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Parenaya repa
Parenaya repa (пареная репа): turnip slow-steamed in a closed pot until sweet
'Simpler than steamed turnip' is how Russians describe anything easy, and before potatoes arrived this was what northern peasants ate most days, set in a sealed clay pot in the cooling stove after the bread came out. Cooked slowly in just a splash of water, the turnip loses its sharp, mustardy bite and turns tender, amber and honey-sweet. Serve it as a side with mushrooms, buckwheat or a roast, or on its own drizzled with sunflower oil and dill. The usual slip is boiling it; turnip cooked in lots of water goes watery and bitter, while steaming in its own juices concentrates the sugar. Chef's tip: choose small, heavy turnips with smooth skins; large woody ones never go fully soft however long they cook.
- Total time
- 90 min
- Difficulty
- easy
- Serves
- 4
Ingredients
- 2 ¼ lb small turnips
- 4 tbsp water
- ½ tsp salt
- 2 tbsp unrefined sunflower oil
- 2 tbsp fresh dill (optional)chopped
- 1 pinch black pepper (optional)
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Method
0/5 doneStep 1: Heat the oven to 325°F (275°F fan). Peel the 2 ¼ lb small turnips and halve or quarter any bigger than an egg.
8 minStep 2: Put them in a clay pot or small lidded casserole with the 4 tbsp water and ½ tsp salt. Cover with foil and then the lid, so no steam escapes.
2 minStep 3: Bake for 40 minutes, check that there is still a little liquid in the base and add a spoonful of water if it is dry, then cover again.
40 minStep 4: Bake for 35–45 minutes more, until a knife slides through with no resistance and the turnips are amber and glossy.
40 minStep 5: Serve hot, drizzled with the 2 tbsp unrefined sunflower oil and scattered with 2 tbsp fresh dill and 1 pinch black pepper.
1 min
Nutrition per serving
- Calories
- 100 kcal
- Protein
- 2 g
- Carbs
- 15 g
- Fat
- 5 g
- Fibre
- 4 g
Nutrition values are estimates.
KrazyBadal
Good to know
- How long does parenaya repa take?
- About 90 minutes in total: 10 minutes to prepare and 80 minutes to cook.
- How many people does it serve?
- 4 as written. Change the servings above the ingredients and every amount scales to match.
- Is it vegan?
- Yes. It has no meat, fish, dairy or eggs.
- Is it gluten free?
- Yes, as written. Check the labels on stock, sauces and spice mixes, which sometimes contain gluten.
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