Rutabaga is a root vegetable, and a member of the Brassica napus family of plants which includes certain varieties of kale

Rutabaga

also known as Swede

What is a Rutabaga?

Rutabaga is a root vegetable, and a member of the Brassica napus family of plants which includes certain varieties of kale. The word comes from the Swedish word rotabagge, meaning rutabaga, but which literally translates to ‘baggy root’. It is similar to the turnip, and is colloquially known as the yellow turnip.

  • This vegetable has a lumpy and irregular shape, similar to a spinning top, with a dull yellow skin with purple band at the crown.
  • When cooked, it turns into a mustard yellow.

The root has a mild flavor with hints of sweetness. These vegetables are popular in Scandinavian, Eastern European, and Australian cuisines.

Some popular ways use rutabaga in the kitchen are:

  • Mashed 
  • Vegetable Noodles
  • Gratin
  • Hassleback
  • Cake
  • Fries
  • Soup
  • Salad
  • Roasted

Origin of rutabaga

This vegetable is a hybrid between turnip and wild cabbage. They most likely originated in Scandinavia or Russia, in the 1600s. The first mention of the root is in the 1623 Pinax Theatri Botanici, a botanical thesaurus by Swiss botanist, Gaspard Bauhin. Additionally, he was the first person to domesticate the vegetable, as it was only growing wild until then. 

Nutrition

Nutritional profile for rutabaga (1 large, raw):

This root vegetable is rich in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, vitamin C, folate, choline, lycopene, and lutein + zeaxanthin. Additionally, it contains sodium, selenium, niacin, carotene, and vitamins A, E, and K. Also, it has a significant antioxidant capacity, which may help in preventing cancer. Regular consumption may also help in preventing cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, and obesity, while maintaining a healthy gut, nervous system, and immune system. Also, it helps keep the skin healthy.

Commercial production

Rutabaga is a winter plant and can actually thrive in frost. This root vegetable is one of the few crops that taste better if harvested after a frost. They grow best in ordinary, well-drained soil, and must be supplemented with boron. They are harvested when the roots begin pushing up from the soil. If packed in sealed bags and stored in a cool place, they can remain fresh for up to 4 months.

Rutabaga recipes

Swede is a hearty root vegetable that is suitable for preparing salads, stews, and soups. Also, it may be cooked and made into stuffing in different dishes. For the most part, this vegetable can be used much the same way you might use a potato. Here are a few recipes to try:

FDA regulations

The FDA classifies this vegetable under the generally recognized as safe category. Canned rutabaga is defined as the root of the rutabaga plant and may be canned whole, quartered, sliced, or diced. The grades and standards for the root are given by the USDA.

References

Pasko, Pawel et al. “Rutabaga (Brassica napus L. var. napobrassica) seeds, roots, and sprouts: a novel kind of food with antioxidant properties and proapoptotic potential in Hep G2 hepatoma cell line.” Journal of medicinal food vol. 16,8 (2013): 749-59. doi:10.1089/jmf.2012.0250, https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23957358/ 

Helen Rosner, What Rutabaga Does Better than Anything Else, The New Yorker, https://www.newyorker.com/culture/kitchen-notes/what-rutabaga-does-better-than-anyone-else 

Rutabagas, The Old Farmer’s Almanac, https://www.almanac.com/plant/rutabagas