Braised White Turnips Recipes

CHICKEN BROTH-BRAISED TURNIPS

Steps:

• Put the turnips, chicken stock, 1/2 tablespoon of the butter, sugar and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a medium skillet. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce the heat to a bare simmer and cook, covered, until the turnips are just tender, about 10 minutes. With a slotted spoon, transfer the turnips to a bowl.
• Increase the heat to medium high and boil the remaining chicken stock until it reduces to 2 tablespoons, about 7 minutes. Off the heat, return the turnips to the skillet. Add the remaining tablespoon butter and the tarragon; stir until the butter is melted and the turnips are well coated. Garnish with additional chopped tarragon.

BRAISED TURNIPS

Steps:

• Add the butter to a large skillet set over medium-high heat. Add the turnips to the pan and cook until slightly browned and just tender, about 10 minutes. Add the greens and stock, and simmer until the turnips are cooked through and greens are tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Stir in the vinegar and season with salt and pepper to serve.

BRAISED PORK WITH TURNIPS

Steps:

• Place a 12-inch skillet, preferably nonstick, over medium-high heat, and heat at least a minute. Add the oil and butter. When the butter foam subsides or the oil is hot, add the pork a few chunks at a time. When it is all in the skillet, turn the heat to high. Cook about 5 minutes, undisturbed, until the pork is nicely browned on one side. Turn each piece, return the heat to medium-high and cook about 3 minutes more.
• Add the turnip chunks, and shake the skillet so that the pork and turnips are all sitting in one layer, or nearly so. Cook another 3 or 4 minutes, or until turnips begin to brown. Add the liquid, and stir once or twice. Add salt, pepper and half the herb, turn heat to medium-low and cover skillet.
• Cook, stirring every 10 minutes, until both pork and turnips are quite tender, about 30 minutes. Remove the cover, and raise the heat to medium-high; boil the liquid until it is reduced to a syrupy glaze. Taste and add more salt and pepper if necessary; then, garnish with the remaining herb and serve.

BRAISED TURNIPS AND RADISHES

Steps:

• Peel vegetables, or not; quarter turnips if necessary to make them about same size as radishes. Put in saucepan with pinch of salt, butter or oil, and water to come up about halfway to their height. Cover and turn heat to medium-high.
• Simmer until vegetables are just about tender, 10 to 20 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until vegetables are shiny and glazed with their juices. Add more salt if necessary and serve hot.

MY CHICKEN BROTH-BRAISED BABY TURNIPS

Steps:

• Peel the turnips and put them in a large bowl with the sugar and pinch of fine salt. Toss to coat the turnips thoroughly.
• In a large pot, melt the butter. When it is blond and foamy, add the turnips to the pot in a single layer and brown on all sides. When they are golden brown, add a third of the chicken broth and cook, covered, over low heat until the broth has been completely absorbed. Repeat a second and then a third time: When this is done, the turnips are cooked. (Turnips should never be left dry in the pot. If the broth reduces too quickly, add a bit of water when necessary.)
• Drizzle with a few spoons of chicken jus or olive oil and bring to a simmer. When it begins to bubble, sprinkle with parsley and serve immediately.

CHINESE-STYLE BRAISED BEEF WITH TURNIPS

Steps:

• In a 1 1/2-quart microwave-safe dish stir together the water, the soy sauce, the Sherry, the gingerroot, the cinnamon, the sugar, the salt, and the aniseed, add the chuck, spreading it evenly, and microwave the mixture, covered, at high power (100%) for 20 minutes. Stir in the turnips and microwave the mixture, covered, at high power for 15 minutes. Stir the cornstarch mixture, stir it into the stew, and microwave the stew, covered, at high power for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the stew with the coriander and serve it with the rice.

DUCK BRAISED WITH TURNIPS AND SHALLOTS

Steps:

• Trim excess fat from duck and reserve. Season flesh side with salt and pepper. Place a 4-quart oven-proof casserole over medium-high heat, and put a 2-inch piece of fat in casserole; when fat starts to render, remove it. Add duck pieces, skin side down, and sear without turning until skin is golden brown. Do not crowd duck; add pieces a few at a time. When duck is seared discard all but a thin film of the fat in the pot.
• Heat oven to 325 degrees. Place shallots and turnips in casserole and sear, turning gently, over medium heat until golden. Remove to a dish and season with salt and pepper. Pour wine into casserole and simmer briefly, scraping bottom of pan. Add garlic and stock. Return duck to casserole, skin side up. Add thyme, cover and bake 45 minutes.
• Remove casserole from oven. Remove duck. Skim excess fat from casserole. Place shallots and turnips in casserole, place duck pieces on top of vegetables, cover and bake 1 hour.
• Remove duck from casserole and skim excess fat from sauce. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Return duck to casserole. Just before serving, reheat briefly on top of stove.

LAMB BRAISED WITH WHITE BEANS AND TURNIPS

Steps:

• Place beans in a bowl, cover with water to a depth of 2 inches and soak 8 hours or overnight.
• Heat oil on medium-high in a 4-quart stovetop casserole or deep sauté pan. Season lamb with salt and pepper, add to pan and brown. Remove to a platter. Add turnips and brown lightly. Remove to a bowl. Reduce heat to low. Add leeks and garlic, and sauté until softened. Stir in lemon zest, rosemary and wine. Return lamb to pan, cover and simmer on low 1 hour.
• While meat cooks, drain beans, place in a saucepan with 3 cups water, bring to a simmer, cover and cook 1 hour. Beans should be tender; if not, cook another 15 minutes.
• After 1 hour, lamb should also be tender. Remove it, leaving all liquid in the pot. Drain beans and add to the pot. Add turnips and 1.5 cups stock. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer. Tuck lamb back in, cover and cook on low 30 to 45 minutes, until all is very tender.
• Transfer to a deep platter and serve, garnished with rosemary. Or set aside, reheat (you may need a little stock) and serve.

BRAISED FRESH BLACK-EYED PEAS WITH BABY TURNIPS

Steps:

• Remove the green tops from the turnips, and cut the turnips into quarters or sixths depending on size. Separate leaves from stems and discard stems; wash leaves.
• Melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 3- to 4-quart shallow stovetop braiser over medium heat. Sweat onion in butter for 1 minute, until translucent. Add turnips and sweat 2 minutes, until glossy and starting to "shine."
• Run a knife through the leaves once, maybe twice, and add to the pot. Season with a healthy pinch of salt and stir until leaves are also starting to sweat and wilt.
• Add peas and 1 cup of water. Season with two large pinches of salt (restaurant-chef pinches, not home-cook pinches). Cover. Reduce heat. Simmer for approximately 10 minutes.
• Stir. Add 1 cup water. Add pinch salt. Re-cover. Simmer for 10 more minutes.
• Stir. Simmer for 10 to 15 more minutes, or until beans are cooked and soft and starchy inside, turnips are cooked and water has turned grayish purple. Taste for salt and season. Let cool completely on stovetop with heat off.
• Cover and refrigerate overnight to allow everything to meld and settle. Serve the next day, reheated over low until tepid, stirring in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter to melt gently into the broth. Finish with a shower of fresh mint and ground black pepper.