Hakurei turnips are a farm and CSA member favorite! Also called salad turnips, Hakurei turnips are a mild-tasting Japanese turnip. In the summer months the the turnips will have the greens attached in the CSA share boxes. The delicate turnip greens are great when cooked, they can be combined with other greens and braised with garlic and olive oil. Hakurei turnips can be enjoyed cooked or raw. Grilling the halves like this brings out the best of both versions – they are still crisp but the char adds a nice flavor. While the turnips are grilling sauté the greens with or without crushed red pepper.
Start by removing the greens from the turnips. Wash turnips then remove tops and bottoms and slice in half. The key to searing the outside is to thoroughly dry the turnips, and heat the grill very high. When the turnips are dry toss them in canola or another high heat oil and salt + pepper.
Thoroughly wash the turnip greens. Rinse in several batches of cold water, use a salad spinner and lift the basket to easily change the water. Don’t spin the greens, just heat some oil and garlic over medium heat and add the wet greens. Add a splash of apple cider vinegar and toss with tongs until the greens are wilted. If you like spicy add a pinch of crushed red pepper to pan with the vinegar.
Heat a grill or cast-iron grill pan to high. Grill turnips about four minutes per side. For softer turnips move to a cooler part of the grill and cook longer. Serve the turnips over the turnip greens.
Grilled Hakurei Turnips
1 bunch hakurei turnips with greens attached
Canola Oil
Salt + pepper
1-2 minced garlic cloves
apple cider vinegar
crushed red pepper (optional)
olive oil
Remove greens from turnips. Wash and thoroughly dry turnips. Toss with canola oil and salt + pepper. Thoroughly was turnip greens. Preheat a grill pan or grill to high. While the grill is preheating, heat garlic and olive oil over medium heat in a saucepan. Add about turnip greens, about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and crushed red pepper if using. Toss greens with tongs until wilted. Remove from heat. When grill is heated, grill turnips about 4 minutes per side until outsides are charred but not burnt. Serve turnips over greens.
