A Deliciously Tasty Turnip Green Soup Recipe
Turnip, a member of the Brassica genus mustard family, is a root vegetable closely related to arugula and radishes. Both the turnip root and its leafy greens are edible. Turnips are grown throughout the world in temperate climates.
Turnip greens are the dark leafy tops of the turnip. They tend to resemble and taste like mustard greens.
These greens are used by many cultures and cuisines. In the United States, turnip greens are used to create a variety of dishes in the southeastern states – especially in Winter and Fall seasons.
The smaller turnip leaves are preferred because they are less bitter. However, the bitterness of the larger turnip greens can be tamed by replacing the cooking water with fresh water. And like raw radish or cabbage, turnip greens’ flavor becomes milder with cooking.
Turnip greens are often used to craft a delicious and warming soup, which is known throughout the south as Swamp Soup. The unusual name is derived from the soup’s appearance – it looks swampy with the cooked greens.
Turnip greens can also be a meaningful component of a healthy diet too. The greens are low in calories but quite dense, nutritionally, providing nearly 40% of the daily recommended vitamin C and more than 100% of recommended potassium intake. Turnip greens also contain folate, calcium, fiber, and anti-inflammatory properties, among other benefits.
How to Make This Tasty Turnip Green Soup
This easy and delicious turnip green soup is savory, slightly spicy & smokey, and it takes less than an hour from start to finish.
- Preparation Time – 10 – 15 minutes.
- Cooking Time – 30 minutes.
- Total Prep & Cook Time – 40 – 45 minutes.
- Serves – 12.
Ingredients For A Deliciously Tasty Turnip Green Soup Recipe
Considering the soup’s depth of flavor, this turnip green soup recipe is surprisingly made with only these simple ingredients –
- 1 Tablespoon of Olive Oil.
- 1 Yellow Onion – Diced.
- 1 Pound of Kielbasa Sausage – Sliced.
Pro-tip – if you prefer, the kielbasa can be substituted with andouille or a milder smoked sausage. Chopped ham also works well as a substitute. - 2 20-Ounce Cans of Turnip Greens.
Pro-tip – Substitutions for turnip greens include spinach, collards, or mustard greens – use equal amounts when substituting. - 2 15-Ounce Cans of Great Northern Beans – Drained and Rinsed.
Pro-tip – if you prefer another type of bean, substitute it for the Great Northern. Examples include navy beans or southern peas. For added smokiness, add black-eyed peas. - 4 Cups of Chicken Broth.
- 1 Tablespoon of Creole Seasoning.
Optional Ingredients
The soup’s flavors can be enhanced by using –
- Crushed red pepper flakes.
- Julienned celery and carrots for fiber and crunch.
- Cooked lentils for a boost to the soup’s protein.
Serving-Side Suggestions for This Tasty Turnip Green Soup Recipe
While any bread pairs well with this turnip green soup, the most popular type of bread to serve is cornbread – a quick bread typically leavened with baking powder. Cornbread can be traced back to Native American cuisine, and there are six different types of cornbread:
- Baked Cornbread.
- Cracklin’ Bread.
- Corn Pone.
- Hot Water Cornbread.
- Johnnycakes.
- Hushpuppies.
Cooking Directions A Deliciously Tasty Turnip Green Soup Recipe
This tasty turnip green soup is delicious, nourishing, and filling. It comes together quickly, making it a great go-to meal – especially when the colder months arrive. A slice of bread served with this soup is the perfect combo meal for many.
First, the prep – Chop the onion, slice the sausage, and drain the turnip greens and the great northern beans.
- Warm the olive oil over medium heat using a large pot or Dutch oven.
- When the oil is warm, add the diced onions, cooking them until they become translucent and fragrant. This takes about five minutes.
- When the onion is cooked, add the sliced kielbasa sausage to the pot and stir well. Cook the onion and sausage mixture for another five minutes – frequently stirring to help avoid burning the ingredients. When the sausage begins to brown, it is time to move on to the addition of the vegetables.
- Add the drained turnip greens and your choice of beans. Remember to rinse the beans well before adding the beans to the soup, as this helps reduce the soup’s sodium content. In fact, rinsing canned beans reduces the amount of sodium by nearly one-half.
- Stir to mix this soup base well.
And then…..
- Next, add the two cans of chicken broth and the Creole seasoning. Combine and mix these ingredients well.
- Reduce the heat to medium.
- Simmer this turnip green soup for an additional 15 minutes. Stir every few minutes to ensure nothing sticks to the bottom of the pot while cooking.
- Ladle this flavorful and nutritionally rich soup into bowls.
- Taste before adding any additional salt.
- Serve hot, with your favorite version of cornbread.
FAQS
Can this Tasty Turnip Green Soup be Made Vegetarian Friendly?
This delicious turnip green soup can easily be converted to vegetarian-friendly. First, switch out the chicken broth for vegetable broth. Then, find a plant-based alternative as a substitution for the soup’s protein, which, these days, is getting easier and easier to find.
How Do You Store Turnip Green Soup in the Refrigerator?
The good news is that this tasty turnip green soup stores really well. If stored in an airtight container, this soup is still delicious for up to three or four days. Warm the soup in a saucepan on the stovetop or use a microwave to reheat it.
If you want to freeze turnip green soup, note that the soup keeps well for a month or so if stored properly in an airtight container. The frozen turnip green soup can be defrosted overnight in the refrigerator or using the microwave’s defrost mode. Add some chicken stock when reheating if needed.
How Does the Nutritional Value of This Turnip Green Soup Stack up?
Each serving of this warm and comforting turnip green soup has 247 calories. In addition, a serving of this delicious soup is low in cholesterol (28 milligrams) and sugar (3.1 grams) and high in protein and dietary fiber (5.3 grams).
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