This roasted rutabaga recipe is a wonderful addition to your dinner table, the rutabaga is roasted in the oven and then finished with maple syrup to give it a wonderful crunch and sweetness.
This is a side dish like no other! Sweet and fragrant with an earthy note, this dish will have guest begging for the recipe. And makes the perfect addition to your Sunday roast or holiday table.
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What is Rutabaga?
Rutabaga is a yellow brown root vegetable that is part of the cabbage family.
It is a very underused vegetable, possibly because it looks pretty ugly in the shops, and people are worried about peeling and preparing it.
Did you know that Rutabaga is called swede in many parts of the world? The term rutabaga is unique to the US.
How to prepare Rutabaga
No matter how you are cooking rutabaga you need to wash the rutabaga fully to remove any bits of dirt from the skin.
After that cut off the ends and then use a potato peeler to remove the skin.
Once the skin has been removed you can chop or slice the rutabaga ready for your recipe.
How to cook Rutabaga
Rutabaga can be boiled, steamed or roasted.
Here we are roasting it with maple syrup to give it a wonderful sweet edge.
Check out my Cheesy Rutabaga and Carrot Casserole for how to boil rutabaga.
Is a Rutabaga a Turnip?
Rutabaga and turnips belong to the same family but they are not the same vegetable.
Turnips are usually purpley while whilst rutabagas are usually a yellowy and brown maybe with hints of red or purple.
Although they are similar, turnips have a slightly more bitter flavor than rutabaga.
Can I use turnip instead of Rutabaga?
Although you could use turnip in this recipe the flavor will be quite different, as turnips aren’t as sweet as rutabaga. But the prep and cooking method will work the same.
Is Rutabaga a swede?
Yes! Rutabaga is the name used for the vegetable, but many parts of the world call this gnarly vegetable a swede.
Is Rutabaga low carb?
Rutabaga is is lower in carbs than say a potato, making this a really healthy alternative to potatoes. When roasted the rutabaga chunks are crispy on the outside and fluffy inside like a roast potato but with significantly lower carbs.
Tips for preparing this Rutabaga recipe
Prep in advance – You can clean and chop the rutabaga beforehand and then store it in a zip lock bag or sealed container in the refrigerator for 24 hours.
Use real maple syrup – Please use really maple syrup here, the flavoured syrups won’t give you the wonderful flavor or sticky crispy finish.
You can use fresh or dried thyme – the recipe specifies dried thyme as most people have this in their pantry, but you can substitute in fresh thyme if you have it.
Line your roasting dish – I always line my roasting tin with foil and then a layer of parchment paper when I cook with maple syrup. I didn’t do this for these photos as I wanted the rustic look of the metal tin. Big mistake! I had to leave my tray soaking overnight. Lining the tray makes clean up a breeze.
What to serve with Rutabaga
Serve this roasted rutabaga as an alternative to potatoes next to a seared steak and side salad, or alternatively serve them as part of your holiday table this Thanksgiving or Christmas. (Check out all my holiday side dishes)
For an easy mid week meal, place a tray of chicken pieces in the oven as you slide in the tray of rutabaga. Everything will be cooked at the same time and you will have an almost effortless dinner.
Enjoy x
For another amazing rutabaga recipe why not try my Cheesy Rutabaga Casserole.
And for other delicious roasted vegetables why not try these:
- Roasted Cauliflower with Garlic
- Roasted Brussel Sprouts
- Roasted Cauliflower Pasta
- Roasted Pumpkin Ramen
- Roasted Carrot Salad
- Roasted Fennel
- Roasted Mushrooms
- Roasted Beets (Bless this Mess)
- Roasted Asparagus (Know your Produce)
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Roasted Rutabaga with Maple Syrup Recipe
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb rutabaga (about 3 small rutabaga) – see note 1
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 3 tbsp maple syrup – see note 2
- salt
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- black pepper
- 1 tbsp fresh thyme (for garnish – optional)
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC/390ºF. Place a roasting tin the oven to heat up.
- Peel the swedes and cut them into large chunks.
- Place the swedes in a and dress with the olive oil, maple syrup and dried thyme.
- Add in a good sprinkle of salt and pepper and toss to combine well.
- Spoon the swede into the roasting tin, reserving any dressing that has pooled at the bottom of the bowl.
- Roast in the oven, for 25 minutes, then drizzle over the reserved dressing and cook for a further 15-20 minutes until crisp and golden.
- Serve with a sprinkling of fresh thyme (Or chives works well too!)
Notes
- Rutabaga are known as swedes in many parts of the world. Do not confuse them with turnips. Turnips are usually purpley while whilst Rutabagas/Swede are usually a yellowy and brown maybe with hints of red or purple.
- Use real maple syrup here, the flavored syrups burn quickly and don’t have the depth of flavor you need.
Nutrition
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G says
Received a rutabaga in my veggie box this week and I’ve never had one before.
Your recipe looks amazing and I cannot wait to try it for dinner tonight!
Thank you for sharing!
Claire McEwen says
Oh I hope you enjoy it, we love rutabaga in our house. And everything is better with maple syrup right?
Cx