Interested in trying rutabaga? Although this vegetable is commonly served cooked, you can eat raw rutabaga too! It tastes delicious in this rutabaga salad with fresh, crunchy apples, finely chopped kale, and a honey vinaigrette.
If you aren’t familiar with rutabagas, they are very similar to turnips! In fact, they are also called Swedish Turnips, or swedes for short, and are a popular vegetable in Scandinavian cuisine. Since I live in Minnesota, a state with a strong Scandinavian influence, I’ve taken a liking to this unique veggie over the past couple of years. They’re always popping up at farmers market and stores all over town, so it didn’t take long for me to give them a try.
You all know that I love cool veggies that don’t get a lot of publicity (#EatMoreBeets #KohlrabiForDays), so I’ve been dreaming up ways for you to try rutabaga! I’m hoping this Raw Rutabaga Salad with Apples will convince you to give rutabaga a chance.
What Does Rutabaga Taste Like?
Rutabagas taste like milder turnips. They add an earthy taste and slightly bitter punch to recipes, but in a less aggressive way than turnips. Some people argue that rutabagas also have a subtle sweet taste, especially smaller ones.
Personally, I wouldn’t go so far as to call them sweet, but I think bittersweet would be an appropriate adjective! For those of you who haven’t seen a rutabaga before, let alone tried one, check it out below.
Can Rutabaga be Eaten Raw?
Rutabaga is typically cooked, but you can eat it raw! You can peel them if you prefer to get rid of the outside layer or if they have a coating of wax on them. However, outside skin without wax is edible.
For this Raw Rutabaga Salad, I peeled my rutabaga and sliced it into matchsticks. Since it had been a while since I made my Spiralized Rutabaga Breakfast Bowls, I was surprised by the faint yellow color of the flesh. It’s pretty!
But, I knew that the pale rutabaga paired with the white flesh of apples would not make for the most colorful dish. That’s why I threw in some finely chopped kale at the end. This led a festive look, which means you should probably make it during the holiday season ;-)!
The final product is a crunchy slaw-like salad that’s punctuated with just the right amount of earthy flavors and a sweet aftertaste. YUM!
Raw Rutabaga Salad with Apples
Ingredients
- 1 rutabaga
- 2 small apples - or 1 large apple
- 1 cup kale leaves - finely chopped
- 1/2 cup walnuts - chopped
- 3 pitted dates - chopped, optional
For the dressing:
- 1/4 cup olive oil
- 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
- 1 tbsp honey
- 2 tsp dijon mustard
Instructions
- Prepare the rutabaga and apples by slicing them into matchsticks. Combine them with the finely chopped kale in a large bowl. Add the walnuts and dates (optional).
- In a separate bowl, combine the ingredients for the dressing and whisk until smooth. Pour over the salad ingredients and toss until coated.
- Enjoy chilled or at room temperature!
Notes
Nutrition
Pin this Raw Rutabaga Salad with Apples now to make later!
Enjoy your weekend!
Lizzie
This was surprisingly good. I shredded the rutabaga instead of cutting it in matchsticks, but otherwise stuck to the recipe. I am trying to incorporate vegetables I don’t normally use and wanted a recipe that used raw rutabaga. Most feature ROASTED root vegetables. This is a keeper.
Hi Cherie, that’s great to hear! I’m so glad that you enjoyed it. I agree that it can be challenging to find new recipes for veggies that aren’t roasted. Love the idea of shredding the rutabaga for this one! Thanks so much for letting me know your thoughts.
Loved this super healthy salad! I added chopped fresh parsley for extra green and antioxidants.(also uses the dates as suggested) thank you!
Hi Ann, I’m so glad that you enjoyed it! I bet the parsley tasted delicious in there. Thanks for letting me know.