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    Home » Side Dishes

    Mashed Turnips with Bacon and Brown Butter

    Published: Oct 21, 2019 · Modified: Nov 13, 2021 by Mamma C · This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe

    You'll love Mashed Turnips with Bacon and Brown Butter! They're a great, low-carb substitute for mashed potatoes. Enjoy this turnips recipe on Thanksgiving or any time you need a delicious side dish!

    Make them keto-friendly by substituting monk fruit sweetener for the brown sugar.

    bowl of mashed turnips with bacon and parsley garnish

    Turnip for what? 

    If you’re over 30 or don’t live with a teenager, you might not get the joke. But I assure you, it’s very funny! (“Turn down for what” is slang for being excited.)

    My kids are cringing, but I’m sure they’ll forgive me, since these mashed turnips are divine. They’ve got a lightly sweet, savory and smoky vibe, thanks to the brown sugar, brown butter and bacon.

    They’re a delicious low-carb substitute for mashed potatoes.

    Have you ever tried turnips? Do you even know what turnips look like?

    Until a few years ago, I had no clue. When our dear friend shared her mom’s mashed turnip recipe with me, I had to google a photo of turnips so I could find them at the grocery store!

    hand holding a turnip

    But, once I learned how to cook turnips, I was hooked. Where had they been all my life?

    What is a turnip?

    A turnip is a root vegetable, because it’s the edible, round root of the turnip plant. Turnips can be white or yellow, but the ones pictured here are white underneath the skin.

    Turnips are part of the mustard family, which includes rapini, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, mustard greens and collard greens.

    overhead view of bowl of mashed turnips with bacon

    What do turnips taste like?

    Turnips taste similar to cauliflower but are sweeter, especially if the turnips are small. Turnips have a much higher water content than cauliflower, however. 

    Older, larger turnips can taste bitter. The brown sugar in this recipe offsets that, but some people add a halved potato to the pot when cooking turnips to reduce bitterness.

    How to make mashed turnips

    The process is similar to making mashed potatoes, but when boiling turnips, you'll use less water.

    1. Peel the turnips.
    2. Cube them.
    3. Boil the turnips in just a cup of water for about 20 minutes.
    4. Drain the boiled turnips.
    peeled turnips, cubed turnips, cubed turnips in pot, boiled turnips in drainer

    Next, you'll mash the turnips and stir in bacon, brown butter and brown sugar. (Here's a nice masher (affiliate link) if you need one.)

    For keto mashed turnips, you can substitute monk fruit sweetener for the brown sugar.

    mashing turnips in pot

    Brown butter is simply butter cooked just past the point of melting. The milk solids will brown and create a rich, nutty flavor in just 3-5 minutes.

    How to make brown butter

    • Place the butter in a small pan over medium high heat and watch it carefully as it melts. Lower the heat a bit and swirl the pan or use a spoon to stir the butter around.
    • The butter will foam, and eventually, the milk solids will start to brown. Keep watching the butter so it won't burn.
    • The butter is browned when it is a caramel color. As soon as it reaches that stage, turn off the heat and transfer the butter to a bowl. (Otherwise it will continue to cook and can burn.)
    melting butter in pot, melted butter with foam, spatula dipped in brown butter

    Can these be frozen or made ahead of time? 

    I’ve never tried freezing them, but this article explains what to do. If you want to make mashed turnips ahead of time, you can refrigerate them for up to four days. In fact, they taste better the day after you make them.

    What to serve with them

    These mashed turnips are the perfect side dish for Thanksgiving turkey. In fact, our friends refer to them as "Thanksgiving turnips."

    But they're also delicious with maple salmon. They would be wonderful with glazed pork tenderloin too.

    bowl of mashed turnips with bacon with spoon and yello napkin

    Frequently asked questions

    Are turnips better for you than potatoes?

    Potatoes have nearly three times as many carbs and calories as turnips. However, the turnip nutrition profile contains less potassium and significantly higher sodium than potatoes.

    Do you have to peel turnips?

    Technically, you don't have to peel turnips, but I recommend doing so for better flavor and texture. If you want to keep the skin on for more fiber, make sure to buy turnips with thin skin, which is better to eat than thick skin.

    Brown butter, brown sugar or bacon alone can make food taste delicious. Include all three in these mashed turnips, and you have a dish that sings!

    More recipes like this

    • Italian Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas
    • Roasted Butternut Squash Cubes
    • Italian Carrot Salad with Basil

    Enjoy!

    (Recipe Source: Adapted from a recipe given to me by our dear friend Marion, who got it from her mother, Mrs. J., whom we remember with much love. Originally published on February 4, 2015 and updated now with new photos and text.)

    bowl of mashed turnips with bacon

    Mashed Turnips with Bacon and Brown Butter

    Savory with just a hint of sweetness, these Mashed Turnips with Bacon and Brown Butter are so delicious! A great substitute for mashed potatoes.
    4.75 from 4 votes
    Print Pin Rate Save Go to Collections
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 25 minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes
    Total Time: 45 minutes
    Servings: 5
    Calories: 150kcal
    Author: Mamma C

    Ingredients

    • 2 pounds turnips (the smaller ones are less bitter)
    • 1 cup water for boiling
    • 1 ⅛ teaspoon salt (divided use)
    • 3 strips of lean bacon
    • 2 tablespoons salted butter
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 1 ½ teaspoons brown sugar (or monk fruit sweetener for a keto option)
    US Customary - Metric
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    Instructions

    • Rinse the turnips in cold water and trim off the stem and root ends. Use a vegetable peeler to remove the skin. Rinse the turnips again and cut them into cubes.
    • In a medium pot, place one cup of hot water and a teaspoon of salt on the stove over high heat to boil. When the water is boiling, add the turnips. When the water comes to a boil again, lower the heat and cover the pot. Cook the turnips for 20-25 minutes, or until fork tender. Drain.
    • While the turnips are cooking, cook the bacon in the microwave on a plate between paper towels. The bacon is done when it just becomes crispy and is no longer pink. Pat the cooked bacon with a clean paper towel to absorb excess grease, and using kitchen scissors if you have them, cut the bacon into small pieces and set them aside.
    • To brown the butter, place the butter in a small pan over medium high heat and watch it carefully as it melts. Lower the heat a bit and swirl the pan or use a spoon to stir the butter around. The butter will foam, and eventually, the milk solids will start to brown. Keep watching the butter so it won't burn. The butter is browned when it is a caramel color. As soon as it reaches that stage, turn off the heat and transfer the butter to a bowl. (Otherwise it will continue to cook and can burn.)
    • When the turnips are drained, return them to the pot and mash them with a potato masher. Stir in ⅛ teaspoon salt, the brown butter, black pepper, brown sugar and bacon. (If you wish, you can reserve some of the bacon to sprinkle on top before serving.)
    • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to four days.

    Video

    Notes

    When buying turnips, try to get smaller ones if possible. They'll be sweeter than the large ones.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 150kcal | Carbohydrates: 13g | Protein: 3g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 20mg | Sodium: 775mg | Potassium: 372mg | Fiber: 3g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 140IU | Vitamin C: 38.1mg | Calcium: 54mg | Iron: 0.6mg
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Bella

      October 27, 2019 at 10:11 am

      I am over 30 and live with teenagers, but the joke flew over my head like a 747! Haha. The recipe however looks amazing, I will definitely give it a try next weekend.

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        October 27, 2019 at 10:21 am

        Hi Bella - Hahaha! Enjoy.

        Reply
    2. Don Schuldes

      October 22, 2019 at 3:26 am

      You should try turnips and parsnip mash! Even lighter and equally delish!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        October 22, 2019 at 7:42 am

        Hi Don - I'll have to try that! Thanks for sharing.

        Reply
      • Carolyn Mcmillin

        November 13, 2020 at 10:44 pm

        5 stars
        Love turnip, parsnip and potato mash, sometime even throw in a carrot or two!!

        Reply
        • Mamma C

          November 14, 2020 at 8:25 am

          Hi Carolyn - I need to try it with the parsnips and carrots!

          Reply
    3. colleen

      February 05, 2015 at 6:59 pm

      Andrea, thank you! I know GrammieSeymour would love this! Love Hugs Peace!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        February 06, 2015 at 8:39 am

        Colleen, you're welcome! Love, hugs, and peace to you too.

        Reply
    4. Marion

      February 05, 2015 at 6:39 pm

      Andrea, glad you like the turnip dish! This is one of my mom's best dishes. I'm sure she's smiling down on you for jumpin on the "turnip truck" with us. I usually can't wait for the winter months so I can start making mom's turnips!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        February 06, 2015 at 8:35 am

        Marion, thank you for sharing your mom's recipe! It's so special to make something that reminds us of her.

        Reply
    5. Savita @ ChefDeHome

      February 05, 2015 at 4:03 pm

      I'm a die-hard fan of turnip! just love it! Mashed turnip with brown butter sounds so yumm! thanks Andrea! have to try this soon!

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        February 06, 2015 at 8:33 am

        Yay, Savita! I'd be curious to learn how you've been making yours.

        Reply
    6. Tekesha

      February 05, 2015 at 2:23 pm

      I can't believe I got that "turn up" reference! It's only because of my young nieces and nephews on Facebook. The other day one of them said something was "on fleek." Every time I turn around, there is a new phrase. What happened to "the bomb"?? We're not doing that anymore?? My husband and I want to try for children next year and I am cringing at the idea of being dragged back into teenage slang when the time comes, lol! Well, I am always looking for mashed potato substitutes and I adore brown butter, so I will definitely give this a try! 😀

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        February 06, 2015 at 8:30 am

        Too funny, Tekesha! Turn down for what! I had to look up "on fleek," and apparently, my eyebrows need some work, lol. I'm too old for "the bomb," but everything is "cool." That's still in, right? You will be such a fun mom! I hope you enjoy the turnips. 🙂

        Reply
    7. Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser

      February 05, 2015 at 12:31 pm

      Andrea - you without a doubt make my day! In the South we eat turnips and greens as a terrific side dish! The photo of what a turnip looks like is about the cutest thing I have seen this week thus far from my blogging buddies! Yo, you discovered a great side dish I am proud of you my friend! Yum! Everything is better with Bacon...Cheryl

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        February 06, 2015 at 8:22 am

        Haha Cheryl, I'm always happy to entertain you! It must be a regional thing, because no one I've asked has eaten turnips before. In fact, my grocery store only stocks a small amount, and whenever I buy them, I clear them out. Maybe they'll become trendy now... 🙂

        Reply
        • Cheryl "Cheffie Cooks" Wiser

          February 06, 2015 at 10:08 pm

          Hi Andrea, I am so surprised that turnips are so unknown? My Grandma made them often. There are so many ways to smash and mash. Have fun with them. They're readily available down here in Florida year round. Ah you do make me smile Andrea...That's a good thing my friend. Have a great weekend, Your Bud always, Cheryl.

          Reply
    8. [email protected] Olives & Garlic

      February 04, 2015 at 9:38 pm

      Sounds like I have to give mashed turnips a try. 🙂

      Reply
      • Mamma C

        February 05, 2015 at 7:20 am

        Kathy, we were so happy to discover them, and I plan to make them a regular part of our side dish rotation. Heck, I even made a meal of them for lunch. 🙂

        Reply

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