- Local
- Community
- Journalism
Support the independent voice of Houston and help keep the future of Houston Press free.
What is it? It's the root of a vegetable that is essentially a turnip/cabbage hybrid. The actual term "rutabaga" comes from the Swedish word "rotabagge," which translates to "root bag." Luckily, it tastes better than it sounds.
First plantings of rutabaga in America came around the early 1800s in Illinois, where they thrived in the cooler climate.
Interestingly, rutabagas release cyanide, which is detoxified into thiocyanate - which renders it completely harmless for eating. This same chemical can cause people with a certain gene to find rutabaga so bitter that it is inedible. Thankfully, I do not fall into that category.
Rutabagas will last up to one month in the refrigerator.
How is it used? Rutabagas can be used in place of potatoes, or in conjunction with them (mashing the two together is a common combination). Popular ways of preparation include roasting, baking, boiling or adding to soups, stews and raw in salads and slaws.
Where can I buy it? Any grocery store in the city.
Recipe: Easy Mashed Rutabagas: Courtesy of About.com
Follow Eating Our Words on Facebook and on Twitter @EatingOurWords
Keep the Houston Press Free... Since we started the Houston Press, it has been defined as the free, independent voice of Houston, and we would like to keep it that way. Offering our readers free access to incisive coverage of local news, food and culture. Producing stories on everything from political scandals to the hottest new bands, with gutsy reporting, stylish writing, and staffers who've won everything from the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi feature-writing award to the Casey Medal for Meritorious Journalism. But with local journalism's existence under siege and advertising revenue setbacks having a larger impact, it is important now more than ever for us to rally support behind funding our local journalism. You can help by participating in our "I Support" membership program, allowing us to keep covering Houston with no paywalls.
