While we wait for spring vegetables to appear, we’ve been eating lots of root vegetables. Root vegetables have sustained mankind through millennia of winters, because they last for long periods in cool temperatures.

Before the advent of modern refrigeration, root cellars provided vital cold storage that kept a family fed through the winter.

Growing underground (photo #1), roots are generally storage organs, enlarged to store energy in the form of carbohydrates. These large roots are eaten as vegetables.

We have two delicious recipes below: Roasted Root Vegetables With Chicken, and Scalloped Root Vegetable Casserole.
 
 
WHAT ARE ROOT VEGETABLES?

Root vegetables are plant roots eaten as vegetables (photo #2).

Beet, carrot, parsnip, potato and sweet potato, radish, and turnip are widely consumed in the U.S.

Some roots, such as galangal, ginger, horseradish, turmeric, and wasabi, are used for condiments or seasonings. Arrowroot is used as a thickener. Gingseng is used medicinally.

To give you a perspective on the category, here’s a categorization of the root vegetables more familiar in the U.S.

True Roots

 
Roasted taproots and tubers are popular roasted vegetables in American cuisine. Even people who fuss over eating vegetables enjoy the sweetness of the sugars that come out during roasting.
 
 
TWO WAYS TO ENJOY ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES

There are endless recipes, of course; but here are two recipes from Idaho Potatoes with some added glamour.
 
 
RECIPE #1: ROASTED ROOT VEGETABLES WITH CHICKEN

We like the convenience of this recipe (photo #3). Root vegetables are hardy and can keep for a few weeks. It’s easy to pick up a rotisserie chicken (photo #4) if you don’t have time or inclination to roast one.

You can use substitute other root vegetables, or create a grain bowl with a bottom layer of a favorite grain.

Ingredients

 
For The Maple Aïoli

[1] An old illustration showing how root vegetables grow (photo ©y Etsy).

[2] Harvested root vegetables (photo © DIY Naturals).

[3] Recipe #1, below: roasted root vegetables with chicken (photo © Idaho Potato Commission).

[4] Rotisserie chicken (photo © McCormick).

[5] Swiss chard (photo © Heather Barnes | Wesual | Unsplash).

1. PREHEAT the oven to 425°F. Line a baking sheet with foil and spray with cooking spray.

2. TOSS all of the vegetables in olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange the vegetables in a single layer on the baking sheet. Sprinkle with thyme. Roast in the oven for 25-30 minutes, until golden and fork-tender, flipping once, halfway through. Meanwhile…

3. HEAT the remaining olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Sauté the Swiss chard with the chopped garlic, until wilted, about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. MAKE the aïoli: Whisk the mayonnaise with the maple syrup and cinnamon until combined. Spoon into a serving dish.

5. DIVIDE the chard evenly in serving bowls. Top with the roasted vegetables and chicken. Serve with the maple aïoli on the side for dipping.
 
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*Parsley root is not related to parsley, the herb, but is a beige root vegetable that resembles a parsnip or turnip. The edible leaves that grow above the ground do resemble curly parsley leaves, but taste like celery. Parsley root is also called turnip-rooted parsley. In Germany, it is known as Hamburg parsley, and is a popular winter vegetable in Germany, Holland, and Poland.

[7] Turnips (photo © Good Eggs).

[8] We served the casserole with a beautiful Smithfield spiral-cut ham (photo courtesy Smithfield).

RECIPE #2: SCALLOPED ROOT VEGETABLE CASSEROLE

This casserole (photo #6) reminds us of a tian, a beautiful way to serve summer vegetables.

It is actually a gratin†.

This recipe serves a trio of potatoes plus turnips under a cloak of melted cheese. They work together in this recipe because they can be sliced into roughly the same sizes, which cook evenly.

Ingredients

 
Preparation

1. PREHEAT the oven to 400°F. Slice the potatoes and turnips and set them aside in a large bowl.

2. HEAT 1/2 tablespoon butter over medium heat in a medium, non-stick skillet. Add the onions and garlic; sauté until translucent.

3. ADD the cream cheese, heavy cream, salt, and pepper. Bring to a simmer and stir until smooth. Turn off the heat.

4. SPRAY a 9″ x 13″ baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Place half of the potatoes and turnips in a separate large bowl. Slowly add 1/3 of the cream mixture into the bowl with the potatoes and turnips and mix to coat well.

5. PLACE the coated potato and turnip slices into the baking pan vertically, using your hands. Make sure the slices are close together (see photo #5). Add another 1/3 of the cream mixture to the remaining potatoes and turnips, coating well. Layer them into the baking dish. Once all the slices are in the baking pan…

6. POUR the remainder of the cream mixture into the baking pan. Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place in the oven for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes remove the foil and bake for an additional 40 minutes.

7. REMOVE from the oven, sprinkle on the parmesan cheese and bake for an additional 15-20 minutes. Garnish with the chives right before serving.

We liked the recipe so much, we’re making it again today!

Gratin (grah-TAN) is a method of food preparation in which a protein, vegetable or starch is served with a browned crust of grated cheese. The crust may also include breadcrumbs, eggs, and/or butter.

Gratin originated in France and is usually made in a shallow baking dish. The main ingredient can be baked (roasted) in the oven or cooked on the stovetop. In the latter case, the toppings are then added and the dish is finished in the oven or broiler.

The baking dish is usually brought to the table piping hot. It’s a perennial favorite: Who doesn’t like their food topped with melted cheese?