This smooth and creamy Swede (rutabaga) & Carrot Mash is zero SmartPoints on Weight Watchers Blue, Purple and Green plans. It makes a perfect accompaniment to any Weight Watchers dinner recipe.
To find out how many Personal Points this recipe will be for you & to track it in the WW App, click on the blue button in recipe card below!
For anyone following the myWW Blue plan or the myWW Green plan and craving mashed potatoes, this is a great alternative. It has a similar consistency and density to mashed potato & can be used in the same way.
Of course if you are on the myWW Purple plan, then potatoes don't have to be pointed so away you go with your mashed potato if that's what you fancy!!
However, I love this mashed swede and carrot & would actually sometimes choose it over potato. It's a little less heavy.
It has a lovely creamy texture and has a sweet flavour with just a hint of earthy swede.
I sometimes use it as an alternative topping on pies like this Easy Fish Pie or as an accompaniment to dishes like this Creamy Chicken Casserole and this Chicken Marsala.
It also makes the most fantastic zero point addition to a good old roast dinner!
What is Swede?
A swede, also known as a Rutabaga, Swedish turnip or yellow turnip is a root vegetable that is a member of the cabbage family.
Yep, you read that right! It's a member of the cabbage family. It was originally a hybrid of a cabbage and a turnip.
It is round in shape and has a creamy coloured skin which turns to a greenish purple colour at its crown. The flesh is a pale yellow colour.
There are many ways that they can be eaten, raw if young enough, or boiled mashed, roasted, pureed etc.
What does Swede / Rutabaga taste like?
Swede has a sweet taste with a mild earthy flavour.
The smaller the swede the sweeter the flavour.
Larger swedes tend to lose their flavour a bit so stick to ones that are no bigger than your hand.
How do you prepare Swede / Rutabaga?
- You can prepare swede in the same way as you would prepare a potato!
- Chop off the root
- Peel with a potato peeler
- Cut to size
Tips for making the mash
- Chose a smallish swede - something a little bigger than a cricket ball (picture 1)
- Prepare the swede by chopping off the root and peeling with a potato peeler (picture 2)
- Prepare the carrots by topping and tailing them and then peeling them with a potato peeler.
- Chop the swede and carrots into similar size chunks.
- Place in a saucepan of cold, salted water and bring to the boil.
- Turn down the heat to a simmer, cover the saucepan and cook for 20 - 25 minutes or until you can insert a knife into the flesh easily.
- Do not over cook the swede as it does have a tendency to break apart if cooked too much.
- Remove from the heat, drain well and return to the saucepan.
- Heat gently to ged rid of any left over water
- Spray with the calorie controlled spray oil.
- Add salt and pepper and mash with a potato masher until the desired consistency is reached.
Storing Swede & Carrot Mash
Any left over Swede & Carrot Mash can be put in a sealed container (as soon as it is cool) and can be kept in the refrigerator for a couple of days.
To reheat the mash from chilled, place it in a suitable microwave container and heat until piping hot.
Alternatively, you can bag it up into freezer friendly bags (as soon as it is cold enough) and keep it in the freezer for a couple of months.
To reheat the mash from the freezer, allow it to defrost and place it in a suitable microwave container. Cook on high till piping hot.
Swede (Rutabaga) & Carrot Mash | Weight Watchers
Ingredients
- 1 Swede / rutabaga / swedish turnip (approx 400g)
- 6 - 7 carrots (approx 400g)
- Calorie controlled cooking oil
- Salt
- Ground black pepper
Instructions
- Peel and chop the swede / rutabaga and chop into chunks approx 2cm
- Top and tail the carrots, peel and chop into chunks approx 2cm
- Place the chunks into a large saucepan of cold, salted water.
- Bring to the boil then once boiling reduce the heat to a simmer and cover.
- Simmer for 25 - 30 minutes until a knife pierces the vegetables with ease.
- Remove from the heat and drain.
- Return the swede / rutabaga and carrot chunks to the saucepan and place on a low heat to rid it of any left over water (1 - 2 minutes)
- Turn off the heat and spray with approx 10 sprays of calorie controlled cooking oil.
- Season with some salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper.
- Mash with a potato masher until it reaches a desired consistency.
- Check the seasoning and serve.
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