Learn to cook dinner parsnips! Carefully associated to carrots, this humble root vegetable has a candy, nutty taste. It is scrumptious roasted, mashed, and extra.
The standard parsnip is among the most underrated greens. It’s low-cost, versatile, straightforward to work with, and PACKED with taste…however most of us cook dinner it hardly ever, if in any respect.
I believe it’s time parsnips acquired much more love, so I’m sharing my full information to them under. You’ll learn to cook dinner them, easy methods to retailer them, and discover my favourite parsnip recipes. I hope you’ll give this tasty root vegetable an opportunity!
What’s a parsnip?
A parsnip is a pale, tapered root vegetable that resembles a white carrot. The resemblance is smart, as a result of parsnips and carrots are cousins. They’re each members of the Apiaceae household, together with fennel, parsley, celery, and extra.
What do parsnips style like?
Parsnips have a starchy texture and candy, nutty, and earthy taste.
Enjoyable reality: In contrast to many crops, parsnips profit from chilly temperatures whereas they’re within the floor. A chilly snap converts the roots’ starches to sugars, making them sweeter.
Although parsnips are extensively obtainable all through the autumn and winter, the sweetest ones are harvested in spring. These have been overwintered (left within the floor in the course of the winter), so they’re excessive in pure sugars.
Prepare dinner Parsnips
There are such a lot of methods to cook dinner this versatile root veggie! I take pleasure in
- including it to soups and stews,
- boiling and mashing it,
- shaving it for salads,
- and utilizing it in desserts (assume carrot cake, however with parsnips).
However my favourite methodology for easy methods to cook dinner parsnips is roasting. Right here’s easy methods to do it:
Begin with 1 1/2 kilos parsnips. Search for ones which can be small to medium in measurement, as massive parsnips usually have a tricky woody core. They need to be agency, not flimsy, and freed from any comfortable or browned spots.
Subsequent, chop them. No must peel! Probably the most flavorful half is correct below the pores and skin, so peeling can strip away taste. As a substitute, give every root scrub and lower the parsnips into 1/2-inch-thick matchsticks.
Then, season them. Place the veggies on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle them generously with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and unfold in a fair layer on the pan.
Roast in a 425°F oven for 30 to 40 minutes, or till tender and browned.
You may cease there, however a easy dressing actually takes this recipe excessive!
Whereas they’re nonetheless heat, toss the roasted roots with a easy mixture of olive oil, garlic, and recent rosemary. Add a squeeze of recent lemon juice and a sprinkle of gremolata (or chopped parsley), and toss once more. Season to style and serve!
Discover the entire recipe with measurements under.
Storage
Retailer the roasted veggies in an hermetic container within the fridge for as much as 3 days. Reheat within the microwave or a 350°F oven.
Retailer recent parsnips within the fridge for as much as 3 weeks. They maintain greatest wrapped in a towel or a plastic bag.
Favourite Parsnip Recipes
Searching for extra methods to cook dinner this flavorful veggie? We love these straightforward recipes:
And in order for you simpler veggie sides, strive these roasted Brussels sprouts, baked candy potatoes, or roasted greens subsequent.

Roasted Parsnips
Serves 4
This recipe is one in all our favourite cooking strategies for parsnips! They arrive out completely tender with crisp, golden brown edges. Lemon juice, recent herbs, and garlic take this straightforward facet dish excessive.
Forestall your display from going darkish
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Preheat the oven to 425°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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Place the parsnips on the baking sheet. Drizzle generously with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Toss to coat and unfold evenly on the baking sheet. Roast for 30 to 40 minutes, or till tender and browned across the edges.
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In a big bowl, whisk collectively the olive oil, rosemary, and garlic. Add the parsnips and toss to coat. Add the gremolata and lemon juice and toss once more. Season to style and serve.
Sources used for this text: Six Seasons by Joshua McFadden; Johnny’s Chosen Seeds