Oven cooked Swede

[veggiechicken]

I hate preparing swede for cooking. Its like trying to peel a brick and you need a chainsaw to chop it up. However, last night I was told how to cook a swede in a completely different and very easy way.
Take one swede, scrub it over to take off the worst of the muck, bung it in the oven whole. It takes longer to cook than a joint of meat so the smaller the swede the faster it would cook.
When tender, cut the swede in half and scoop out the middle. Eat!!
The lady who told me this says that she cannot eat boiled swede now as it has no flavour. Does anyone else cook it this way?

[zazen999]

Not yet.

[veggiechicken]

I wonder whether a zap in the microwave would speed up the cooking?

[chris]

I do! I eat most veg roasted... If I have to boil it, it's the bare minimum needed.. I find boiling it sucks all the flavour out anyway

Celeriac too, I've had that roasted, rather than boiled and mixed in with mashed spuds. Beetroot roasted is amazing too

[Feral007]

You prob could part cook it in the microwave oven. I haven't cooked swede that way but I do a mean pumpkin soup by roasting the pumpkin in the oven with the seeds out and some garlic/herbs and a little oil in it. Cutting pumpkin is a thing of the past here.

[Feral007]

I boil our silverbeet for about 3 minutes then put it in a roasting dish with (can you believe it? garlic) and put cheese on top and roast. The kids can't get enough of it. I don't think there is a vegetable that doesn't like being roasted in our house.

[scarey55]

Brilliant ideas! I haven't really thought of roasting veg rather than boiling but, as you say Chris, it must keep all the flavour in. Going to be doing it from now on. Cheers VC.

[veggiechicken]

I roast beetroot, carrots and small squashes whole but somehow, a swede seemed to be too big and intimidating so I've never even thought of it before. Because of the preparation I avoid buying them - definitely would never try to grow them. All this may change now..........

[scarey55]

...definitely would never try to grow them. All this may change now..........

Ah, now, if you grow them yourself they are easy peasy to peel, chop and cook

[chris]

I roast beetroot, carrots and small squashes whole but somehow, a swede seemed to be too big and intimidating so I've never even thought of it before. Because of the preparation I avoid buying them - definitely would never try to grow them. All this may change now..........

Forgot to say that I tend to quarter the swede - so not entirely whole, but I have a big wooden chopping board and a huge cleaver. I tend to bed it in the swede, then smash the heck out of it on the board until the cleaver cuts through Same for squash too

[veggiechicken]

Ah, now, if you grow them yourself they are easy peasy to peel, chop and cook

I have tried growing them but my heart just wasn't in it! They were woody, malformed beasts with no appeal whatsoever

[bearded bloke]

Forgot to say that I tend to quarter the swede - so not entirely whole, but I have a big wooden chopping board and a huge cleaver. I tend to bed it in the swede, then smash the heck out of it on the board until the cleaver cuts through Same for squash too

Same here quartered with a cleaver,brush with oil,sprinkle with salt & a couple of turns from the pepper mill

Only difference,if the cleaver don't go straight through I clout it with a carpenters mallet

[Alison]

I tend to grow my swede slightly close together so they don't get huge and therefore easier to manage. Never boil veggies (apart from spuds) but will either peel, cut into chunks and steam or roast. Don't really find them difficult to prepare but that could be because I don't let them get huge.

[rustylady]

I wonder whether a zap in the microwave would speed up the cooking?

Well it does with jacket potatoes

[Snadger]

Sounds good...................................

Would also work with hedgehogs..................................