Turnip greens are generally chucked out in the trash rather than eaten as a side dish at supper. The top leafy portion of the turnip plant tends to be highly misjudged as to its importance as a food source. I am hoping to help stop this practice. These lesser used greens provide a high level of antioxidants which are beneficial in the fight against heart disease, lung disease such as emphysema, as well as many forms of cancer and arthritis. The darker coloured leafy vegetables as a rule of thumb generally contain more nutrients than the lighter coloured varieties and turnip greens are not exception.
Turnip greens may be of special benefit to those who suffer from Rheumatoid arthritis as they have high levels of Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Vitamin E, Calcium and Copper which have all been proven beneficial in the fight against Rheumatoid arthritis. Diets high in antioxidants are proving to be a good addition in our fight against a number of illnesses. Cancer, stroke, cardiovascular disease and arthritis are just a few of the many illnesses that can have their symptoms reduced simply through the consumption of a diet rich in antioxidants. Turnip Greens are indeed proving why they are a food that should not be tossed away.
They are deliciously nutritious so please don't throw them away. The turnip tops are easily steamed or boiled so they can then be served up as a tasty side dish with your meal. Simply serve the cooked Turnip Greens with melted butter and season to taste with salt and pepper and you have a nutritious vegetable dish. They can be also be used as an "add in" to almost any casserole, vegetable, or rice dish, and serve to add a little spark of colour in addition to their nutritional boost to the meal.
Traditional Soul Food Style Turnip Greens Recipe
If you are saving the greens for future use it only takes a two minutes boiling time to blanch, then pop them into a bag and into the freezer so they are available for future meals. They freeze well for several months. When a food is this healthy it really is a crime to waste it. Make sure your turnip plants gets used to its full potential, from its root to its top, enjoy.
Most Leafy Green Vegetables Are Very Healthy
We seem to naturally know that if it is a leafy green vegetable then it must be healthy for us, but somehow when it comes to root vegetables we seem unsure as to whether the tops are edible or not. Both beet and turnips have this issue. The roots are generally used for meals but often the greens are trashed in the preparation process. Don't do it.
Give those greens a try either raw in a salad or cooked just as you would swiss chard. The burst of flavor and nutrition in these tops will have you saving them in the future.