Garlic Mashed Turnips Recipe

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Garlic mashed turnips are the perfect low carb potato substitute for your holiday table! Creamy and garlicky, and mashed to perfection – these turnips are a great lower carb holiday side dish.

A delicious recipe for turnips that is family-friendly and will be loved by all. They are a classic recipe that is great to enjoy for the holidays, or any time of year.

Want more tasty side dishes? Try our avocado black bean salad with corn, sour cream cucumber salad, or our favorite sauteed Swiss chard with parmesan cheese.

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Table of Contents

Mashed garlic turnips are a great way to enjoy a lower carb alternative to potatoes. While turnips are mostly a fall crop, you can find them in the supermarket all year round.

We grew turnips for the first time this year in our garden, and we got a ton of them. These garlic mashed turnips are excellent alongside any protein, especially as a vegetarian side dish for Thanksgiving or Christmas.

Turnips are super versatile – you can roast them, boil them, and mash them… which is what we did! I used an immersion blender to ‘mash’ the turnips as I found it easier than using a hand held masher. The result? I totally creamy, rich mashed turnip that was excellent to eat with gravy… just like mashed potatoes!

These Garlic Mashed Turnips Are:

Creamy
Buttery
Loaded with Flavor
Sweet
Earthy
Vegetarian, Gluten Free, and can be made vegan with a few easy swaps
A great keto Thanksgiving side dish

homegrown diy gardening recipes with turnips from your garden

Ingredients You’ll Need

Turnips: I used about 3lbs that we grew in our garden this year, but any store bough variety will work as well.
Garlic: For the bright bold garlic flavor that is a classic in mashed potatoes. If you don’t have fresh garlic, this jarred organic garlic has great flavor is a really nice time saver!
Half & Half: For creaminess and to make these turnips #extra
Butter: also for flavor and extra richness, melt-in-your-mouth good. If you don’t have butter on hand, I swear by this powdered butter (seriously!) it’s great to have on hand for baking or cooking, and you can skip a trip to the store.
Garlic Salt: to give the turnips another little burst of garlic flavor
Olive oil for a little extra creaminess in the turnips. I use olive oil which has a really nice flavor and taste… it’s inexpensive so I stock up on this stuff which is a great value for the quality of oil.
Green Onions: to top!

Be sure to visit the recipe card below for full ingredient amounts and recipe instructions!

How To Make This Recipe

In a large pot, add the chopped turnips and garlic and pour just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil, and cook for about 30 minutes until fork tender.
Drain turnips and garlic and return them to the pot. Add the half and half, butter, and garlic salt. Mash with a potato masher for a chunkier texture, or with an immersion blender for a smoother texture.
Top with green onions and enjoy!

Dietary Modifications

To make these mashed turnips vegan, just substitute cashew cream for the half and half (or a non-dairy milk), and a plant-based butter for the real butter.

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Recipe FAQs

What’s in these garlic mashed turnips?

This recipe calls for fresh cooked turnips, garlic, half & half (or cream), butter, salt, and fresh green onions or chives to garnish.

What do mashed turnips taste like?

Mashed turnips have a similar texture to classic mashed potatoes – they are creamy, soft, and can be whipped. I find them slightly more earthy than potatoes, but the flavor will change depending on the types of turnips you use.

Can I use gravy on mashed turnips?

Absolutely – you can enjoy turnips with gravy just like you would with mashed potatoes.

More Great Side Dishes

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