Turnip soup

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If you’re wondering what to do with turnips, you should make this delicious, beautifully creamy turnip soup. It’s the perfect cozy midweek lunch and elegant enough for a dinner party.

Garnish with crispy croutons or crostini for a bit of a crunch. So GOOD!

Top view of a black bowl full of creamy turnip soup garnished with crispy croutons.

We can never have too many soup recipes. They’re affordable, filling, and full of nutrients.

Today’s soup features turnips, the white and purple root vegetables that are part of the cruciferous vegetable family, along with kale and broccoli. Turnips have a slightly sweet and bitter taste, somewhere between potato and radish.

Since we’re talking turnips, I’ll admit that although I’ve always liked them, they aren’t something I grab them weekly.

And now? Now, my heart belongs to this turnip soup.

I’ve made it three times in a row, playing with spices and herbs, until I’ve got it just right: ultra-creamy thanks to the potato and a touch of cream, but still light and deliciously flavored with nutmeg and coriander. It’s incredibly delish!

Last but not least, turnips have an outstanding nutritional profile. They’re full of health benefits, low in calories, and rich in fiber, keeping you fuller for longer—one more reason to use them during the fall and winter. 

Why have I never made turnip soup before?

List of the ingredients

  • Turnips
  • Potato (not pictured, sorry!)
  • Olive oil or butter
  • Aromatics
  • Cream
  • Herbs (thyme + bay leaf)
  • Spices (coriander + nutmeg)
  • Vegetable broth
  • Salt & pepper
The ingredients to make turnip soup are arranged over a white background.

How to make turnip soup

(Note: this is a quick description; the full recipe is at the bottom of the page)

  • Peel and cut the turnips into small chunks before cooking.
  • Saute the onion, carrot, and leek in olive oil for 8 minutes, then stir in the garlic and cook for a few minutes.
Top view of a chopping board with turnips and a pot full of aromatics.
  • Add the turnips, potato, broth, herbs, spices, and seasoning.
  • Simmer for 15 minutes, stir in the cream, and cook for extra 5 minutes.
Top view of a pot full of turnip soup before cooking.
Close-up of a black bowl full of creamy turnip soup garnished with crispy croutons.

Recipe Notes

Turnip soup ingredients

Turnips: if you can, buy smaller turnips with the sweetest flavor and best texture. They should be heavy for their size and firm.

Potato: The starchy potato adds body and extra thickness to the soup. I haven’t tried it yet, but for a low-carb option, I think the cauliflower can sub the potato here, pairing very well with the overall flavor.

Aromatics + olive oil: This soup’s flavor base is onion, garlic, carrot, and leek sauteed in olive oil. You can use butter instead of olive oil and omit the leek if you don’t have it.

Spices: After several attempts using different spices, I fell in love with ground coriander and nutmeg, perfect for making this turnip soup shine.

Herbs: Thyme and bay leaf add depth and aromatic flavor.

Broth: I recommend using light, low-sodium vegetable broth or water to keep the soup and the flavors light.

Cream: Only half a cup is needed to add a more luxurious texture. Heavy or whipping cream with 30-35% fat content works fine. I’ve tried substituting full-fat milk, and although it tasted nice, it wasn’t the same.

Salt & pepper: As always, taste and adjust the seasoning before serving.

Top view of a black bowl full of creamy turnip soup garnished with crispy croutons.

Storage tips & leftovers

Turnip soup leftovers keep well in the fridge for 4 days. Reheat it in a saucepan on the stove. It’s also freezable: If you make a big batch, you can freeze all the leftovers in a freezer-safe container, divide them into single servings, and freeze them separately in freezer bags. Either way, this soup will freeze well for up to 2 months. Thaw the soup overnight in the refrigerator and reheat it on the stove or microwave.

Top view of black bowl full of creamy turnip soup topped with crispy croutons.

Creamy soups you’ll love!

If you love creamy, smooth vegetable soups, you should also try these delicious soup recipes:

If you make this turnip soup, let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, or tag a photo #theclevermeal on Instagram. I would love to hear from you! x

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Turnip Soup

If you're wondering what to do with turnips, you should make this beautifully creamy and delicious turnip soup. It's the perfect cozy midweek lunch and elegant enough for a dinner party.
The recipe yields 4 servings (1 ¼ cup each).
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Soup
Cuisine: vegetarian
Keyword: turnip soup
Servings: 4
Calories: 282kcal
Author: Katia

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoon olive oil (or butter)
  • 1 medium yellow or white onion, sliced or chopped
  • 1 leek, cleaned and sliced or chopped
  • 1 large carrot, peeled and chopped
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 15oz (450 grams) turnips (weighted after peeling), cut into chunks.
  • 1 (8oz/220 grams) large potatoes, cut into chunks
  • 3 ½ cups (840 ml) low-salt vegetable broth
  • ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • ¼ teaspoon ground coriander
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme (or 4 fresh sprigs)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 ¼ tsp fine salt, plus more to taste*
  • tsp ground black pepper*
  • ½ cup (120 ml) cream

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pot over medium-low heat. Add onion, leek, and carrot. Cook for about 8 minutes until onion and leek are soft. Then add the garlic and cook for a couple of minutes.
  • Add the turnips, potato, spices, herbs, salt (start with 1 tsp), and pepper, and bring to a boil. Then, reduce the heat, cover with a lid, and simmer for about 15 minutes.
  • Next, add the cream and cook for 5 minutes without lid.
  • Remove from the heat and let it cool slightly. Working in batches, transfer the contents to a blender (do not fill your blender past the maximum fill line, and be careful with the hot soup!) and purée the mixture until smooth. Alternatively, you can use a hand blender. Be careful; the soup is still hot!
  • Once the soup is smooth, taste and season with additional salt if necessary (1 ¼ teaspoon of salt is perfetly fine for my likings).
  • Ladle soup into individual bowls. Serve with crusty bread or croutons for texture, and some chopped chives and black pepper for more, delivious flavor.

Notes

Nutrition facts: The nutrition values are for one portion and are based on an online nutrition calculator. It’s an estimate only and should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice. Please see my disclosure policies.

Nutrition

Calories: 282kcal | Carbohydrates: 27g | Protein: 5g | Fat: 18g | Saturated Fat: 8g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 8g | Cholesterol: 34mg | Sodium: 830mg | Potassium: 593mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 3364IU | Vitamin C: 40mg | Calcium: 89mg | Iron: 1mg

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