Here’s my contribution for a really tasty side dish for Thanksgiving or any upcoming holiday dinner, a traditional holiday side dish in my family. My Scottish Grandma used to make mashed rutabaga as a side for holiday meals. She called them “Swedes”, which Wikipedia tells me is what they’re called in most British Commonwealth nations, having originated in Sweden. They’re a cross between a turnip and a cabbage, and they have a delicious earthy, cabbage-like flavor.

Well, enough rutabaga fun facts. Here’s what you really need to know- how to cook them!

Ingredients:

• 3 Good-Sized Rutabagas (a little larger than a softball).

• 1/4 – 1/2 stick of butter
• 15 oz. Low-Sodium Chicken Stock

• Salt and Pepper to Taste

Special Utensils:

• A Potato Masher comes in really handy!

Serves 6-8

Yes, this is what rutabagas look like

Ready for boilin’

Cut ends off rutabagas and peel off skin. Rutabagas are difficult to work with, so carefully cutting the skin off with a sharp knife will probably work better than a potato peeler. Chop the rutabagas up into roughly inch and a half wide cubes, being careful because rutabagas are very hard and dense in their raw state, and difficult to cut up.

Some recipes for mashed rutabaga say to add cream. I think a generous amount of butter plus some good chicken stock give the rutabagas plenty of extra flavor. I like to take about a pint or so of low-sodium chicken stock and boil it down by 1/2 or more to concentrate the flavor.

It’s beginning to boil…

As the chicken stock starts to reduce, put the rutabaga pieces into a large pot and fill with water so they’re covered. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium/low and simmer the rutabaga until it’s easy to break apart with a fork, about 1/2 hour. Drain the water from the rutabaga pieces and put them back into the pot.

I did the mash…

Now comes the fun part– mashing! Add the butter, salt and pepper, and the reduced chicken stock a little at a time, mashing and stirring until it gets to a chunky mashed potato consistency. Taste as you go to add more butter, stock or seasoning as needed. Enjoy!