What Turnips Look Like

Turnips (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa) are root vegetables with a distinctive appearance:

• Shape: Round to slightly flattened (oblate) or oblong, typically 5–10 cm diameter.
• Skin: Smooth, thin. Upper part (above soil) often purple, red, or greenish from sun exposure; lower part (below soil) creamy white. Some varieties are all-white or all-yellow ("golden ball").
• Flesh: Crisp, firm, white (sometimes pale yellow). Fine-grained, not fibrous.
• Top: A crown of edible green leaves (turnip greens) resembling mustard greens—lobed, slightly hairy.
• Taproot: A thin, wiry root extends from the bottom.

Culinary Note

Young turnips are sweet, mild, slightly peppery; older/larger ones become woody and more pungent. Eaten raw (thin-sliced in salads), roasted, mashed, in soups/stews (classic with potatoes), or pickled. Greens are cooked like kale.