Rutabaga--what the heck is that?

Sometimes I feel like I'm in a rut at the grocery store. I frequent the same vegetables. I play favorites. I leave other veggies in the dust crying out for attention.


Yesterday, I decided to branch out. For the first time in my life, I decided to buy a rutabaga.

Photo from Restaurant Widow

Then I tried to figure out what to do with it. Dani Spies has a great video all about rutabaga on her blog, along with a recipe for rutabaga mash. So I tried it. EPIC FAIL! Dani Spies is awesome, and I have to attribute my failure more to a spontaneous texture problem than anything wrong with her recipe. COULD NOT eat it!

I also couldn't throw it away. So I turned it into soup--similar to butternut squash soup. And it was tasty! I am so happy I didn't have to throw away my little rutabaga.

Rutabaga Soup

Source: Camber's brain

1 medium rutabaga, peeled and diced (about 1/2" pieces)--about 2 cups

1 large apple, peeled and diced--about 1 cup

2 cups chicken or vegetable broth (or enough for the consistency you like)

1 T. orange juice concentrate

1 T. honey, agave, or maple syrup (or brown sugar if you want!)

1/2 T. dried minced onion (or 1-2 T. finely chopped fresh onion)

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

dash nutmeg

salt & pepper to taste

Heavy cream or coconut milk, optional

Chopped nuts and cilantro, optional

Place rutabaga in a pot and cover with water, then bring to a boil and cook for about 10-15 minutes, until it starts to get tender. Add apples and cook another 10 minutes, or until everything is very soft. You want it to get very smooth when pureeing.

Drain liquid and pour the rutabaga and apples into a food processor or blender. Add broth, OJ, honey, onion, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt and pepper. Blend until COMPLETELY smooth (you may need to do this in batches if it won't all fit in your blender). Add more broth if it looks too thick. Pour everything back in your pot and heat through. Adjust seasonings to taste. Add cream or coconut milk and heat, but don't bring to a boil (you could also add these at the table as a garnish). Serve with chopped nuts and cilantro if desired.