Turnip leaves are usually prepared in boiling water. You can season them in a variety of ways, but the easiest is to use butter, salt and pepper. Here is an easy way to prepare these sheets.
Ingredients
This recipe yields four servings
- 340 g of turnip leaves
- 15 to 30 ml of lemon juice
- 15 ml of butter or olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Preparing turnip leaves
Step 1. Wash the sheets
Rinse them under cold running water, rubbing them gently with your fingers.
- Drain the leaves by drying them in a salad spinner and passing paper towels over them or spreading them on clean paper towels and letting them dry naturally.
- You can also clean the leaves by soaking them in a clean bowl or sink with cold water for several minutes to loosen the soil. Rinse quickly with running water before draining.
Step 2. Remove the stems
Cut the stems at the base of each leaf using a sharp knife.
Examine the sheets as you go. If there are any withered or bruised leaves, discard them
Step 3. Tear off the sheets
Use your fingers to tear them into small pieces.
- Each piece should be about 1.25 cm.
- You should have approximately 12 cups (3 L) of turnip leaves.
- If desired, it is also possible to cut them with a sharp knife instead of tearing them by hand.
Step 4. Spray the lemon juice
Sprinkle them a little with lemon juice, mixing them by hand to spread it out.
Wait at least five minutes. Lemon juice helps activate myrosinase enzymes in the leaves and increase the formation of isothiocyanates. In short, lemon juice prevents vegetables from wilting while increasing their nutritional benefits
Part 2 of 3: Cooking turnip leaves
Step 1. Boil water in an iron or clay pot
Fill it halfway with water and add a pinch of salt. Boil water from medium heat to hot.
- It is recommended to use a 5 L to 6 L pan. Smaller than this may be too small, but if it is larger it may lead to an unnecessarily long cooking time.
- If you don't have an iron or clay pot, you can use a metal pot.
Step 2. Add the leaves and cook them
Add them to the boiling water and cover the pan. Allow them to cool for 20 to 25 minutes or until soft.
Many cooks prefer to extend the cooking time by reducing the heat from medium to medium-low. Once the water has just simmered, cook the leaves for 45 to 60 minutes
Step 3. Drain the turnip leaves
Pour the contents of the pan into a colander to drain the water.
Lightly press the remaining leaves with your hands or the back of a wooden spoon while still in the colander to remove excess liquid from the leaves
Step 4. Season the leaves with butter, salt and pepper
Transfer them to a large bowl, add these ingredients and mix them together.
- If desired, you can use olive oil instead of butter as a healthier alternative.
- Salt and pepper should be added as per your personal taste. If you're not sure how much to use, start with approximately one teaspoon (5 ml) of salt and another of black pepper. Mix, experiment and add more as needed.
Step 5. Serve immediately
Place turnip leaves on plates and serve.
Part 3 of 3: Alternatives
Step 1. Boil the turnip leaves in chicken stock instead of water
The leaves will absorb the broth adding more flavor to them.
Step 2. Add bacon or ham to the cooking liquid
Traditional southern turnip leaves are prepared with bacon or ham as a way to offset their bitterness.
- Use approximately one cup (250 ml) of salt, pork, ham or bacon in the cooking liquid. Brown the meat and add it to the vegetables as they begin to cook.
- It is also possible to add a chopped onion and up to 1/2 teaspoon (2.5 ml) of granulated sugar.
Step 3. Cook the leaves in a skillet
Instead of boiling them in boiling water, saute them in a tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil until soft.
- This process can take 5 to 15 minutes, depending on how soft you want it.
- Instead of using olive oil, you can use bacon fat to add more flavor.
- Turnip leaves will be crispier and greener if prepared this way.
Step 4. Sprinkle the cooked leaves with a tasty sauce
Aromatic vinegars and vinaigrettes are great common choices.
- Balsamic vinegar and cider vinegar have a slight sweet taste, but add a sour flavor to vegetables. The vinaigrettes are a little less sour and sweeter, but give a similar taste to the leaves.
- Sprinkle soy sauce or teriyaki on the leaves for an Asian taste. Top them with sliced almonds or Chinese chow mein noodles.
Step 5. Add other spices to vary the taste
- Sauté a medium chopped onion or a crushed garlic clove before sautéing the leaves.
- Spread red pepper over the cooked leaves for a spicy taste.
Step 6. Cook the turnip leaves with other vegetables for a more varied flavor
Try a combination of turnip leaves, kale and mustard leaves. Boil equal parts of each with salt, oil, garlic, bacon and sugar.
