Singing swede - listen to the whistle!

I don't know about you, but there's a real feel of Autumn in the air and though I'm loathe to say goodbye to summer, I do love Autumn and Winter for all the yummy stews, soups and casseroles and filling my shopping trolley with all the wintery veg - swede being one of them.

Swede is a wonderful vegetable and is season from September through to November so the best time to start adding it your weekly food plan.

Interesting swede facts

1. Americans call it a rutabaga
2. It is part of the cabbage family
3. Scots call is neeps and it is the traditional accompaniment to haggis on Burns Night
4. Before pumpkins became the Halloween carving vegetable of choice, swedes were the most common vegetable used for carving as scary lanterns (I remember specifically carving swedes for Halloween as a kid!)
5. Swedes are low in calories and are a great replacement for potatoes in most dishes
6. They are packed full of fibre, nutrients and vitamins in particular vitamins A and C

My favourite swede recipe

I won't lie, I didn't have a clue what to do with a swede until a few years back and then I was introduced to the 'Singing Swede' which is now one of my favourite winter side dishes and appears on my menu at least once a week.  Its so simple to prepare and requires the minimum of effort which is always a win in my opinion!

How to make singing swede - ingredients and equipment:

1) a swede 

2) a microwave

3) a microwaveable plate

4) a sharp knife and a spoon

Method

- Put your swede on the plate

- Put your swede in the microwave, a medium size swede (as pictured below with a dessert spoon for size comparison) needs approximately 10 minutes on high, then turn it over and repeat for another 10 minutes.

You do not need to pierce the swede before cooking - literally just whack the whole thing straight from your shelf onto the plate and into the microwave!

- after two 10 minute sessions in the microwave, it should look something like this:

Be very careful when removing the plate from the microwave - its going to be hot!

How to check if its done?

Simply insert your sharp knife through the middle and if it slides in easily, its done.  If it doesn't, simply turn it over again and put it back in the microwave for another 5 mins and repeat the knife test.

- to serve. I slice my swede through the middle and use a spoon to scoop out the insides

And that's it - simply serve with your dinner!  It's so delicious and tastes really buttery. 

Why is it called Singing Swede?  A question lots of people ask!

It's because as its cooking in the microwave, it whistles!  So don't be disturbed if you hear unusual noises coming from your microwave!

Do let me know if you try it!

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