Have you seen those gorgeous white turnips at the Farmer’s Market but not known what to do with them?  You can eat them raw by slicing them very thin and tossing in a simple vinaigrette.  Or you can cook them and add to a recipe like these delicious Turnip Quinoa Cakes.  Turnips are crisp root vegetables that resemble radishes but the flavor will mellow when they are cooked.  They are best when they are fresh so try to pick small to medium turnips since the more mature ones have a stronger flavor. You can also save the greens to enjoy later if you like.

These Turnip Quinoa Cakes are the a delicious way to prepare this unique vegetable and make for a quick and healthy dinner!  This recipe uses one part greek yogurt to keep it light but you could use only sour cream if you prefer.

TURNIP QUINOA CAKES WITH AVOCADO CREMA

Quinoa Cakes:

• 4 turnips, washed with greens removed
• 1 cup cooked quinoa
• 1/3 cup bread crumbs
• 1 large egg
• 1/4 cup red bell pepper (diced small)
• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
• 2 tablespoons fresh basil (sliced)
• 1 green onion (sliced thin)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Avocado Crema:

• 1 hass avocado
• 1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
• salt & pepper (to taste)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Cut the turnips into small cubes. Steam until soft and cooked through. Mash the turnips with a potato masher or the back of a fork.

2. Stir all of the quinoa cake ingredients together in a large bowl.

3. Make avocado crema by combining all of the ingredients well in a food processor.

4. Form the quinoa mixture into 5-6 small patties. Heat a nonstick pan over medium heat and spray with a little cooking spray. Cook the patties 4-5 minutes on each side until lightly browned & cooked through.

5. Serve quinoa cakes topped with avocado crema & fresh basil.

Find more recipes by Mai-Lis at A Sunshiny Day