This time of year, pumpkins tend to hog the spotlight – at least in publications that cover potentially frightening produce. But for people interested in vegetables with a truly haunting past, allow us to turn to ..
. turnips. (Cue the evil laughter and scary music.
) No, seriously. Before pumpkins were carved into jack-o'-lanterns at Halloween, people in Ireland were carving scary faces into turnips to frighten away evil spirits as part of the Celtic festival of Samhain. That's not the only example of bad vibes being tied to turnips.
Ancient Romans threw them at unpopular leaders. For hundreds of years, "turnip" has been associated with being a rube; Mark Twain and Shakespeare were among those who used it as an insult, or at least to score a laugh. Its hardiness means it has helped nations stave off starvation but also left it associated with poverty – or something more fit for livestock than lunch.
Turnips still inspire shudders in some quarters. Look for recipes, and you might come across terms such as "oddball," "ugly duckling" or even "hated." So, are turnips a terrible trick or a healthy treat? Let's root around in the facts and find out.
"In most parts of the U.S., turnips aren't a very popular vegetable," concedes Jillian Kubala, a registered dietitian based in Westhampton, New York.
"They're more common in Southern cuisine, and they're a staple vegetable in many other parts of the world, including Northern Europe." Turnips seem to have been first domesticated in Ce.