Glazed baby turnips and apples
Instructions:
- 1 pound baby turnips (about 2 pounds if the greens are still attached);
- 1 tablespoon rendered duck fat, bacon drippings, or extravirgin olive oil;
- 1 tablespoon butter;
- 1 firm, sweet-tart apple, peeled, cored, and cut into thin wedges;
- 2 teaspoons sugar;
- Kosher salt and ground black pepper, to taste;
- 1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme or rosemary.
- Trim the greens and rootlets from the turnips. (Discard the greens or use them in another recipe.) Cut any turnips larger than 1 inch in diameter into halves or quarters to make all of the pieces roughly the same size. (You can also cut them into sticks that resemble french fries.) Bring a large saucepan of water to a boil. Add 1⁄2 teaspoon kosher salt per cup of water. Add the turnips, reduce the heat, and simmer until crisp-tender, about 5 minutes. Drain well.
- Heat the fat and butter in a large, heavy skillet (preferably cast-iron) over medium-high heat. Stir in the drained turnips and the apples. Sprinkle with the sugar, salt, and pepper and stir to coat. Spread the turnips and apples in a single layer with most of the cut sides on the bottom of the skillet and let cook undisturbed until browned on the bottom, about 8 minutes. Turn the pieces over or gently stir and continue cooking until tender, about 7 minutes more. Check the seasoning, sprinkle with the thyme, and serve warm.
- Variation: You can use a firm pear instead of the apple.