Turnips

The poor turnip has such a bad public image that many cooks are scared off by the very idea of eating it, much less making a soup out of it. I don’t know where turnips got this reputation, because they not only make wonderful soup by themselves; they’re also delicious cooked with other vegetables—in minestrone, for instance. They have a great affinity for smoked meats, so if you’re using turnips as the main ingredient in a soup, it’s a good idea to include bacon, smoked ham, or a smoked ham hock. It is true that if they’re too old they’re often a little bitter.