Best Rutabaga Pear Mash Recipes

RUTABAGA MASH

Steps:

• Peel and roughly chop 3 pounds rutabagas. Place in a pot and cover with equal parts milk and water (about 2 1/2 cups each); add a pinch of salt. Bring to a simmer and cook until soft, 20 to 25 minutes; drain. Puree with 1/2 cup heavy cream and 2 tablespoons butter. Cook a few sliced garlic cloves and some fresh rosemary in olive oil; drizzle over the mash.
• TIP: Use a food processor or immersion blender to puree these veggies-they're too fibrous for a potato masher.

RUTABAGA, PEAR AND TURNIP GRATIN

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
• Combine the cream, milk, mustard, cayenne, nutmeg, a generous amount of salt and the turnips and rutabaga in a large bowl. Mix well. Transfer the vegetable mixture to a large pot over medium heat and simmer gently, stirring occasionally to assure the mixture is not sticking to the bottom, until the vegetables give up water and become tender, for 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and taste for seasoning.
• Make the topping: Mash 2 tablespoons butter in a small bowl. Add the panko, almonds and 1/2 cup Parmesan and stir to combine. Set aside.
• Add the pears to the turnip mixture. Grease the bottom and sides of a 3-quart gratin dish with the remaining 2 tablespoons butter. Spread the minced garlic on the bottom of the dish with the back of a spoon. Arrange half of the turnip mixture and cream evenly in the bottom of the gratin dish, pressing down to flatten the mixture. Top with the Gruyere and remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan. Arrange the remaining turnip mixture evenly on top. Pour any leftover cream over the gratin. Cover the dish with a sheet of foil, crimping the edges, and place on a baking sheet so that no excess liquid will leak onto the floor of your oven and burn.
• Place in the center of the oven and bake for 1 hour. Carefully remove from the oven, take off the foil and return to the oven to cook until completely tender when pierced with the tip of a small knife, 45 minutes to 1 hour more.
• Top the gratin with the panko-cheese mixture and bake until golden brown, about another 15 minutes. Remove and cool at least 30 minutes but no longer than 1 hour before serving.

SMASHED RUTABAGAS WITH GINGER-ROASTED PEARS

Steps:

• Cook rutabagas in pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 35 minutes.
• Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400°F. Spray large rimmed baking sheet with nonstick spray. Combine oil, lemon juice, ginger, and sugar in large bowl. Add pears; toss to coat. Spread on prepared sheet. Roast until tender, turning pears every 10 minutes, about 35 minutes total.
• Drain rutabagas; return to same pot. Mash to coarse puree. Stir over medium heat until excess moisture evaporates, 5 minutes. Add cream, butter, and thyme. Mix in pears and any juices from baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper. DO AHEAD: Can be made 1 day ahead. Transfer to microwave-safe bowl. Cover; chill. Rewarm at 1-minute intervals.