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    Home » Recipes » Side Dishes

    Roasted Swede (Rutabaga)

    By Dannii · Published 11th November 2021 · Updated 5th December 2021 · 13 Comments · This post may contain affiliate links and generates income via ads · This site uses cookies · Post contains 1653 words. · About 9 minutes to read this article.

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    Roasted swede with a text title overlay.

    Roasted Swede, or Roasted Rutabaga, is a delicious side dish that is perfect for a Sunday roast or a special occasion like Christmas or Thanksgiving. Roasting swede really brings out the flavour and gives it the most incredible crispy edges. It's really simple to make and ready in just 30 minutes.

    Small cubes of roast swede on a baking tray.

    Swede, known as Rutabaga to Americans, is an autumn/winter seasonal vegetable, so it's great for making budget friendly and comforting meals. You will usually find them in vegetable boxes at this time of the year, and if you are not sure what to do with this unique looking vegetable, then roasting it is a great place to start.

    Swede is so versatile and can be mashed, added to casseroles or made in to fries. But if you want a really simple and flavour packed side dish, then roasting swede is the way to go. Mixed with honey and rosemary for the most amazing flavour, it is the perfect addition to a roast dinner.

    Looking for some other side dishes to try? Why not try our Buttered Leeks, Garlic Spring Greens, Sage and Onion Stuffing or Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli?

    Jump to:
    • Why should you try it?
    • What you will need
    • Step by step
    • Health benefits of swede
    • Variations
    • What to serve with roasted swede
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Extra tips
    • More roast vegetable recipes
    • Recipe
    • Feedback

    Why should you try it?

    • A delicious way to use swede - This is such a delicious and easy way to use swede. If you have not tried it before, then this is a great place to start.
    • An easy side dish - This couldn't be easier. You just mix everything together and roast it up. Make sure you turn it halfway through though - more on that below.
    • Versatile - Although this is a delicious roast dinner side dish, it is also great with salads and stews.
    • Adaptable - We have flavoured ours with honey and rosemary, but there are lots of other flavour options we have given below.

    What you will need

    • Swede - This is a round root vegetable that you will find with the carrots and parsnips in the supermarket. Make sure there is no visible damage to the swede. The great thing about swede is that it can be kept in the vegetable rack for months before it goes bad.
    • Rosemary - This woody herb goes so well with root vegetables, but you can swap it for thyme if you prefer.
    • Oil - We used olive oil to roast the swede. Try to use the best quality olive oil you can, as you really will be able to taste the difference.
    • Honey - This really brings out the sweetness of the swede. Use a good quality runny honey.
    • Salt and pepper - A generous amount of salt is needed to not only flavour the roasted swede, but the draw out the water and make it nice and crispy.
    All the ingredients needed for this recipe with text overlay labels.

    Step by step

    One: Preheat your oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Put all of the ingredients, apart from the rosemary, on a baking tray and mix well. Put in the oven for 15 minutes.

    Small cubes of raw swede on a baking tray with oil drizzled over.

    Two: Mix the swede well, so a different side is touching the baking tray and add the chopped rosemary and put it back in the oven for 15 minutes until cooked through.

    Roast swede on a baking tray with rosemary sprinkled over.

    Health benefits of swede

    Swede is a sweet root vegetable that has the most incredible flavour when roasted. It is kind of like a turnip and slightly sweet, but also like a cabbage like flavour. The added honey really intensifies the sweetness of swede.

    Swede is low in calories, cholesterol free and low in fat, but it has lots of nutritional benefits. It is rich in vitamin A and C and it is also a great source of calcium, iron, magnesium, fibre and potassium.

    You can read more about the health benefits of swede here.

    Variations

    We flavoured ours with honey and rosemary as we think they are delicious together and the honey really brings out the sweetness of the swede. However, a pinch of nutmeg can do that too, and adds a lovely flavour.

    However, there are lots of different options when it comes to seasoning. You could keep it simple with just some salt and pepper, or you could give it a spicy twist with some chipotle paste and paprika. A little bit of curry powder or Garam Masala works well too and adds a more subtle spice.

    You could use a seasoning mixture like Italian, Cajun or Mexican fajita mixture. If you are going with Italian dried herbs, then you could grate over some parmesan 10 minutes before it is finished cooking for some cheesy roasted swede. We also really like Za'atar or Ras-el-Hanout for some Middle Eastern flavour.

    A spoon picking up small cubes of swede.

    What to serve with roasted swede

    This is a delicious roast dinner side, so we love serving it with classic roast dinner recipes like our Slow Cooker Gammon, Easy Roast Potatoes, Balsamic and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower, Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, Mustard and Honey Roasted Parsnips or Balsamic Roasted Brussel Sprouts.

    We love serving it alongside a hearty casserole or stew as the roasted swede mixes with all the delicious juices. Why not try our Slow Cooker Chicken Casserole, Sausage and Bean Casserole or Slow Cooker Beef Casserole?

    It also goes really well on salad instead of roasted potatoes. Why not try it on our Chopped Blue Cheese Salad, Easy Lentil Salad, Little Gem Salad or Easy Pear Salad.

    A baking tray of swede in front of a pot of honey and a blue towel.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    How to cut swede

    Cut the rooty ends off the swede and then use a peeler to peel the skin off. Then cut in to cubes. Make sure you cut it in to small cubes (1cm/0.5 inch cubes), and that they are evenly sized, so that everything cooks at the same time and they cook all the way through.

    Can I prepare roasted swede in advance?

    Yes, you can chop the swede and then keep it in a bowl of cold water in the fridge until the next day. You will then need to drain it and pat it dry before following the rest of the recipe.

    How to store roasted swede

    If you have any leftovers, then it will keep in an air tight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

    Can you freeze roasted swede?

    We wouldn't recommend freezing swede, as it has a high water content. However, you could if you had leftovers and didn't want to waste any.

    How to reheat roasted swede

    You can reheat it by warming it through in a frying pan with a little oil or you can reheat it in the oven for 10 minutes.

    Do I have to turn the swede halfway through?

    Yes, we think it is important to turn it half way through, as it gets the edges nice and crispy and it helps to release the sweetness. This is because of the Maillard reaction, which is why you also brown beef before it goes in the slow cooker.

    It roasted swede vegan?

    No, this recipe is not vegan as we have used honey. You could swap it for maple syrup though to keep it vegan.

    Is roasted swede gluten free?

    Yes, as long as you make sure there is no cross contamination, this is gluten free.

    Extra tips

    • Make sure you peel the skin off well, as the skin can get really bitter when roasted. A sharp knife is essential for being able to cut the swede, without risking cutting your fingers off.
    • Make sure that there is enough space on the roasting tray and that the swede is just in a single layer. If it is all piled up, then it will steam rather than roast and it won't get nice and crispy. You might need to use two baking trays.
    • The smaller you cut the swede cubes, the quicker they will cook. So if you want quick cooking and crispy, you need to cut them up small.
    • Make sure you don't overcook the swede, otherwise it will lose some of the nutritional value.

    More roast vegetable recipes

    • Roasted Tenderstem Broccoli
    • Roasted Butternut Squash
    • Sage and Onion Stuffing
    • Balsamic and Garlic Roasted Cauliflower

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    If you’ve tried this roast swede recipe, or any other recipe on the blog, then let us know how you got on in the comments below, we love hearing from you!
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    Recipe

    Roast swede on a baking tray.

    Roasted Swede (Rutabaga)

    Roasted Swede, or Roasted Rutabaga, is a delicious side dish that is perfect for a Sunday roast or a special occasion like Christmas or Thanksgiving.
    the words low fat in a white circle.
    Low Fat
    An illustration of a v-shaped plant.
    Vegetarian
    5 from 14 votes
    Pin Print
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: British
    Prep Time: 5 minutes
    Cook Time: 30 minutes
    Total Time: 35 minutes
    Servings: 4 servings
    Calories: 138kcal
    Prevent your screen from going dark

    Ingredients

    UK Metric Measures - US Customary Measures
    • 600 g swede (rutabaga) peeled and chopped into cubes
    • 2 tablespoon olive oil
    • 2 tablespoon honey
    • 2 pinch sea salt
    • 1 pinch ground black pepper
    • 6 g fresh rosemary

    Instructions

    • Preheat your oven to 190°C/375°F/Gas 5. Put all of the ingredients, apart from the rosemary, on a baking tray and mix well. Put in the oven for 15 minutes.
    • Mix the swede well, so a different side is touching the baking tray and add the chopped rosemary and put it back in the oven for 15 minutes until cooked through.

    Notes

    • Make sure you peel the skin off well, as the skin can get really bitter when roasted. A sharp knife is essential for being able to cut the swede, without risking cutting your fingers off.
    • Make sure that there is enough space on the roasting tray and that the swede is just in a single layer. If it is all piled up, then it will steam rather than roast and it won't get nice and crispy. You might need to use two baking trays.
    • The smaller you cut the swede cubes, the quicker they will cook. So if you want quick cooking and crispy, you need to cut them up small.
    • Make sure you don't overcook the swede, otherwise it will lose some of the nutritional value.

    Nutritional Information

    Serving: 1portion | Calories: 138kcal | Carbohydrates: 20g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Sodium: 19mg | Potassium: 473mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 15g | Vitamin A: 47IU | Vitamin C: 38mg | Calcium: 70mg | Iron: 1mg
    Have you tried this recipe?Mention @hungryhealthyhappy on Instagram and tag #hungryhealthyhappy!
    DisclaimerThe nutritional information provided is approximate and is calculated using online tools. Information can vary depending on various factors, but we have endeavoured to be as accurate as possible.
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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Michelle

      November 13, 2021 at 6:45 pm

      5 stars
      Such a yummy way to eat rutabaga! Perfectly seasoned

      Reply
    2. Andrea

      November 13, 2021 at 4:23 pm

      5 stars
      We love roasted veggies. The flavors on this rutabaga sounds fabulous. Will be trying this recipe ASAP!

      Reply
    3. Claudia Lamascolo

      November 13, 2021 at 11:53 am

      5 stars
      Never had this before but The flavors are just fantastic in this recipe sounds wonderful!

      Reply
    4. Artney

      November 12, 2021 at 6:14 pm

      5 stars
      I've never had rutabaga, but you make it look absolutely divine. I would definitely give it a try if it's roasted.

      Reply
    5. Emily Flint

      November 12, 2021 at 4:51 pm

      5 stars
      I love the simple spices in this recipe. I had everything in my pantry and this turned out perfectly. I will definitely be making it again for the holidays!

      Reply
    6. Jess

      November 12, 2021 at 4:39 pm

      5 stars
      Roasting veggies is the way to go. Love how simple this is.

      Reply
    7. Vicky

      November 12, 2021 at 4:00 pm

      5 stars
      I have never cooked with rutabaga before and I have to say I am intrigued. Roasting really brings out the flavor in veggies and with the addition of the honey, I know these will be a hit.

      Reply
    8. Gina

      November 12, 2021 at 3:50 pm

      5 stars
      A lovely winter side dish to switch things up a bit. Love the touch of honey with the rutabaga!

      Reply
    9. Annissa

      November 12, 2021 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      Great easy to follow recipe! This would make a wonderful side dish for thanksgiving.

      Reply
    10. Toni

      November 12, 2021 at 2:51 pm

      5 stars
      This quickly became a favorite at my house!

      Reply
    11. Amanda Wren-Grimwood

      November 12, 2021 at 2:44 pm

      5 stars
      I always roast carrots and mash the swede but this looks gorgeous! Going to roast mine like this on Sunday.

      Reply
    12. Savita

      November 12, 2021 at 2:23 pm

      5 stars
      This sounds amazing, perfect thanksgiving recipe.

      Reply
    13. Alisa Infanti

      November 12, 2021 at 1:45 pm

      I have never had a rutabaga but totally going to find one and give it a try now!

      Reply

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    Welcome! My name is Dannii. Here you will find easy family recipes with a healthy twist, along with travel, home and family life and general happiness.
    Established in 2011, Hungry Healthy Happy has become one of the UK's most popular food and lifestyle blogs, with two successful recipe books published.

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