Low carb turnips are a terrific primal alternative to potatoes and they contain far less carbs. You can really do so much with a turnip, but let’s address the all too familiar French Fry with my oven baked turnip fries for starters as well as turnips versus potatoes this week.

Turnip Fries go beautifully as a side dish with my Paleo Chicken Strips in a Salad, my Beef Ribs or you may enjoy them with my Flank Steak with Chimichurri Sauce! I love to whip up these fast and healthy recipes for all of you. Just one of the gifts I love to give to my readers! 🙂

Many people do not know that turnips are a member of the cabbage family. They can be a bit bitter and do not taste like a potato. They are “cousins to the cabbage”, so that explains that taste we can be offended by. Some people do not know how to pick a turnip that will be less bitter. So let’s look at this a bit.

How do we avoid the strong bitterness?

1) Be sure you purchase the smaller ones. A good oversized tennis ball will do well.
2) Be willing to get familiar with new flavors on the Paleo-ish diet.
3) Add spices to enhance the delicious flavor the smaller turnips offer.

Ok, now the great news about turnips. 1 cup of turnips is ONLY 6 grams of carbs! Now if you wanted to indulge in a  cup of potatoes that is totally fine, but for those who have some attention on dropping their body fat or are interested in weight loss, that equivalent cup of potato will give you 22 carbs. Quite a difference.

In very simple terms if you are trying to drop some fat or body weight (whatever you want to call it), and maybe after a workout you are really feeling like eating some carbs, you will burn fat if you keep those carbs down as opposed to burning the “carb sugars” from a potato or other high carb food you may ingest. Many of those so called protein bars are loaded with high carbs so please read those labels. It is pretty simple when you understand the basics. Eat a good protein meal, organic veggies and good fats and do keep the carbs down and you will look like a million bucks soon enough.

We are fat burning machines by nature and inherently (think DNA, which is what it is) as opposed to inherently carb burning machines. Those extra carbs equate to fat storage! YIKES!!!! That we do not want unless we are in the woods, and going to stock up to stay warm (pad up with fat storage) as we have no furnace or food for many days.

Happy turnip making…Enjoy!

Oven Baked Turnip Fries

★★★★★ 5 from 1 reviews

• Author: Tina Turbin

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Description

A delicious, low carb and healthy snack. Serve with a healthy paleo dip or just on their own.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

• 4 large turnips, washed, stems removed
• 1/3 cup olive oil or coconut oil
• Finely ground sea salt
• OPTIONAL: cumin, pepper, cayenne etc. – let your imagination run wild

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Instructions

1. Preheat your oven to 425F degrees.
2. Cut turnips into french fry shapes and cut the thickness to whatever you desire. I suggest fairly thick.
3. In a large bowl, toss turnips with oil of your choice.
4. Sprinkle with salt (and seasoning of your choice).
5. Line a baking sheet with tin foil or a non stick baking mat.
6. Lay turnips in single layers on the baking sheet.
7. Roast for 20-25 minutes, rotate the pan halfway through cooking and “turn” the fries so they cook evenly.
8. These will bake soft.
9. Remove from oven.
10. Season with a little more salt if needed.
11. Enjoy!

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From my kitchen to yours,

Tina Turbin

If you have any questions or suggestions just email me at Tina (at) Paleomazing.com.

I'm a cookbook-collecting, recipe-developing paleo junkie, and I live in the kitchen. I'm hooked on farmers' markets, traveling, eating healthy, and hiking until my legs scream at me. There's nothing better than hanging out with family and good friends. I have fun and sleeping is just plain boring. Read more About Tina Turbin.