Fun fact: When Ryan was growing up his dad used to call him Rutabaga. Reason: Unknown.
Dinner
When Ryan and I were browsing around the farmer’s market on Sunday, I picked up two gigantic rutabagas.
I asked the woman running the vegetable stand how most people typically prepare rutabagas and she said she likes them raw. She said rutabagas are “disgusting” when they’re cooked.
Hmm… I like raw veggies, but really like roasted veggies, so I ignored her little warning and set out to make rutagbaga fries after later reading that you can basically prepare rutabagas the same way you prepare turnips.
I figured that since I loved the turnip fries I made in April and again in May, why wouldn’t I love rutabaga fries prepared the same way?
My logic didn’t fail me, my friends.
Rutabaga fries are flippin’ phenomenal!
Rutabaga Fries
Eat Me!
They’re easier to make than turnip fries because rutabagas are a slightly softer veggie, which makes them easier to slice into thin fries.
To make the fries:
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Peel rutabaga using a vegetable peeler
- Slice the peeled rutabaga into fries
- Spray cooking sheet with cooking spray and add fries
- Spray fries with cooking spray (or toss fries in olive oil) and season with salt, pepper and chili powder (or seasonings of your choice)
- Flip fries several times to coat before baking for 15 minutes
- Flip the fries and bake for another 10 – 20 minutes until desired doneness is achieved
Ryan’s first thought about the fries? “They really look like fries!”
For all of you mamas out there, maybe you can pull a fast one on the kids with these babies?
When I Dip, You Dip, We Dip
We enjoyed our rutabaga fries with ketchup for dipping and BBQ pulled chicken sandwiches.
BBQ Pulled Chicken
BBQ Pulled Chicken Sandwich
All Together Now
Next Time
I think I will be making this recipe for maple glazed rutabaga for my next attempt with the veggie… but I think Cooking Light didn’t select the correct picture to correspond with this recipe. Pasta = rutabaga??? 😉
Filed under: Recipes | Tagged: BBQ pulled chicken, dinner, recipe, rutabaga fries |
Peanut Butter Fingers 
AWESOME! I am going to have to try this! They look so good!! Oh and you have got to find out why Ryan was nicknamed Rutabaga…haha! Now I am super curious…just call me nosey rosey!
I’ve asked Ryan & has no idea! I’ll have to ask his dad the next time I see him!
I’ve never had rutabaga before. I dont even know what they taste like. Ryan is right though, they do LOOK like real fries 🙂 That’s such a random nickname. I second Kelly, you need you find out the deets and share 🙂
I think the rutabagas are the cubed stuff on the side of the plate, next to the pasta. Still a bad pic of they’re advertising for the rutabaga!!!
I’ve never tried a rutabaga, but in that form, I would eat them everyday! They DO look “flippin’ phenomenal” (love that by the way) 😉
Never in my life have I had any desire to try rutabaga. UNTIL NOW.
I *LOVE* roasting veggies… this may sound weird (it seems weird to type it), but I don’t think I’ve had a rutabaga?? you make them sound good, and as always your photos are gorgeous… the close-up fry with ketchup is making me hungry!
…rutabaga on my shop list, done! 🙂
Okay – I admit. I’ve never even HEARD of rutabaga! 😯
Another way you MUST try is mashed rutabaga. Honestly, it’s incredible. SO much better than mashed potatoes or dare I even say, mashed sweet potatoes. Promise you will try it, it’s truly remarkable!
I have never even seen a rutabaga! Or turnip for that matter. I stick with the more normal and boring veggies I guess. The rutabaga fries look fabulous!
I can’t believe how much the rutabaga looks like real fries!
Yum. I neeeeed to try the parsnips fries and now these ones too 🙂 I love all fries. I did just discover that if you dip carrots into salsa you can fool yourself into thinking it’s a chip b/c of the crunch.
I have a bodypump question for you, I just went for the first time today and it was really intense. I could barely lift my arms after. Was it hard for you in the beginning? Has it gotten easier? Have you noticed a difference in your strength and/or appearance since starting bodypump?
yeah bodypump is no joke! it’s definitely a tough class, but you can change it to meet your personal strength level by lowering your weights, which might help it be a little less intense and more bearable. it’s still a challenging class for me, but it definitely was a shocker the first time. it’ll get easier as you get stronger (but then you’ll want to up your weights again – it’s awesome!). 🙂 as far as my appearance is concerned, i think i’ve noticed the greatest change in my arm definition.
hahaha seriously we have the same tupperware from your lunch salad. i think? glass pyrex that weighs 50lbs?
i love love love those fries!!!! i made carrot fries tonight that were SO good 🙂 veggie fries are so underrated.
yessss! so heavy! 🙂
i made carrot and parsnip fries last night but yours look better!! yummmmm
I have GOT to try rutabaga fries out!! Paired with your pulled chicken sandwich your meal looks awesome!! 🙂 Have you tried yucca fries yet? I’m quite sure you’d love ’em!! 🙂
ooooh no i haven’t – they sound tasty though.
I have never made my own fries before, not even with a potato. I don’t think I have ever eaten a rutabaga in any form. So I’m definitely curious now!
I’ve been reading your blog for a few weeks now, and I have to admit that I am planning on using EVERY single one of your recipes when my boyfriend and I are able to lie together! I think he and Ryan would probably have similar tastes, and it’s great to see someone my age being spontaneous in the kitchen. Keep up the inspirational posts!!!
**live, not “lie together”
LOVE rutabaga… I grew up eating these! My mom and pop grow tons of them, and I love slicing and roasting ’em. I honestly like them better the next day, cold out of the fridge with ketchup.
I have never cooked rutabaga, but I want them to become my favorite food just so I can use that word ALL THE TIME. Is that weird…?
no it’s definitely a fun one. rutabaga, rutabaga, rutabaga!
You know, I’ve never had a rutabaga, I don’t even know what it tastes like! Is it sweet? Chewy? Would love your thoughts!
Any veggie made into fries is so good! What does rutabaga even taste like?
it’s really crunchy (before cooking) & almost has a sweet flavor to it. i liked it raw, but it was even better in the fries & really adopted the flavor of the seasonings.
This is awesome and Ryan is right – they do look like Fries! ! I was on a blog yesterday that asked what new fun blogs we’ve found lately – I said yours! 🙂
aw, thank you!
They really do look like real fries, plus they sound delicious! I’ve never tried rutabaga before, but this really makes me want to.
I’ve never even seen a rutabaga before!! I will have to google it 🙂
They look really good though!!
Mashed rutabagas are great too and a good sub for mashed potatoes. I’ve never heard of them eaten raw. Maybe if you over-cook them they are gross, but cooking them perfectly only brings out the natural sugars. Weird. Like raw potatoes…bleh.
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I tried the Turnip fries this week and they were good!! Which ones do you like better of the three… turnips, rutabaga or parsnip fries??? I have never had any of them to be honest. Until this week!! Let me know what you think about the others in comparison, maybe I’ll try those too!
Love your blog… added it to my favorites… and I’ve been trying many recipes that you’ve posted on!!! Thanks!
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I made these last night! Awesome Julie!!
I love rutabagas but never thought of doing them like french fries.
I’ve got to try this way soon.