Two-Way Tasty Turnip Fries

If you’re watching your carb intake, these two-way tasty turnip fries are an easy to make, healthier twist on those made with potatoes.

This post includes affiliate links. When you make a purchase from my links, you won’t pay any extra but I will make a small amount that will help keep my little blog active!

Just a week before Christmas, our toaster oven starting making weird banging noises and finally gave out. I used it all the time and totally loved it, so I was pretty bummed. It was especially nice to have when I was baking recipes for two. As we shopped for a new one, we noticed how many toaster ovens now have air fryer capabilities. I have been intrigued by air fryers for some time but didn’t want to have yet another small appliance on our kitchen countertop. However, after reviewing all of the features of a multi-use air fryer, we decided to spring for the Emeril Lagasse Air Fryer Pro with a vow to not let it collect dust. I’m happy to say we’ve used it several times now and aren’t experiencing buyer’s remorse. 

What’s Up with Turnips?

Certain vegetables are on my list of those rarely eaten, and turnips are definitely one of them! I feel like our ancestors must have had their fill of them in the 1800s and made a concerted effort to switch to potatoes at all costs. And I get it. Turnips are kind of weird. They’re related to Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and broccoli, but they have a sharp taste when not cooked, similar to radishes, but milder. However, when you roast or bake them, that sharp taste really mellows out, which makes them a great substitute for carb-laden potatoes. I snuck them into this our all-time favorite beef stew not long ago, and nobody even knew it!

Turnip Fries Ingredients

• 3 medium turnips
• 2 tablespoons good quality olive oil
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon sea salt or kosher salt

How to Make Two-Way Tasty Turnip Fries

My recipe for these two-way tasty turnip fries makes use of some spices you most likely have in your kitchen cabinets already. Namely, onion powder, garlic powder, smoked or regular paprika, and sea salt or kosher salt. If you don’t have an air fryer, no worries because their two-way title refers to the fact that you can bake them in the oven too. You’ll also need a small amount of olive oil. I highly recommend Tassos, which is organic and from a protected designation of origin. That’s important for both quality and flavor. If you think all olive oils are the same, you haven’t really experienced the difference a high-caliber olive oil can make in the flavor of your food!

Baking Turnip Fries

To bake the turnip fries in a conventional oven, preheat it to 425 degrees. Meanwhile, peel the turnips and cut them into long and narrow strips.

Place the turnips in a bowl and drizzle with the olive oil, tossing well to coat them evenly. Stir your seasonings together and add to the turnips, tossing again so the spices are evenly distributed. Spread the seasoned turnip strips on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper or a Silpat liner. Bake for 20 minutes, then flip the turnips and bake for another 10 minutes.

Air Frying Turnip Fries

To air fry the turnip fries, prepare the turnips the same way as listed above. Place them in the basket of your air fryer. Select the fries option on the dashboard of the air fryer. Once the cycle is complete, taste the turnip fries for doneness. You may need to air fry them for a few minutes longer depending on the thickness of your turnip strips. The texture is not quite the same as a french fry. Serve the seasoned turnip fries as is or with your favorite dipping sauce.

I hope you give these two-way tasty turnip fries a try. Although french fries will always have a soft spot in my heart, it’s nice to know there’s a healthier alternative that’s tasty too.