Easy turnip fries make a healthy and low-carb alternative to your typical potato French fries. Seasoned with garlic, cumin, and paprika and made in the oven or air fryer for a healthy French fry. Naturally gluten-free, keto, vegan, paleo, and Whole30.
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For this recipe during ETGveggies, we are focusing on a veggies you might not of had before – the turnip! And what better and more fun way than making turnip fries out of them!
I’ve used turnips as noodles in this chicken alfredo, but wanted to make an easier recipe that you can whip together quickly. And you can’t really go wrong with fries. I mean who does’t like French fries!?
I’ve mentioned I eat a lot of veggies, but sometimes I struggle to branch out. We buy the same things over and over again at the store and usually prepare them in the same way. Turns out this happens to you guys as well. It’s just easy. So these turnip fries is my one veggie for ETGveggies that I don’t eat too often.
These baked turnip fries make low carb option to potatoes or if you are just trying to add some different veggies to your diet, these can be a great substitute for potatoes. You can even pass them off as regular fries to your kids or picky eaters and they won’t know.
Let’s get some things straight though – these are not potatoes. I absolutely love potato French fries and these don’t really compare to them (in my opinion), but make a fun alternative.
What do turnips taste like?
If you aren’t familiar with turnips, they are root vegetables with a creamy white and purple skin. Depending on the size and maturity, they can either taste slightly sweet (younger turnips) or have a slight bitterness (mature ones). Younger ones can be eaten raw, mature ones should be cooked.
One they are cooked, the bitterness mellows out and they really take on whatever flavor you are seasoning them with. I really love them when cooked, but I know not everyone will.
Turnip Fries
First peel your turnips and cut off the top and bottom. Then you need to decide which way you are going to cut them.
You want to slice them so you can get the longest fries. It will depend if you have a taller or fatter turnip. For example, if the turnip is more fat than tall, place it on it’s side and slice into 1/2 rounds. If taller, cut the opposite way (from stem to end).
Cut the rounds into strips so you have matchsticks, or French fry shapes.
Add turnips to baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Add oil and spices and mix well to combine. I find this way is just as easy as adding to a bowl and mixing and it saves you from dirtying another dish.
Roast for 35-40 minutes until golden brown and crispy on the outside, flipping once halfway though. Serve with your favorite dipping sauce – I love ketchup or honey mustard!
Can I make Turnip Fries in the Air Fryer
This recipe works great in the air fryer, and if you have one, I am all about you using it. I LOVE mine!
If you do want make air fryer turnip fries, season the turnips according to the instructions (you could probably use a little less oil) and place in your air fryer basket. Set on 400 degrees for 15 minutes, remove basket and shake, and set for another 10-15 minutes on 400 until crispy and golden brown on the outside and cooked all the way through.
I have a large air fryer so I can fit all the fries, but you might have to do it in two batches depending how big yours is.
Turnips vs Potatoes Nutrition
Like I said earlier, these make a fun alternative to potatoes. They are lower in calories and carbs and can help change up your veggie routine. But, they aren’t potatoes. I love me some potato fries and they don’t compare, but great to change it up. Here is the breakdown for turnips vs potatoes per 100 grams:
- carbs – potatoes have almost 3x as many carbs as turnips. 100 grams of turnips is only 6.4 grams vs 17.5 grams in potatoes
- protein – turnips have 1 gram less protein than potatoes (turnips have 1 gram and potatoes have 2 grams per 100 grams)
- fat – both are low in fat and there is really no difference (each have about .1 grams)
- fiber – turnips and potatoes are pretty similar with just a difference of .3 grams (turnips have 1.8 grams and potatoes have 2.1 grams)
- sugar – potatoes edge out turnips in this one with only .8 grams while turnips have 3.8 grams
What to Serve with Turnip Fries
Burger salad with special sauce dressing – the sauce would make an amazing fry sauce too!
Buffalo chicken burger with healthy blue cheese dressing – can’t have burger without fries right?
Chipotle salmon (air fryer and oven)
Turnip Fries
ingredients
- 2 pounds turnips, peels and stems removed (about 2-4 depending on size)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons avocado oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon cumin
- salt and pepper
- for serving: ketchup, honey mustard, ranch, chipotle mayo...
instructions
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit and line 2 large baking sheets with parchment paper.
- Peel turnips. Decide which way you are going to cut them. You want to slice them so you can get the longest fries. It will depend if you have a taller or fatter turnip. For example, if the turnip is more fat than tall, place it on it’s side and slice into 1/2 rounds. If taller, cut the opposite way (from stem to end). Cut the rounds into strips so you have matchsticks, or French fry shapes.
- Place cut turnips on a large baking sheet. Pour over avocado oil and spices and mix well to combine. Spread out evenly on both baking sheets, making sure they are not touching or too close together. Roast for 25 minutes, flip and move baking sheets around, and roast for another 15 minutes. If you want them more cripsy, place on broil for 1 minute. Let cool for a minute and serve with your favorite dipping sauce and enjoy!
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notes
nutrition
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The recipe woks. And turns out great. The high water content does make them a little soggy. But I expected that. The recipe did spark an idea. Cut your turnips into thin fry size. Boil until tender. Drain. I let mine sit on a paper towel while I worked on the rest of dinner. Than dropped in the fryer. Turned out great. It also turned down the turnip flavor a bit. I’m sure throwing them in the air fryer instead of the fry daddy would have been better. But my family was having theirs fried. So I just went with it. Definitely will do these again.
That is such a good idea, Jillian! Happy to hear you experimented some and enjoyed them. Thanks for trying!
I love potatoes, but not the carbs. These were a wonderful replacement!
So glad you enjoyed Michele! Thanks for trying them!