Buried Treasures: Our Best Root Vegetable Recipes

I once bought a rutabaga solely because I felt sorry for it. It was the first time I'd purchased, the first time I'd prepared, and the first time I'd eaten a delightful, lightly sweet, buttery rutabaga. An arguably weird but beautiful bond was formed. From the peppery crunch of raw celery root to the vibrant jewel tones beets bring to the table, there's a whole lot to adore in the root vegetable family beyond carrots and radishes. Appreciating these underground glories' full potential starts with thinking outside the roasting pan.

When crisped in a high-heat oven, paper-thin sunchoke skin is a real treat—just make sure to scrub the knobby roots well before cooking.

Cherry-pick your 'chokes. Select the least knobby sunchokes for this recipe for easier peeling. Serve with a fresh green salad as an elegant brunch or supper.

Rutabaga has a luscious buttery quality when cooked, so naturally, this root veggie shines in mash form. We incorporate potatoes as a way to provide the starch that rutabaga lacks, making for an ultrasilky, comforting hearty spin on classic Irish champ.

Gently baking rutabaga preserves its subtle vegetal nuance, which would be easily overpowered by caramelization in a roasting scenario.

This composed two-toned beet salad is a showstopping way to highlight the vegetable's natural beauty. We recommended dressing the red beets separately from the golden beets to preserve each one's rich jewel coloring (red beets aren't shy about spreading their natural beauty around).

If carrots can go into cake, there's no reason beets can't make their way into ice cream. It's a stunning dessert—absurdly delicious with a gorgeous magenta huge.

A bistro classic, slaw is among the most widely embraced applications for this peppery root. Like many greats, the dish's appeal is in its simplicity—a tangy dressing matched with crisp veggie, polished with parsley.

Our twist on a classic fried pork or chicken cutlet is inspired by a dish on chef Andrew Carmellini's menu at Little Park in New York.

Look for baby turnips with the greens on them for an elegant look that will wow. Trim greens to about 1/2 inch from the top of the bulb; then slice turnips vertically.

Clear a place of honor on the Thanksgiving table for this creamy and exceptionally comforting casserole.

This side dish comes together in minutes, making it an ideal match for a more labor-intensive entrée.

A little sweet, a little salty, a bit of toasty, and a touch of tang—the makings of a grade-A salad.

We put a new twist on this hearty beet soup, using every part of the signature ingredient. Leafy beet greens take the place of borscht's traditional cabbage. You not only use the whole beet (less waste) but also get the most nutrition for your buck, as beet greens have nearly twice the fiber of other greens.

If you are a lover of all things crispy and salty, you'll love these beet chips. They're so easy to make and have a great natural flavor from earthy, sweet beets.

Use the shredder blade of a food processor to quickly shred the artichokes, potato, and carrot. Cook the latkes soon after combining the ingredients so the mixture does not become watery; if this happens, though, remove the mixture from the liquid using a slotted spoon.

It's a good idea to take a sharp knife to the gnarly celery root (also called celeriac), and cut it as finely as possible. If you have a mandoline, use it to make quick, even matchstick pieces. Although all celery root will be misshapen and scruffy looking, don't buy roots that are shriveled or that give to the touch.

Here's an appetizer that will not weigh down you or your meal. A melt-in-your-mouth mixture of crab and other fresh ingredients is tucked into a crispy leaf of Boston lettuce to make this little explosion of flavor. Rémoulade is a classic mayonnaise-based sauce traditionally served with seafood. It's like tartar sauce, but more complexly flavored. We love how the licorice notes of tarragon pair with shellfish like crab and lobster, but you can use parsley, lemon thyme, or basil if you prefer. Lump crabmeat costs a little more than fin meat or other cheaper kinds of packaged crab, but it boasts big chunks and sweet mild flavor.

The knobby bulb called celeriac or celery root has a celery-like flavor, but one that is more robust and creamy at the same time. Add leftover turkey to make this an entrée.

Using a hand masher on the potatoes turns out a rustic mash with small, telltale "I'm homemade" lumps.

Pair this quick side with roast pork or chicken.

This soup is warming and comforting and works great as an appetizer to a large meal or as a main course with a winter salad and French bread.

Winter root vegetables lend their complementary, slightly sweet flavors to this hearty bowl. Stir in more water or broth if you prefer a thinner consistency.

The bite of horseradish in the sour cream is a perfect contrast for the sweet carrot and parsnip in this latke variation, but skip it if you prefer a strictly kosher menu that doesn’t mix meat and milk.

Tangy yogurt and smoky bacon provide a nice and unexpected counterpoint to this sweet, creamy soup. Serve with fresh bread or as a starter with a meat-based entrée.