Most of us grew up on mashed potatoes. If you’ve been Paleo for awhile, you’ve probably had your fair share of mashed cauliflower.
When I was planning the menu for The Paleo Porn Family Dinner I wanted to serve dishes that were new and interesting for everyone to try and I thought, why not serve mashed rutabaga?
A Few Rutabaga Knowledge Bombs
Rutabaga is a member of the same family as cauliflower, so it was a logical progression to prepare mashed rutabaga. With rutabaga, you get a lot of the same nutrients you get from cauliflower, including sulfur. If you don’t know why you should be eating plenty of sulfur, check out this post. Rutabaga also comes loaded with vitamin C and various B vitamins, not to mention phytochemicals.
The presence of lots of phytochemicals in fruits and vegetables is usually indicated by the bright color of the plants. While cauliflower is white and bland, rutabaga ranges from pale yellow to bright orange. That’s how you know you’re getting lots of phytochemicals, which is awesome, because we need those little guys to help boost our immune system, keep inflammation low, and keep us healthy.
That same color can make your dish pop and look more appetizing. While mashed cauliflower may look bland and colorless, your guests (or your kids, or your neighbor… you get the idea) will be drawn to this dish and all the healthy fat, just screaming to be eaten.
Rutabaga is a little sweeter than cauliflower, as it contains more sugar, but it’s nowhere near the the carb content of potatoes. Add a little butter (or your preferred form of fat) and you’ve got a great side dish that won’t spike your blood sugar.
A Perfect Pairing
For a weeknight meal serve a heaping 2-3 scoops of rutabaga mash alongside a couple slices of pork or beef brisket or even seared wild-caught scallops along with a large salad.
Double the recipe and you’ll have enough to serve up to 20-25 people for a large gathering. Consider this easy to prepare side for your Thanksgiving Paleo menu.
