In the Bari dialect they are called L strasc'nat co l'cim de rap.
What type of pasta is best with turnip tops?
If you ask a Pugliese, the answer is only one: turnip tops are called orecchiette.
Alternatively, you can also use other short pastas such as fusilli, penne, caserecce or even paccheri (being careful not to let them "stick together" during cooking).
The important thing when choosing the pasta to accompany turnip tops is that it is of a quality that can retain the sauce, absorb the flavors best, and therefore create a well-balanced dish.
What kind of pasta are Apulian orecchiette?
Orecchiette are a type of fresh pasta typical of Puglia and their name comes from their shape, which vaguely resembles that of a small ear .
According to tradition, they are prepared by hand with simple ingredients: durum wheat flour, water, and salt.
If you've ever had the opportunity to see them being made live, you'll have noticed that it requires great manual skill: the dough is kneaded, cut into small pieces, and each piece is then worked with a touch of the fingers to create the classic concave shape.
To create the typical orecchiette shape, use your thumb to push the pasta outwards and your hand to rotate the piece of pasta.
Thanks to their shape, orecchiette are perfect for holding sauces and condiments, making them a versatile type of pasta suitable for numerous traditional dishes, such as orecchiette with turnip tops.
What are turnip tops?
Turnip tops are the flower heads produced by a herbaceous plant of the turnip family and are typical of Southern Italy.
They are usually harvested in the spring-summer period but there are also late varieties of turnip tops that can flower in winter.
They have a diameter of a few centimetres and the leaves are tender.
In the area around Naples, a variety that produces tender, thin shoots is widespread: the renowned friarielli , prepared in local cuisine to accompany sausage.
Caution: when you buy turnip tops, make sure that the flowers (also called turnip broccoli ) are still well closed and compact and the leaves must not be yellow or wilted.
Don't get confused though, turnip greens should not be confused with broccoli : they both belong to the cruciferous family and share many nutritional properties and health benefits, but there are some differences between the two vegetables:
- Aesthetically, broccoli has a compact green head of florets, while turnip tops are made up of green leaves, thin stems and characteristic yellow inflorescences;
- Nutritionally, both are sources of vitamins, minerals, and plant compounds beneficial to health, specifically vitamins C and K, potassium, and iron. Turnip greens also contain phytochemicals such as glucosinolates and carotenoids;
- In cooking, broccoli is used in pasta dishes, soups, salads, and as a side dish; turnip greens are a key ingredient in Southern Italian cuisine, where they're simply sautéed with garlic and oil, or used as a base for sauces and side dishes.
How to cook turnip tops
Cleaning turnip tops is very simple: it is done by eliminating the damaged parts and the larger pieces.
Tender leaves and broccoli must then be washed carefully in cold water.
Turnip tops can be boiled until fully cooked: in this case they will be less bitter and are excellent in salads, dressed with oil and lemon.
Another alternative cooking method, called raw , consists of placing the turnip tops in a saucepan with only the residual washing water: in this case the bitter flavour will be more pronounced.
This process will serve to tenderize the tops which must then be cooked with the meat, usually pork.
In this case, the turnip tops are placed in a saucepan with the oil and cooked for about ten minutes, stirring without adding water.
Continue cooking by adding garlic and chili pepper: this dish makes an excellent side dish.
Turnip tops are used as a condiment for first courses; in fact, the best-known recipe is orecchiette from Puglia, which can be served with stale breadcrumbs and fried or stewed with tomatoes.
What are turnip tops good for?
In addition to the nutritional benefits listed above, turnip greens are also:
- Rich in antioxidants: just like extra virgin olive oil, they help prevent cellular damage caused by free radicals and reduce the risk of chronic diseases such as cancer, heart disease and inflammation.
- rich in vitamin C, calcium and folates (B vitamins)
- an excellent aid to digestion: rich in fibre, they help maintain the health of the digestive system and prevent constipation
Apulian recipe for orecchiette and turnip tops
A classic of the Apulian culinary tradition is orecchiette with turnip tops, a simple and humble dish made unique by the use of anchovies.
For those who prefer, it is possible to omit them, thus creating a vegan version of the dish.
Ingredients for four people:
- 600 g of turnip tops
- 500g of orecchiette
- 100 ml of extra virgin olive oil: for an excellent dish, we recommend using our Olio Simone
- 4 salted anchovies
- Garlic
- Chili
- Salt
Preparation :
- Clean the turnip tops in cold water and in the meantime place a saucepan on the heat with plenty of salted water.
- Add the orecchiette to boiling water, add the turnip tops after five minutes, and drain when both are al dente.
- Fry the extra virgin olive oil in a pan with two cloves of garlic together with the chilli pepper and the anchovies previously washed, deboned and cut into small pieces.
- The soffritto will be ready when the garlic cloves are golden.
- Pour the orecchiette with turnip tops into a bowl and add the boiling oil without the garlic cloves, mix and serve piping hot.
The dishes of Puglia's culinary tradition reflect the history and uniqueness of the region.
For a vegan version of orecchiette with turnip greens, you can omit the salted anchovies and perhaps add olives for a more savory flavor. Alternatively, you can also find richer versions with the addition of pancetta or sausage.
In any case, using quality products allows you to achieve a better result.
Extra virgin olive oil is an excellent ingredient to experiment with in the kitchen. Have you already tried making taralli ?
How to enjoy orecchiette with turnip tops
To best enjoy your orecchiette with turnip tops, we recommend pairing it with a good glass of wine.
To choose the best wine, consider a bottle that reflects the intensity and complexity of the dish.
For example, a good choice could be white wines with good body and aromatic persistence.
