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Does the turnip's spooky tale make the veggie a nutritional trick – or a treat?

No, seriously. Before pumpkins were carved into jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween, people in Ireland were carving scary faces into turnips to frighten away evil spirits as part of the Celtic festival of Samhain. That's not the only example of bad vibes being tied to turnips. Ancient Romans threw them at unpopular leaders. For hundreds of years, "turnip" has been associated with being a rube; Mark Twain and Shakespeare were among those who used it as an insult, or at least to score a laugh. Its hardiness means it has helped nations stave off starvation but also left it associated with poverty – or something more fit for livestock than lunch. Turnips still inspire shudders in some quarters.

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 Should You Give Turnips a Try? Terrific Turnip Benefits & Uses

Turnips may not be cool like cucumbers or sexy like cauliflower, but they’re humble and hardworking root vegetables that have sustained human civilizations for millennia. And the more we know about turnips, the more impressive their nutritional and health benefits become. So why are turnips so good for us, and how can we prepare them in ways that make us look forward to seeing them on our plates?

 The Vegetable That Terrorized Romans and Helped Industrialize England

In Roman times, the turnip was the weapon of choice to hurl at unpopular public figures. In the 15th century, “turnip eater” was the common term for a country bumpkin, and in Charles Dickens’s novels, if you called someone a “turnip,” you meant that he or she was a perfect idiot. During the Civil War, a turnip is what drove Scarlett O’Hara to shake her fist at the heavens and swear that she’d never be hungry again—the implication being that only the starving would stoop to the awful level of turnips.

 Why You Should Dig Turnips

With inventive new preparations, the root's culinary fan base is growing.

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Give Turnips a Turn

Turnips look like a root vegetable but are actually members of the cruciferous or cabbage family. Like its family members broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and kale, it contains sulforaphane, a compound found to be protective against cancer.

Giving Turnips a Second Look

The turnip, Chef Holzman says, is one of the most “underappreciated and often overlooked” vegetables at the market. “They are super-delicious, really inexpensive and easy to cook,” he said. “But for whatever reason, they are not part of our regular culinary quiver.”

Let them eat... turnips? Tomato shortage in UK has politicians looking for answers

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Life’s An Adventure Eat a Turnip!

Turnips, often overlooked in favor of more popular vegetables, are a powerhouse of nutrition. These humble root vegetables belong to the Brassicaceae family and come in various shapes and colors. From their crunchy texture to their earthy flavor, turnips offer a delightful addition to your meals.

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Turnips are particularly high in glucosinolates, sulphur-containing compounds that contribute to their pungency and potential health benefits. These compounds have been studied for their detoxifying, anti-inflammatory, and cancer-preventive properties.

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It’s time to put this much-maligned veg on the menu – and not just for Burns Night.

Turnip: unsung hero of the vegetable world

Depending on what country you live in, you may already eat turnip greens. In Italy, say, they grow a species especially for its greens, cime di rapa, which is classically served wilted with anchovies. They are similar to collard greens, spinach or chard, and cooked in much the same way.

Turnips: how Britain fell out of love with the much-maligned vegetable

It’s not surprising turnips couldn’t quite stand up to the huge changes in agriculture and food choice over the last three centuries. What their history does show, however, is that they have managed to survive despite it all, even if today’s consumers today aren’t really sure what to do with them.

Turnips: Versatile and Nutritious in Any Season

Turnips are one vegetable you can count on during the winter months; like carrots, they store well. The root vegetables are members of the cruciferae family, the same family that brings you nutrient-rich vegetables like cabbage, kale and broccoli (genus Brassica). Turnips are rich in sulfuric compounds, particularly glucosinolates, that are believed to have antioxidant properties.