It all began when I observed the daikon, turnips and radishes lined up on the shelf.
Many thoughts ran through my head all at the same time (a friend once asked me – “Say, does your brain ever stop and take a break?” and I wondered whether I should tell her that this is exactly why I take the time to weed the garden.
It is not only from the garden, it also removes stray weeds from the head.
Highly recommended). I started to think that they were actually all from the same cruciferous family, and then I thought that this could be the beginning of a joke – “a radish, a turnip and a daikon go into the bar”.
Then I thought I had no way of getting anything really funny out of it, and that generally speaking, things are not funny to me now – because we are in the second week of January and the weather outside is very nice and suitable for walks and picnics in nature, but the vegetables in the garden want rain (except that with the closure you can't really get away anyway).
Then I thought that maybe this is humanity's way, in situations where a little helplessness is trickling in to the heart (because other than dancing the rain dance, I have no real ideas how to encourage it to come), I start looking for what's funny.
Since I have already written to you about radishes, this time I want to talk about turnips.
Turnip is probably one of those vegetables that chronically suffers from a lack of a good reputation – it's not part of the vegetables you buy for the regular “Israeli” salad, it's not one of the ingredients of a good winter soup, it's not a sweet treat (like corn), it's not in the superfood department (like kale), it does not blend well in smoothies and does not spread on bread like avocado…
Even, it is not crispy and crunchy and goes well in a sandwich like a radish, nor is it an exotic and intriguing guest from abroad like the daikon. But, with everything that it is not – it is a wonderful and recommended vegetable! First of all, because it is really tasty.
In season, and when it is not too hot (and so far it is too hot for it) it is sweet-spicy, at just the right balance.
Whoever recommended eating it with bread probably also thought that turnips (and other vegetables included under this word) add just the right pinch of spiciness and action that the bread needs to spice it up and turn it into an interesting and pleasurable meal for the palate.
Turnips are rich with fiber and low in calories – and therefore helps in the digestive process.
Turnips improve the digestive processes in general, and in folk medicine it is accepted that it is good both for strengthening the immune system and for treating colds, hoarseness, coughing and even for the purpose of improving one’s mood.
Its leaves contain a good amount of vitamin C (I have yet to try pesto made of turnip leaves, but it sounds to me like an idea worth trying) and also of beta carotene.
In Switzerland, it is customary to extract “colza” oil from the seeds of a certain type of turnip – which has a strong aroma and flavor and is mainly used for seasoning.
Raw turnip is excellent when fresh – as part of a salad, in a sandwich, or even sliced in a plate of its own, with no dressing at all or accompanied by soy sauce; It is very tasty even when stir-fried or cooked – combining turnips in a winter stew gives a great addition to the taste and texture; Beyond all these – I also like making pickled turnips, in a jar, along with some radishes and daikons.
If they do not enter the bar together, then at least a jar of pickles.
Yours.
The Garden’s team
Forecast:
In the ORGANIC vegetable baskets we expect (draft only):
Cucumber
Tomatoes
Lettuce
Potatoes
Cabbage
Eggplanrt
Carrot
Swiss Chard
Parsley
The Large organic vegetable baskets also include:
Spinach
Zucchini
Coriander
In the ORGANIC fruit baskets (NEW – Increased variety, price – 70 Shekels)
Oranges
Grapefruit
Banana
Clementine
Pomelo
The large ORGANIC fruit baskets also include: ( NEW – Increased variety, price -100 Shekels)
Lemon
Papaya
Red grapefruit
The ORGANIC Green Basket:
Swiis Chard
A kind of lettuce
Kale
Dill
Green onion
Sprouts
Spinach
Celery
NEW – The ORGANIC Basket for couples or small families (price – 150 shekels):
Cucumber
Tomato
Lettuce
Potato
Eggplant
Pepper
Onion
Parsley
Swiss Chard
Beet
Sweet potatoe
Coriander
Beet
Grapefruit
Lemon
Sweetie
