Swede, also called rutabaga or Swedish turnip, is a root vegetable that arose as a natural cross between cabbage and turnip, with firm, pale-yellow flesh and a mildly sweet, earthy, slightly bitter flavor. It is thought to have first appeared in Scandinavia around the 17th century and spread through Northern Europe from there; it's now also grown commercially in North America. Swede is often confused with turnip: though related, they are different species - turnip (Brassica rapa) has white flesh and a sharper, more peppery bite, while swede (Brassica napus) has yellow-orange flesh and a sweeter flavor. In Scotland and parts of England, "turnip" colloquially refers to swede, adding to the mix-up. It's a staple in Nordic dishes like Swedish rotmos and Finnish lanttulaatikko, in British shepherd's pie and cottage pie, and in Indian curries and vegetable dishes; it pairs well with thyme, rosemary, caraway, other root vegetables, and roasted meats.