19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (2024)

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19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (1)

By Emma Singer

Published Jan 26, 2022

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It’s winter, which means that your local farmer’s market is replete with root vegetables of every size and description. But before you reach for that butternut squash (again), why not consider the oft-overlooked, yet oh-so tasty parsnip instead? Sweet, nutty and mildly spicy—these cream-colored beauties are rich in both fiber and vitamin C, and boast a starchy texture that’s well-suited for roasting, mashing and puréeing into soup. Read on for a roundup of the best parsnip recipes around so you can add these seasonal gems to your rotation stat.

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19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (2)

Feed Me Phoebe

1. Gluten-free Sweet Potato Kugel With Spiralized Parsnips

No need to wait for a Jewish high holiday to enjoy this hearty potato and parsnip kugel from Coterie member Phoebe Lapine. It’s gluten-free, Paleo and Whole 30-friendly and goes down easy on any occasion.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (3)

Nosh With Micah

2. Creamy Parsnip And Apple Soup With Parsley Oil

The near perfect union of parsnip and apple gets a boost from the bright flavor of parsley oil and lemon in this silky, palate-pleasing soup.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (4)

The Mess is Ours

3. Roasted Carrot And Parsnip White Truffle Salad

Serve this gluten-free salad at room temperature and don’t forget the truffle oil—you know, because you’re fancy.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (5)

Feasting at Home

4. Roasted Parsnips With Romesco Sauce

Here, plain roasted parsnips get a major flavor upgrade from a creamy, smoky romesco sauce that’s yummy enough to eat by the spoonful.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (6)

Inspiralized

5. Spiralized Parsnip Nests With Eggs, Bacon And Arugula

These parsnip nests, courtesy of Coterie member Ali Maffucci, boast a baked egg and crumbled bacon garnish, not to mention a presentation so pretty you’ll want to throw a brunch party.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (7)

Feed Me Phoebe

6. Parsnip Chowder With Crispy Sage

A hearty chowder featuring a swoon-worthy flavor combination of sweet, creamy parsnips and musky sage; it’s like a warm hug on a winter day.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (8)

Oh My Veggies

7. Butternut Squash And Parsnip Tart

This sheet pan tart is a cinch to make, thanks to store-bought frozen puff pastry, and the rich, creamy topping of roasted root veggies, ricotta and fresh herbs tastes as good as it looks.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (9)

Healthfully Ever After

8. Parsnip Soufflé

Coterie member Carlene Thomas’s parsnip soufflé is a guilt-free indulgence that has all the decadence of a classic soufflé without the copious amounts of dairy.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (10)

A House in the Hills

9. Paprika Parsnip Fries With Lemon Cashew Cream Sauce

The most difficult thing about this recipe is deciding whether to drizzle the lemon cashew cream sauce (points for presentation), use it as a dipping sauce (practical), or just drink it on its own (tempting).

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (11)

Spend with Pennies

10. Maple Roasted Parsnips

Change up your roasting rootine (sorry, had to) with a little maple syrup and you’ll be rewarded with caramelized parsnips that are perfectly crisped and oh-so sweet.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (12)

The Mess Is Ours

11. Quinoa, Carrot And Parsnip Cakes

Here, an extremely quick quinoa, carrot and parsnip batter yields dense little gluten-free cakes that are pan fried to perfection, packed with protein and downright delicious.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (13)

Dinner at the Zoo

12. Simple Roasted Parsnips

PSA: It doesn’t take more than salt, pepper and EVOO to make a mouthwatering parsnip side dish.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (14)

The Simple Veganista

13. Parsnip And Split Pea Soup

The split pea gets a bad rap but no more, thanks to this hearty and well-balanced soup, which boasts a harmonious blend of parsnip, carrot, onion, fresh herbs and, well, you know what else.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (15)

Gimme Some Oven

14. Slow Cooker Root Vegetable Stew

Send your parsnips to the slow cooker to mingle with other seasonal heavy hitters (carrots, potatoes and butternut squash, to name a few) and you’ll be rewarded with a healthy vegetarian stew that boasts big flavor and visual appeal, to boot.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (16)

Minimalist Baker

15. Curry Roasted Parsnip Fries

Curry powder gives these baked parsnip fries a seriously addictive kick; pair them with a dipping sauce of your choosing and you’ll never look at regular fries the same.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (17)

Nosh with Micah

16. Parsnip Potato Latkes

Shredded parsnip + potato latkes = a match made in foodie heaven.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (18)

Spend with Pennies

17. Mashed Turnips And Parsnips

Pair this creamy, fluffy root mash with a generous dollop of butter and prepare to draft a Dear John to the spud in your life.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (19)

The Pig and Quill

18. Spicy Parsnip Hummus

This spicy purée of parsnip, tahini, red pepper flake and paprika belongs on every Paleo-friendly crudité platter.

19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (20)

Inspiralized

19. Parsnip Carbonara With Brussels Sprouts

Why blow your diet over a craving for the classic Italian dish when you can dig into a veggie-based alternative that’s just as creamy and decadent (and decidedly healthier)?

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19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (21)

Emma Singer

Freelance PureWow Editor

Emma Singer is a freelance contributing editor and writer at PureWow who has over 7 years of professional proofreading, copyediting and writing experience. At PureWow, she covers...

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19 Parsnip Recipes That Will Earn the Veggie a Regular Spot on Your Dinner Table (2024)

FAQs

What can you use parsnips for? ›

Parsnips are a classic ingredient in some chicken broths and soups, and can also be baked, sauteed, steamed, mashed or pureed, roasted, used in stews and fried. The parsnip is a root vegetable related to both carrots and parsley (and, come to think of it, don't the tops of carrots look a lot like parsley?).

What to do with too many parsnips? ›

9 ways to use up a glut of parsnips
  1. Parsnip Soup. Brenda, Beverley and suggested soup, with curried parsnip soup being suggested too along with curried parsnip and butter bean. ...
  2. Parsnip cake. A few members raved about parsnip cake! ...
  3. Parsnip jam. ...
  4. Parsnip wine. ...
  5. Parsnip crisps. ...
  6. Lactofermentation. ...
  7. Mash them. ...
  8. Add to stews.

What is the difference between a turnip and a parsnip? ›

Parsnips have a long root like carrots while turnips are round like radishes. Parsnips are sweeter than turnips, with a hint of licorice taste. Parsnips are in the same family as carrots, while turnips are in the same family as cabbage. That gives you an idea of their taste and how they can be used.

Can parsnip be eaten raw? ›

Yes, you can eat parsnips raw. In fact, they make a delightful alternative to raw carrot sticks for dunking into homemade houmous. Raw grated parsnip is also a tasty addition to salads. Just make sure you wash your parsnips well before chopping them and slice off any bits of skin that might look bruised or blackened.

What pairs well with parsnips? ›

The flavor of parsnips pairs well with other root vegetables, like beets, sweet potatoes, and carrots. They're also delicious with cauliflower, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. Don't be afraid to roast these parsnips with other veggies of choice for a fiber-rich, delicious side dish.

Do I need to peel parsnips before cooking? ›

How to prepare parsnips. Young, small parsnips don't really need peeling – just scrub clean and serve whole. Older parsnips should be peeled very thinly with a peeler or sharp knife, then chopped into evenly sized chunks. If the central core is very fibrous, this should be cut away.

Which is healthier, potato or parsnip? ›

Parsnips have received favor as a substitution for potatoes, which is higher in sugar and carbohydrates. But you don't have to be counting your carbs to enjoy parsnips! They are a flavorful addition to any meal and worthy of being an attention-grabbing vegetable.

How do you eat a parsnip? ›

To eat parsnips raw, simply wash, peel, and cut them up. They are sweet and delicious and make a great salad paired with sliced apples, walnuts, and a sharp-tasting green such as arugula. Parsnips can also be boiled, steamed, sautéed, roasted, or fried. Wash and peel parsnips and cut into “sticks” about 1 ½” thick.

What vegetable is a parsnip similar to? ›

Parsnips are root vegetables closely related to carrots and parsley, all of which belong to the Apiaceae family. It has a cream-colored skin and flesh and a long, tapered taproot like that of a carrot. Native to Eurasia, Parsnips have been cultivated since the time of the Romans.

When should you not eat a parsnip? ›

Store in the refrigerator in an unsealed bag for 3+ weeks. If a raw parsnip becomes soft and squishy, this is a sign of rot and it should no longer be eaten.

What is the number 1 healthiest food in the world? ›

Watercress (also called watercress) contains a variety of vitamins, minerals, and secondary plant compounds. Just 100 grams of the herb would be enough to cover most of the daily requirement of Vitamin C, meaning watercress contains far more Vitamin C than even oranges and lemons, making it the ultimate immune booster.

Why should you not peel parsnips? ›

Some vegetables, like celery root, have tough outer peels, which we always remove. Parsnips we assess on a case-by-case basis; the best flavor is actually right below the skin, so we try to avoid removing too much.

Are parsnips better for you than potatoes? ›

What sets parsnips apart is their low-calorie content and high fiber, making them an excellent alternative to starchy vegetables like potatoes. In fact, for two centuries, parsnips were the primary source of dietary starch in the US before potatoes took over. But there's more to parsnips than just nutrition.

What does a parsnip taste like? ›

A parsnip is a long, tapered root vegetable. It resembles a carrot in this way, and indeed they are part of the same family. But parsnips don't taste like carrots. They're sweeter—think sweet potatoes—and they have a delicious naturally nutty or earthy flavor.

Do parsnips taste like potatoes? ›

Parsnips do not taste like potatoes. They have a lot more flavor, which can be described as sweet and woody or earthy.

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