Being from the South, it never occurred to me that anyone would throw away turnip greens. But as I was researching the nutritional benefits of turnips, (of which there are many!), I came across bloggers talking about the fact that a lot of people eat the turnips, but don’t realize the leafy greens on top of the white orbs are edible.

When I was growing up, it was pretty much the opposite. My dad didn’t like the turnip roots, so mom would boil the greens, buying them separately. Pretty much any dark leafy green that grew, my mom would cook.

In defense of anyone who has ever avoided a turnip green -- (or a collard green or mustard green or kale) -- it’s sort of an acquired taste. All of these greens are pungent, some more so than others. But don’t give up if you’ve tried them once and weren’t impressed. Repeated exposures can help you grow to like them.

And why should you? Because holy smokes! Dark leafy greens are some of the most healthy things you can swallow. Here’s an article I found outlining the benefits of turnip greens on a website called Helium.com.

Do you ever cook these types of assertive greens? How do you like to prepare them?