The baked bitter roots are an easy recipe, a gratin side dish that highlights all the intense and bitter taste of this edible root. The portions of this vegetarian dish, as my husband says, can be for 4 or 6 people depending on your courage to eat them. Jokes aside, we like these white roots. A vegetable rich in nutrients and healthy, considered a true medicine for its purifying properties, also excellent for expelling intestinal gases without particular contraindications other than social ones. Discover here its nutritional values.
These roots originate from the ancient village of Soncino, province of Cremona. Now also famous as Mairano’s roots De.co, a Brescia territory where the culture has spread.
If you can’t find them for sale in stores, you can buy seeds online here.
SEASONALITY and period of #bitterroots from Soncino: from October to March.
RECIPES with winter turnips
- Difficulty: Easy
- Cost: Economical
- Preparation time: 10 Minutes
- Portions: 4 People
- Cooking methods: Oven
- Cuisine: Healthy
- Energy 202.13 (Kcal)
- Carbohydrates 18.39 (g) of which sugars 0.00 (g)
- Proteins 7.14 (g)
- Fat 11.94 (g) of which saturated 4.36 (g)of which unsaturated 1.78 (g)
- Fibers 0.00 (g)
- Sodium 446.09 (mg)
Indicative values for a portion of 140 g processed in an automated way starting from the nutritional information available on the CREA* and FoodData Central** databases. It is not food and / or nutritional advice.
* CREATES Food and Nutrition Research Center: https://www.crea.gov.it/alimenti-e-nutrizione https://www.alimentinutrizione.it ** U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service. FoodData Central, 2019. https://fdc.nal.usda.gov
Baked Bitter Roots
for a vegan version replace the cheese with nutritional yeast flakes
- 1 lb bitter roots
- to taste salt
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup Parmigiano Reggiano DOP (pecorino or other grated cheese)
Tools
- Basin (for soaking)
- Pot (for boiling)
- Baking Dish (for oven baking)
Baked Bitter Roots
First, wash the bitter roots (no need to peel them) and cut them into slices, dipping them one by one in a bowl full of water.
If you prefer to remove part of their bitter taste, add lemon or white vinegar to the soaking and cooking water.
COOKING TIMES
Boil the white roots, your choice:
– in hot salted water (for about 8 minutes)
– steamed in a pressure cooker (for about 3 minutes).
Once cooked al dente, season with a tablespoon of oil and grated cheese (without animal rennet for vegetarians).
Then place the boiled roots in a baking dish and bake in a preheated static oven at 350°F for about 12 minutes.
Serve the baked gratin bitter roots hot.
Variants
Try baking the bitter roots with mascarpone and gorgonzola thinned with some milk.
