Cumin-Paprika Rutabaga ‘Fries’

Piqued your interest? Rutabaga ‘fries’?! Yes, I’m serious. Rutabaga fries are exactly as they sound, fries made from rutabaga! 

Before I go any further, you might be wondering what the heck a rutabaga is. Rutabaga is very IMG_3718similar to turnip and the two are often confused. While they look and taste very similar, rutabaga has a rougher texture than turnip and  tends to be a bit starchier. While turnips typically come white-fleshed, rutabagas are more yellow-fleshed (although you can come across yellow-fleshed turnips and white-fleshed rutabagas as well.)

 I’ve been a little obsessed with incorporating a wider variety of vegetables into my diet lately, so  at a recent trip to the market opted for rutabaga as my root veg for the week  (I had previously been on an artichoke kick.)

I love putting a healthy twist on beloved conventional foods (evident by my current love affair with sweet potato toast!) As a result,  I was very intrigued when stumbling upon the idea of rutabaga fries during a recent search for recipe inspiration. While you can find a number of variations online, I immediately set out to the kitchen to create a recipe of my own. I definitely was not disappointed… rutabaga fries are delicious!

These little sticks of goodness are bursting with flavour given the slightly sweet taste  rutabaga  offers – they actually remind me very much of sweet potato fries.  I’ve been making these on a regular basis in our house and my family can’t seem to get enough of them (our 21 month old IMG_3705devours them!)

The best part about these fries is they’re baked using heat-stable coconut oil instead of deep-fried vegetable oils that are loaded with trans fats and increase your chances of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, elevated ‘bad’ (LDL) cholesterol, inflammation and a wide variety of other health problems. 

Not only do they taste great, but rutabagas are a low calorie vegetable loaded with fiber, minerals and antioxidants.

Have I convinced you yet? Give ’em a try and let me know what you think!

Cumin-Paprika Rutabaga Fries

INGREDIENTS

  • 4 medium-sized rutabaga                IMG_3706
  • 2 tbsp melted coconut oil
  • 1 tsp sea salt
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • 1 tsp paprika
  • 2 tsp cumin

DIRECTIONS

  • Preheat oven to 425
  • Peel rutabagas and cut into ‘sticks’ (approx. 1/4 ” thick/wide)
  • Mix all spices and coconut oil together in a small bowl
  • Place rutabaga in a ziplock bag or large bowl with a lid
  • Pour in oil and spices
  • Shake for several minutes until evenly coated, gently massaging seasoning into rutabaga as needed
  • Spread rutabaga in a baking dish careful not to overlap the fries too much. (I used two baking dishes.)
  • Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown and slightly crispy, (flip fries after 15 minutes)

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