Finnish Yellow Turnip Swede or Rutabaga Bake

Warm up your dinner table with the comforting flavors of this Finnish Yellow Turnip Swede or Rutabaga Bake. A traditional Nordic-inspired recipe, this hearty side dish combines the earthy sweetness of rutabagas with creamy milk, rich butter, and a touch of dark syrup for balanced sweetness. Seasoned with white pepper and nutmeg, the bake is topped with golden breadcrumbs and butter for a perfectly crisp crust. Simple yet elegant, this oven-baked dish is an ideal accompaniment to roasted meats or a cozy vegetarian feast. With its velvety texture and subtly spiced flavor, it's a must-try addition to any holiday menu or Sunday dinner. Make it in just 20 minutes of prep time and let the oven do the rest! Keywords: Finnish rutabaga bake, swede casserole, Nordic side dish, traditional Finnish recipe.

Nutriscore Rating: 67/100

Prep Time:20 mins

Cook Time:70 mins

Total Time:90 mins

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• 1000 grams rutabaga (swede/yellow turnip)
• 200 milliliters milk
• 100 milliliters heavy cream
• 30 grams butter
• 3 tablespoons breadcrumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1 tablespoon dark syrup (molasses or golden syrup)
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.25 teaspoon ground white pepper
• 0.25 teaspoon grated nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon butter (for greasing)
• 2 tablespoons breadcrumbs (for topping)
• 15 grams butter (for topping)

Directions

Step 1

Peel and dice the rutabagas into roughly 2-inch chunks.

Step 2

Boil the rutabaga pieces in a large pot of salted water over medium-high heat until tender, about 20-25 minutes. Drain well.

Step 3

Preheat the oven to 175°C (350°F). Grease a baking dish with 1 teaspoon of butter.

Step 4

Using a potato masher or a food processor, mash the cooked rutabagas until smooth.

Step 5

In a small saucepan, warm the milk and heavy cream until lukewarm.

Step 6

Add the lukewarm milk and cream mixture, butter, dark syrup, salt, white pepper, and nutmeg to the mashed rutabagas. Mix thoroughly.

Step 7

Lightly beat the egg in a small bowl, then stir it into the rutabaga mixture.

Step 8

Pour the mixture into the greased baking dish, smoothing the top with a spatula.

Step 9

Sprinkle 2 tablespoons of breadcrumbs evenly over the top, then dot with 15 grams of butter for a golden crust.

Step 10

Bake in the preheated oven for 45-50 minutes, or until the top is golden brown and the bake is set.

Step 11

Allow to cool for about 5-10 minutes before serving. This dish pairs well with roasted meats or can be enjoyed as a vegetarian side.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size	(1490.6g)

Amount per serving	% Daily Value*
Calories	1536.5

Total Fat 91.0g	0%
Saturated Fat 49.3g	0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 2.9g
Cholesterol 451.7mg	0%
Sodium 3689.0mg	0%
Total Carbohydrate 151.7g	0%
Dietary Fiber 25.2g	0%
Total Sugars 72.6g
Protein 31.9g	0%

Vitamin D 159.1IU	0%
Calcium 800.9mg	0%
Iron 8.4mg	0%
Potassium 3684.3mg	0%

*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.

Source of Calories

Fat: 52.7%

Protein: 8.2%

Carbs: 39.1%