Hakurei Turnips: Easy Japanese Turnip Recipe

Learn how to cook Hakurei turnips perfectly, in just 20 minutes! This Japanese turnip recipe works in the oven or air fryer, and has the BEST miso maple sauce.

Full ingredients + instructions are on the recipe card at the end. Before you scroll or jump down, don’t miss the useful tips in the post!

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When you’re looking for a new vegetable to try, make Hakurei turnips! Also known as a Japanese turnip or Tokyo turnip, these veggies are sweet and crisp when raw, but turn buttery when cooked. You can roast this Japanese turnip recipe in the oven or cook them even faster in an air fryer. Then, they are tossed in a sweet and savory miso maple sauce — it’s a delicious way to enjoy them.

Air frying fresh produce is a great way to cook vegetables because it’s so easy and they always end up delicious! If you don’t have Japanese turnips around, try air fryer eggplant and air fryer zucchini chips.

What Is A Tokyo Turnip?

Tokyo turnips are also known as Hakurei turnips or Japanese turnips. They are a Japanese variety root vegetable that has a mild flavor, natural sweetness, and a juicy, crunchy texture. These white radishes are sometimes compared to a cross between red radishes and regular turnips.

What do Tokyo turnips taste like?

When the Tokyo turnips are cooked, they have a buttery flavor. When raw, they are sweet and crispy.

Ingredients For Roasted Hakurei Turnips

This section explains how to choose the best ingredients for roasted Hakurei turnips, what each one does in the recipe, and substitution options. For measurements, see the recipe card below.

For the turnips:

• Japenese turnips – Look for a bunch of Hakurei turnips that is white and firm. They look like white radishes.
• Oil – I used olive oil, but avocado oil or even sesame oil will also work. If using sesame oil, be sure it’s not the toasted kind, which has a low smoke point.
• Sea salt & black pepper

For the miso dressing:

• Miso paste – Use a rice-based miso paste so that it’s gluten-free.
• Rice vinegar – Rice vinegar will add most authentic flavor, but other vinegars are fine as well.
• Maple Syrup – Regular maple syrup is fine if sugar content is not a concern for you, but I prefer to use For the perfect sweet and savory dressing in this recipe, I turn to Wholesome Yum Sugar Free Maple Syrup. It’s 100% natural, with real maple flavor!
• Lime juice – Two tablespoons is equivalent to the juice from one lime. Bottled lime juice is also fine, but less flavorful. Fresh lemon juice is fine as well.
• Sesame seeds – Use white or black sesame seeds.
• Oil – Use the same oil you used for roasting (options above).

How To Cook Hakurei Turnips

This section shows how to make Tokyo turnips with step-by-step photos and details about the technique. For full instructions, see the recipe card below.

• Chop. Cut the turnips into halves for small turnips or quarters for larger turnips.

• Season. Toss the turnip wedges with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
• Roast. Place turnips in a single layer in the air fryer or on sheet pans, and roast in the air fryer or the oven, respectively, tossing halfway through cooking time. If using the air fryer, be sure not to crowd the basket; cook in batches if necessary.

FYI: The air fryer is about 1.5X faster than the oven, which is why it’s my favorite way, but both methods are delicious.

• Make miso dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together miso paste, rice vinegar, maple syrup, lime juice, sesame seeds, and olive oil.

• Serve. Toss air fryer Japanese turnips with miso dressing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where to buy Hakurei turnips?

Hakurei turnips are most common in the late spring, summer, and early fall, but are available year round. You’ll find them at farmer’s markets and grocery stores that have an abundant produce section.

Can you eat Japanese turnip greens?

Yes, the leafy greens are edible, so don’t throw them away. The leafy tops can be sauteed over medium heat with a little salt or soy sauce. For this Japanese turnip recipe, I left some of the green tops on the turnips.

Are Japanese turnips good for you?

Yes, they are low in calories and high in a variety of nutrients like fiber, calcium, iron, magnesium, and vitamin C.

Do Japanese turnips need to be peeled?

No, you don’t have to peel Japanese turnips, but you can if you want to. You can also leave the turnip tops on, like I did here.

Storage Instructions

• To store: Store this recipe for Hakurei turnips in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• To reheat: Reheat turnips in a 350 degree F oven or air fryer, or the microwave, until warm. They are also delicious at room temperature.
• To freeze: Freeze this Tokyo turnip recipe without the miso dressing for up to 6 months.

What To Serve With Hakurei Turnips

More Healthy Vegetable Recipes

If you like this Hakurei turnip recipe, you might also like some of these other easy vegetable recipes: