The differences between turnip and Radish are many. But they both have incredible health benefits, properties, and nutritional values that can improve your general wellbeing.
Both turnip and Radish are extremely low in calories and packed with vitamins B6, A, and K. They are also rich in calcium, potassium, and zinc. You should include them in your healthy eating plan.
However, when regularly utilized in a diet, they have very different benefits! There are also different ways to prepare them, and many food lovers prefer one over the other. In cooking as in health, they have similarities but are also very different.
While they are both equally delicious and versatile in recipes, they have characteristics that you might not know of. Let’s have a look at their differences, types, and uses. Then the choice will be up to you! Turnip vs. Radish, which one will be your favorite?
Turnip
What Are Turnips?
Turnips, or Brassica Rapa, are a cruciferous vegetable. They are recognized by a creamy white color and a purple top, from contact with the sun. These round root vegetables are available all year long, which makes them a perfect choice to be a staple in your diet. However, keep in mind that they are freshest during fall or colder months.
Turnips are often associated with potatoes or beets but are actually more closely related to the radish family. However, as stated, the differences between turnip and Radish are numerous.
The leaves of this root vegetable are edible. The leaves are often called turnip greens or tops, which refers to the stem or leafy part of the root. Along with the purple top, the leaves are the only part visible from above the ground. The turnip family comprises a large variety of different types, including, such as the Chinese turnip.
The Health Benefits of Turnips
Turnips are superfoods packed with an incredible number of nutrients! If maintained in a diet regularly, they can improve your physical and mental wellbeing. Among the many important vitamins in this root vegetable are vitamins A, E, C, K, B3, B5, and B6. Moreover, if you are lacking essential compounds such as fibers and calcium, introducing this vegetable into your diet can help you avoid having to take those supplements.
Improves Digestion
Turnips are incredibly rich in fibers. They are the perfect food to maintain regularity and promote the health of your digestive system. The fibers present in this root can ease bowel movement as well as cleansing. To get the highest digestion benefits from this vegetable, it is better to eat it raw.
Roasted turnips do the trick too!
Promotes Your Cardiovascular System’s Health
Turnips are anti-inflammatory and incredibly rich in antioxidants. These compounds can fight free radicals and help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system. Turnips are perfect for anybody suffering from high blood pressure, as the vitamin K helps lower it. Moreover, due to the amount of folate in turnips, they can be used to reduce the risk of heart disease and improve oxygen flow.
Strengthens Your Bones
Turnips are extremely rich in potassium and calcium, which are essential to promote bone strength and growth. Through regular, moderate consumption of these compounds, you will be able to reduce the risk of conditions and diseases such as osteoporosis. They are an important part of a child’s diet. In this case, to soften the root’s taste, buttered turnips can be an appealing option!
Cooking with Turnips
Turnips are incredibly versatile, and you can use them in a large number of recipes. It makes them the perfect choice of vegetable to be eaten regularly, as you can’t get bored with them!
It’s better to eat them raw to keep the nutrients active. If you are happy to try them like this, they are perfect in salads with mixed greens. However, if you feel like you can’t get on board with their intense flavor or consistency, there are lots of ways to cook them. Let’s have a look at the best ways to prepare turnips.
Roasted Turnips
For fans of roasted potatoes (and who isn’t?!), this could be a healthier and just as delicious option. Roasted turnips are perfect compliments to meat-based meals or, for vegetarians, next to other roasted vegetables and greens. To prepare them, you will only need olive oil, salt, and the herbs you like. After cutting and seasoning them, they are ready for the oven. They will take between 45 to 60 minutes to become tender and crispy.
Buttered Turnips
It is the best way to serve healthy turnips to your kids and make them love vegetables! All you need is butter, thyme, garlic, oil, and the herbs you prefer. Just put the buttered turnips in the oven for about 30 minutes, and you will have delicious golden slices of this vegetable! Chinese turnip is a perfect variety that you can use in this recipe, as it has a stronger consistency than others.
Braised Turnips
Braised turnips are delicious, easy to make, and a healthy meal for all seasons, but especially in winter. It is perfect for family meals, but can also be a great side dish to your roasted chicken. Just cut the turnips, panfry the slices until golden and then bring flavor to it with some vegetable stock and your favorite herbs. Keep it covered for a few minutes. This way, the turnips will be soft on the inside and crispy on the outside.
For this recipe, the perfect variety is white turnip, which is available in vast quantities over winter!
Radish
What are Radishes?
The radish family is composed of a large variety of this root vegetable. Depending on the country you are in, the accessibility of the different types can vary, but one option or another is always available. They are annual, cool-season crops, and so are easier to find during October and November.
The Radish, or Raphanus Raphanistrum, is a root salad vegetable founded in Europe. A small round shape characterizes this vegetable, the top of which is slightly red due to being the only part exposed to the sun. The long green leaves that sprout from its head are visible from above the ground and indicate when the Radish is ready to be eaten.
Typically served raw, in salads or as a garnish, radishes have incredible health properties and, by preparing them correctly, can be delicious!
The Health Benefits of Radish
Since they are preferred raw, it is possible to reach a high intake of essential nutrients by introducing Radish into your diet regularly. They are extremely rich in fibers, antioxidants, and calcium. Moreover, consistent consumption of radish juice can be the perfect natural and homemade solution to skin conditions such as acne or blackheads. Radish paste can help reduce scarring and skin rashes due to its regenerating properties.
Improves Your Metabolism
The varieties in the radish family are all really low in calories and high in nutrients, which make them perfect for a healthy meal plan. Moreover, in patients affected by obesity and slow metabolism, it has been proven that Radish can increase the speed and quality of the digestive process.
Also, they can help stabilize acidity and reduce the risk of gastric problems and feelings of nausea. In this case, boiled radishes are your best option to avoid losing nutrients.
Promotes the Health of Your Immune System
Given the high levels of vitamin C in the Radish, this root vegetable can be an excellent booster of the immune system. Especially in winter months, it can help reduce the risk of catching common colds and flu. However, you will notice the benefits all year if you consume Radish regularly!
It’s A Natural Diuretic
Due to the high level of water contained by this root vegetable, it is an excellent diuretic and can help solve problems related to the digestive system and kidney conditions. For best results, the most efficient way to introduce Radish in your diet is to either drink its freshly squeezed juice or eat it raw in larger quantities.
Cooking with Radishes
Radishes have been mainly used raw in green salads or as condiments. However, if prepared correctly, it is possible to create delicious recipes out of them. Be aware that you need different varieties for different recipes.
The sweetest radishes are perfect to be juiced.
Radish is also incredibly easy to prepare. Just by slicing and seasoning this root vegetable, you can obtain a vegan Carpaccio dish can be adapted to your taste. While the Garden Radish is excellent for its fresh taste, in cooking it is better to use other varieties such as Daikon or Korean Radish.
Boiled Radish
Boiled radishes make the perfect side dish. They are easy to cook, tasty, and incredibly healthy. To create this dish, boil the Radish until soft with scallions, ginger, and your preferred seasonings. It is an excellent dish in the Asian culture, and Korean Radishes would be the best option.
It is one of the best ways to cook Radish while avoiding losing its nutrients. You can preserve it for up to 3 days in the fridge, so make it in large quantities and savor it over a few days!
Braised Radish
Braised radishes can be a great side dish for your roasted meat. Also, they can be a perfect main dish by just adding shallots and bacon to it. They are ideal for a spring or summertime family meal, incredibly easy to cook and, since these root vegetables are small in size, take only a few minutes to become soft, golden, and delicious. It is a great way to maintain and improve the texture of fresh radishes.
Turnip or Radish?
Both have many uses, recipes, and nutrients; the choice is yours! Turnip or Radish are both ideal ingredients for a healthy meal if you are looking to get the vitamins you feel you are lacking. They are perfect for winter meals as well as refreshing mid-summer snacks.
Bottom Line
The differences between turnip and Radish can be many, but they are both superfoods and equally suitable to increase your health. Have you tried both, or have you got suggestions for new recipes? Turnip vs. Radish, which one do you prefer? Let us know by leaving us a comment below!
