“Turnip” the Taste – Harvest & Make Homemade Turnip Fries
Nijsha Johnson
Health Educator
Emily Hoover
Health Educator
Root vegetables such as potatoes, sweetpotatoes, and beets are a staple in many kitchens. The humble turnip is an incredibly versatile nutrient-dense root vegetable and a great addition to many meals. Join our expert health educators to learn how to harvest turnips in the GrowWELL Garden and prepare a recipe for air-fried turnips.
Turnips are an important source of nutrients including vitamins A and C. Vitamin A contributes to good eye and skin health, and vitamin C boosts the immune system. Plus, they are a versatile food and are delicious as homemade fries. Trust us, they’re delicious.
Planting seasons may vary depending on your planting zone. Because the Poe Center is located in central North Carolina, we plant in Zone 8B. To find your planting zone, go to https://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/
Air Fried Turnips
Recipe adapted from A Spicy Perspective.
Ingredients
8 turnips
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1 ½ teaspoons garlic salt
1 ½ teaspoons dried oregano
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
½ teaspoon onion powder
¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
Oven:
- Preheat the oven to 425ºF for a conventional oven, or 400ºF for a convection oven. Measure the garlic salt, oregano, paprika, onion powder, and cayenne pepper into a small bowl and combine.
- Cut the turnips into strips the length of each turnip, roughly 1/3 inch in width. Try to cut as evenly as possible.
- Place the fries on the baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil. Toss to coat. Sprinkle the seasoning mix over the fries and toss to distribute evenly.
- Spread the fries out evenly on one or two baking sheets, making sure they don’t touch. Bake for 20 minutes. Flip the fries. Spread them out again, and bake for another 10 minutes or until crispy. Serve warm.
Air fryer:
- Preheat the air fryer to 400º F.
- Follow the same directions as above for preparing and seasoning turnip fries.
- Work in small, single-layer batches. Fry each batch for 10 minutes, shaking the basket at the 5-minute mark. Serve warm.
Source: Collier, S. (2025, February 25). Turnip fries (Air Fryer or baked). A Spicy Perspective.
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