Today is a BBC Radio Scotland day and we are celebrating Halloween in Scotland, which means turnips (or neeps) not pumpkins. Well it used to when I was a child. Nowadays all the supermarkets fairly groan under the weight of the ubiquitous pumpkin, but way back in the 60s and 70s the humble turnip was the star of the show.
The whole Jack O’landern legend goes way back in time and traces its roots back to Ireland when a sneaky sort called Stingy Jack took on the devil and played games with him over the years. When he died God wouldn’t have him into heaven and the devil wouldn’t have him in hell but threw a burning coal at him, so he was destined to live out eternity walking the earth on 31st October with the burning coal which he put inside a hollowed out turnip so he could see in the dark.
One of the recipes I’m sharing today is this quirky yet strangly tasty Turnip Jam. I know, who’d make jam from a turnip, well I just had to try and the results are surprisingly good, especially in a turnip jam tart!
So set those pumpkins aside for one year and embrace the humble turnip. Hollow one out and give him a candle, make some turnip jam and pickles (come back tomorrow) and let’s celebrate Halloween with a wee bit of Scottish style!
Karon x
- 500g/1lb 2oz turnip
- 200ml/7 floz water
- ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
- ¼ tsp ground ginger
- 5 cloves crushed
- ¼ tsp vanilla essence
- juice and zest of 1 lemon
- 250g/9oz sugar
- pinch of salt
- Peel and chop the turnip into small pieces and put into a heavy based pan with the water, lemon juice and zest and all spices and salt.
- Bring to the boil then simmer for 20 minutes till turnips are tender.
- Use a potato masher to squich them down in the pan.
- Add the sugar and stir till dissolved.
- Raise the temperature and boil to setting point.
- Spoon into 3 small jars, cover with a waxed disc and pop on the lids.
think I will skip the turnip jam but I will take your challenge and buy a turnip to turn into a Scottish Jack O’Lantern!
Unlike Cathie D, you just made my daughter’s day. She is a turnip aficionado who would cross a 4 lane highway bedecked with traffic to rescue a precious turnip (and then eat it…). I am going to pass this recipe over to her. She will make this unctuous preserve and will revel in it’s simple, honest and most historical delights. Thankyou from Sunny Sidmouth Tasmania for this wonderful post. I really love your blog by the way. You have an adventurous spirit when it comes to preserving food. This recipe almost takes you to Mrs Cropley (Vicar of Dibley) heights in the minds of most people (not me! 😉 ), but unlike Mrs Cropley, you appear to have resisted the addition of vegemite or anchovies thus making this recipe “consumer friendly”. Cheers again for this wonderful creation. I resist Halloween at all costs but this year I am going to carve out a little turnip jack-o-lantern because I can’t resist his rooty charms 🙂
Glad you like this one. Actually it tastes great. I took turnip tarts in to BBC yesterday and Fred and co loved them. Mrs Cropley, well you made me laugh on that one. Vicar Of Dibley one of my true favs. Must dig out those anchovies………
K x
love turnips and ever since i heard about turnip jam on the andy griffith show i have been dieing 2 try it. love this most delish
best recipe .
love turnips and ever since i heard about turnip jam on the andy griffith show i have been dieing 2 try it. love this most delish
best recipe .looking forward to more odd jam recipes
Thanks Deborah,
Trawl through my jam recipes, I do like odd flavours and partnerships so you might find some other things to try out.
K x
Trying this for the first time..will post results!!!
What do i pair this with??
ok so i made this..its ok but not the WOW i wanted!!! great with poultry as a chutney.
Sorry not a WOW but at least enjoyable
K x