Finnish Maple Roasted Rutabaga
Maple roasted rutabaga is an easy side dish that the kids will love! Rutabaga is tossed with maple syrup, melted butter and thyme before being baked to perfection. Slightly sweet and earthy, this is a great root vegetable recipe.
Don’t let your side dishes become boring! They can be as flavorful and fun as a main dish anytime!
This roasted rutabaga recipe is an easy and delicious recipe the whole family will love. Rutabagas are root vegetables and you can cook them similarly to potatoes and carrots. You can boil them, bake, mash them, or roast them. We are roasting these to bring out their natural sweetness – and when combined with a splash of maple syrup and some fresh thyme they become almost like candy! It is such a kid friendly vegetable recipe!
Also called swedes, and sometimes called turnips in other parts of the world (although they are NOT the same as white turnips in the US, but are related). These originated in either Finland or Sweden (although some historians say it was Russia….). Finland is known for using this root vegetable in a baked casserole recipe, but I can it a little spin and served them roasted instead because I knew my kids were more likely to eat them this way.
Ingredients needed
Here is a brief overview of the ingredients you need to make this recipe. For the full detailed recipe, please make sure to scroll down to the recipe card below.
- Rutabaga – Pick a nice firm rutabaga that is medium sized with smooth skin and one that is not sprouting. If it is too big it could be tough. You can also substitute with a turnip.
- Unsalted Butter – Melted, please.
- Maple Syrup – Use a good quality real maple syrup, not pancake syrup.
- Thyme – You can use dried or fresh thyme.
- Salt and Pepper to taste
How to make roasted rutabaga
This recipe is simple to make! For the full set of directions, please scroll down to the recipe card below. This is just a general overview on how to make it to help you plan.
- Peel and dice the rutabaga into 1″ cubes.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and preheat the oven to 400 degrees.
- Place the diced rutabaga into a mixing bowl and toss with the remaining ingredients until well covered. Evenly distribute the seasoned cubes onto the prepared pan.
- Bake for 35 minutes, stirring once halfway through, until the rutabaga is golden brown and soft when poked with a fork.
How to serve rutabagas
These roasted rutabagas are a great side dish to serve with many meals. They would go awesome when served with a holiday ham or turkey, and they are a fantastic weeknight side dish, too. We serve them alongside grilled chicken and mustard and dill sauce for a kid friendly nordic themed meal.
Storage Information
Any leftovers can be stored in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat until warmed through.
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Maple Roasted Rutabaga Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 ½ lb rutabaga
- 4 Tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- ¼ cup maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
- Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside.
- Peel the rutabaga and dice to 1″ cubes.
- Place the diced rutabaga in a large sized mixing bowl.
- Add the melted butter, maple syrup, thyme, and salt and pepper to the bowl and toss to coat.
- Evenly distribute the rutabaga cubes on the prepared baking sheet.
- Bake for 20 minutes.
- Stir the rutabaga, then return the pan to the oven for an additional 15 minutes, or until the rutabaga is fork soft and golden brown.
