Perhaps I should be a mediator. The world needs more mediators or at least more people capable of walking the middle ground.
Turnip Au Gratin
Sometimes walking the middle can produce an optimal solution for all. At least that was the case yesterday when we had a reunion of my youngest son’s lower school class and I was charged with bringing a potluck dish. My husband had also charged me with getting rid of all the “bloody turnips”. Yes, we have many. They waft in the fridge. No one rallies around them as a favorite vegetable. They are humble roots lacking praise. I teeter on the balance beam between making something delicious and cooking with turnips.
As I rummage through the recipe universe, I find deeply rich cream laden casseroles. There are dishes designed to disguise with chicken broth and bacon and others with such bare ingredients that I’m certain that the flavor and scent of the purplish gems would show through too starkly. With multiple windows open I begin to negotiate my path taking what I believe is good and necessary from each. Yes, I am walking the middle of recipe mediation.
Eliminate the chicken broth and bacon suggestions for the non-meat eaters. Lighten up the cream to 1% milk and spice it up with a mixture of peppers and herbs. Add some extra garlic and get rid of the last shallot in the root bin. The result?
Gone. Instantly. AND, it will work well with a variety of other vegetables just in time for Thanksgiving.
Oh Gratin!
Walking the middle of Locavore in the City, Pioneer Woman and Cooking Light
Serves 6
Ingredients:
- 8 whole turnips, peeled
- 2 red potatoes
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 large shallot, minced
- generous grind of black pepper (24 turns)
- several sprigs thyme, leaves stripped from stems
- pinch cayenne pepper
- 2 cups 1% milk
- 1.5 cups white cheddar cheese, grated
- 1 cup parmesan, grated
- 4 Tbs butter
Directions:
Preheat the oven to 375º. Slice peeled turnips and potatoes thin using a mandolin, if available. Pour milk into a sauce pan with the minced garlic, shallot, black pepper, thyme and cayenne. Heat over medium heat for several minutes stirring occasionally.
In a large cast-iron skillet, melt 1-2 tablespoons of butter over medium-low heat. Place a single layer of turnips on top of the butter overlapping the edges slightly. Next, ladle some of the hot milk mixture over the top of the turnips. Sprinkle some cheese over the top and repeat. 
It is also taste worth to add additional butter during this process. Continue building the layers until all of the turnip and potato slices have been used. 
Pour the remainder of the milk mixture over the top and then top with the grated cheese.
Now pop the whole thing into the over and bake for about 30 minutes until the top is brown and bubbly.
Do you enjoy finding solutions that take care of more than one issue? Ever done a recipe compromise?
Agrigirl's Blog 
judilyn
/ November 17, 2013Sort of like scalloped turnips, yes? It looks good to me. I’d guess that the presence of the potatoes makes the turnips seem more like potatoes as they cook.
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Yes, that’s what it’s like except that I sliced these more thinly.
nrhatch
/ November 17, 2013I would LOVE that! I’ve also cooked turnips and potatoes and mashed them together with a bit of salt, pepper, and butter with good results.
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013This recipe used all of them in a fell swoop!
everydayasian
/ November 17, 2013that looks heavenly
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Hence the Oh!
hotlyspiced
/ November 17, 2013My mother was forced to grow up on turnips. I think they were cheap and readily available during the war years. As a result, she hates turnips and so I grew up having never eaten one and thinking they must be most foul. It was Jamie Oliver who got me eating turnips as they pop up in his cookbooks. I found I don’t actually mind them so I would love your gratin xx
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013I really don’t even appreciate their odor. Make my whole fridge smell.
Doreen
/ November 17, 2013Tammy – I am overflowing in yellow squash right now. I often put in the words of foods in my pantry into an internet search with the word ‘recipe’ after it and find all kinds of delectable recipes. In fact, tonight I ran out at dusk to grill squash for a salad tomorrow. And I often improvise as I an Lacto challenged, so while my mouth salivates for a gratin, I dare not take the chance! Thanks for having us all think out side of the box !
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Yellow squash is in my top ten!
preciousgiftsgalore
/ November 17, 2013That looks so sinfully good! YuM
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Cheese and butter are definitely sinful!
Lisa H
/ November 17, 2013Oooh. Sounds yummy! Yes, root season is here, and with it comes cooler weather and warmer dishes. Thanks for a great recipe!
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013The mandolin was key here.
Kirsten
/ November 17, 2013I frequently take a little of this and a little of that to find what I hope is a happy medium in recipes.
I received a 38 ounce (without greens) turnip in my farm share box and proceeded to play with it recently. I did a scalloped turnip casserole (similar, but including capacollo and a cream sauce) and it was not well received. The baked turnip chips I thought were fabulous, but also all mine to eat. Turnip soup though? That works for my family. I’m sticking to it.
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013I also like turnip soup.
cindyricksgers
/ November 17, 2013This sounds lovely, and a wonderful way to “glorify” the humble turnip! Thanks!
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Really, they do need glorifying!
Scrambled Megs
/ November 17, 2013this sounds lovely indeed. i don’t each much turnip – perhaps it deserves more attention!
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Start with the small white harukei. They’re sweet and mild and really useful.
Tandy | Lavender and Lime
/ November 17, 2013This is a fantastic recipe compromise. Anything with cheese has to be tasty 🙂
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013The recipes I found asked for gruyere but I used what I had.
Rukmini Roy
/ November 17, 2013Yum Yum Yum. I have never had a gratin before and I wish I was your neighbor. This looks insane.
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Yes, you would like this one. Are you good with dairy?
Inger Wilkerson
/ November 18, 2013What a great solution–I can completely believe that was eaten right up! I use turnips in a beef stew recipe but I have a lot of parsnips left that are getting about as much love in our house as your turnips.
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Parsnips are part of my youth and I can easily eat them.
boxeats
/ November 18, 2013I’ll be trying this one soon. Maybe tonight!
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Tell me how it turns out!
Stephanie
/ November 18, 2013Yeah, our Thanksgiving mashed potatoes must also have a turnip (or two) in them. Personally, I’m a fan. How about grated raw ones mixed with grated carrot and a seriously strong citrus dressing inside spring roll wrappers? I do like raw turnips, but perhaps that’s unusual. (On the other hand, I’ve also slipped some into diced veg in stuffed peppers when the last one was looking rather sad.)
The splendid table used to also have a recipe for braised/glazed root veg that was very nice…
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013I think grated with a strong dressing would work for me – especially if it is the mild harukei. These purplish ones are a bit more difficult for me.
Kath
/ November 19, 2013That’s a nice, healthy adaptation of gratin, and I imagine a wonderful use for turnips! I like turnips, particularly rutabagas (?), and I’m looking forward to them being in season again and sold at the local veg stores. This is something I love about the quarter where I live – it’s very multicultural and has lots of citizens from the Middle East, which is reflected in the abundance of Middle Eastern food stores selling a variety of seasonal fruits and veggies. They sell things I’ve never seen at a supermarket before.
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013We also have a middle eastern grocery that has some things that surprise me.
Cindy
/ November 19, 2013Looks like a delicious way to get rid of those “bloody turnips” lol Sounds likes something my husband would say. Maybe it’s more like please feed them to anyone else but me. Ha. Either way, your gratin looks beautiful 😀
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Truth be told, I’m not sure he ate the gratin but it didn’t matter. Everyone else did.
yummychunklet
/ November 19, 2013Looks cheesey and delicious!
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013Cheese is the great mediator – perhaps that’s what I should have written!
annelies
/ November 19, 2013Smart. Gratin gives the turnip a bit of creamy oomph. This looks delicious.
Tammy
/ November 20, 2013It does and I hadn’t pulled out the mandolin in ages. That thing is fun and useful!
csamom
/ December 28, 2013I’ve been wanting a mandolin for ages. This looks like an excellent excuse to get one!
Tammy
/ December 28, 2013This IS what they are made for!!
nancy at good food matters
/ November 20, 2013Hi Tammy, I have also made a gratin of turnips with parsnips that helps to mediate as well!
Tammy
/ November 23, 2013Yes, I imagine parsnips would be terrific. I love them so much that there is never any issue using them.
Sophie33
/ November 21, 2013This is a top side dish that I am making this evening, it looks very tasty, very appetizing too! Yummmmmm. 😀
Tammy
/ November 23, 2013Sophie, how did it turn out?
Sophie33
/ November 24, 2013It was fantasticly tasty, Tammy. 😀😀
Sartenada
/ December 18, 2013Must be delicious.
Tammy
/ December 28, 2013It is so tasty. Do you have a dish that is similar in Finland?