turnip greens
Definition
Noun (plural: turnip greens) 1. The edible leafy tops of the turnip plant (Brassica rapa): - The tender, dark green leaves that grow from the root of a white turnip, harvested and cooked as a vegetable.
Usage
- Turnip greens are typically prepared by boiling, steaming, or sautéing.
- They are often seasoned and may be cooked with other ingredients like onions or smoked meats.
Examples
- Noun:
- For dinner, we had baked ham with a side of turnip greens.
- She washed the turnip greens thoroughly before cooking them.
- This recipe calls for a pound of fresh turnip greens.
Advanced Usage
- "a mess of turnip greens": A colloquial Southern U.S. expression referring to a large quantity of cooked turnip greens, often prepared for a family meal.
- Grandma made a mess of turnip greens for the family reunion.
Variants and Related Words
- Turnip (noun): The rounded, typically white-fleshed root of the same plant, also eaten as a vegetable.
- Greens (noun, plural): A general term for the edible leaves of various plants (e.g., collard greens, mustard greens).
Synonyms
- Leafy greens (general category)
- Potherbs (archaic term for leafy vegetables cooked in a pot)
Notes on Meaning
- This term refers specifically to the leaves of the white turnip. The leaves of other turnip varieties (e.g., rutabaga) are not typically called "turnip greens."
- While nutritious, they can have a slightly bitter, peppery flavor that mellows with cooking.
Noun
-
tender leaves of young white turnips
