 20 minutes and then drained well (use your tropea onions instead!)

extra virgin olive oil

1/4 cup poppy seeds

Slice the turnips lengthwise as thin as you can. If you have a mandolin, use it; otherwise a sharp knife and steady hand will do just fine. Soak the sliced turnips in ice water for 15 minutes then drain them very well.

Rinse, dry and roughly chop the turnip greens. Put the turnips in a large bowl and squeeze half of the lemon. Add the chili flakes, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and plenty of black pepper and toss to blend. Add the yogurt and toss again.  Add the basil, scallions, and 1/4 cup olive oil and toss again. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed.

Scatter about half of the poppy seeds on the bottom of the platter or individual serving plates, top with the turnip salad, and finish the the rest of the poppy seeds. Serve right away.

Recipe: Sugar Snap Salad

Adapted from Bon Appetite
The original recipe calls for radishes, but we thought our tender salad turnips would be a great substitute. Serve as-is or add in some salad mix or Cherokee lettuce!

1-2 cups sugar snap peas, trimmed, stringed, cut in half on diagonal
Kosher salt
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon (or more) fresh lemon juice
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
1/2 teaspoon sumac plus more for garnish (optional)
1 bunch hakurei turnips, trimmed, thinly sliced
4 ounces ricotta salata or feta, crumbled
Freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped fresh mint

Fill a large bowl with ice water; set aside. Cook peas in a large pot of boiling salted water until crisp-tender, about 2 minutes. Drain; transfer to bowl with ice water to cool. Drain peas; transfer to a kitchen towel-lined baking sheet to dry.

Whisk oil, 1 tablespoon lemon juice, vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon sumac in a small bowl. Toss peas, turnips, and cheese in a large bowl. DO AHEAD Can be made 1 day ahead. Cover dressing and salad separately and chill.

Add dressing to salad and toss to coat. Season salad with salt, pepper, and more lemon juice, if desired. Garnish with mint and sprinkle with sumac.

Recipe: Miso Turnips

From Dishing Up The Dirt

Try adding in some leafy greens for extra deliciousness!

1 bunch, Japanese turnips (about 1 pound) small ones left whole and larger ones sliced in half

olive oil

salt

1 tablespoon unsalted butter

1 tablespoon white miso paste

1 tablespoon pure maple syrup

2 tablespoons toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Preheat the oven to 425F.

Toss the turnips with olive oil and salt on a rimmed baking sheet and roast for about 15-20 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a small saucepan, melt together the butter, miso and maple syrup over medium heat. Coat the turnips with the miso mixture and broil until beginning to brown, 3-5 minutes.

Garnish with toasted sesame seeds, if desired.

Recipe: Simple Sauteed Hakurei Turnips & Komatsuna

From Nutmeg Nanny

Use this recipe as a side or turn it into a meal by serving it with your favorite grain or scrambled eggs!

1 bunch Hakurei turnips, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices (reserve the greens!)
1 bunch komatsuna, stems cut off
1/2 onion – diced
olive oil
salt & pepper to taste

In a large sauté pan, over medium heat, heat a few drizzles of olive oil. Once hot, cook onion until it starts to soften. Add turnips and cook until slightly brown and soft. Approximately 5-7 minutes. Once turnips reach desired tenderness throw in komatsuna (and turnip greens) and sauté for about 2 minutes. Season to taste with salt, pepper, or a dash of soy sauce.