Hakurei turnips as big as the ones in today’s box are probably too grown up for eating raw. I can’t swear to that – haven’t tried them – but when I saw them, I decided these would be good candidates for a long, slow simmer. If you want juicy turnips and greens, bring about 2 cups of water to a boil, add a little salt and some sugar, some bacon fat if you’re into that, and bring the mixture to a boil. After 5 minutes, reduce heat and add the diced turnip roots and chopped greens. Cover and simmer for as long as you like. I’m running a recipe in the paper this January that calls for cooking them for 3 1/2 hours. Yes, 3 1/2 hours. But I tell you, they are delicious, cooked to succulence. You can see why that style of cooking roots and greens has persisted for years.
Are you a juicer? I’ve just (finally!) become a fan of juiced greens. Those collards, kale, beet and turnip greens? This week they’re going in the juicer with some apples. My new favorite way to get some of those delicious K vitamins.
