Roasting vegetables at home often calls for potatoes, carrots, and parsnips. Discover the best ways of preparing and cooking parsnips, along with the rest of your roast.
How to cook parsnip
You can cook parsnip in the same way as potatoes. Parsnips are ideal for roasting, mashing, steaming, or boiling. When you prepare a parsnip for cooking, first remove the tops and bottoms since these can be tough. Some recipes require parsnip to be cooked unpeeled, but use your judgment and peel any that remain dirty, even after washing. Explore dinner ideas incorporating this versatile vegetable for quick meal ideas featuring parsnips.
How to cook parsnip in an air fryer
Chop and peel parsnips before air frying. Aim for equally sized pieces that will cook evenly and fit into the air fryer tray without overcrowding. Set your air fryer to 200°C, and put the parsnip in to cook for 12 minutes — until it becomes golden in colour.
Try pairing air-fried parsnips with dishes like spiced chicken and garlic butter potatoes for a healthy twist on a classic meal.
How to roast parsnip
To roast parsnip:
- Begin by washing and peeling each parsnip.
- Put a pan of water on to boil.
- Top and tail each parsnip, peeling the outer layer of skin off.
- Cut each parsnip into equally sized sections, either as coins or as two pieces cut down the middle, from top to bottom.
- Put the parsnip pieces carefully into the boiling water to avoid splashing.
- Reduce the heat to simmer the vegetables for no longer than 10 minutes.
- Strain the vegetables and spread them out on a roasting tin.
- Baste the parsnips with the juices from your roasting pan.
- Leave the parsnips in your preheated oven for 40 minutes, moving them around and basting them once or twice as they cook.
- Remove from the oven and serve.
Parsnip: how to cook with it
Although roasting parsnips is the traditional way to cook them, you can treat them as carrots by boiling or steaming them. Remember to top and tail parsnips and peel them before plunging them into boiling water. If you are boiling them, allow 15 minutes of cooking time, or a little less if you have cut them into small pieces. Steaming parsnips will take a little longer. Expect them to be cooked through after 18 minutes. Prod them with a fork to check they're done.
Tips on how to cook parsnip like a pro
Try these top cooking tips if you want your parsnips to come out perfect every time:
- When air frying, take the parsnips out of the fryer a few times to toss them around during the cooking process. Doing this will result in more even cooking and crispiness.
- You can improve the golden colour of roasted parsnips by adding a little turmeric when parboiling them.
- Before putting them in the oven, rub flour over the outside of your parsnips, which will help achieve a light, crispy outer texture.
For more creative ideas, check out our collection of vegetarian recipes featuring parsnips and other root vegetables.
Best parsnip recipes
No matter what kind of dish you are trying to cook, parsnip will be ever-present in your kitchen! At HelloFresh, we are aware of that and got you a few ideas! You can check out this roasted parsnip and carrots recipe if you're craving something lighter and vegetarian-friendly.
If you are a meat lover hunting for a heartier meal, consider adding roasted parsnips to lamb rump and parsnip mash — the combination is otherworldly. Alternatively, you could try spiced gravy chicken & cheesy parsnip mash, which showcases parsnip in a creamy blend. No matter the way you go, you will certainly be satisfied and hungry for more!
Parsnip Dishes FAQ
Should parsnip be boiled before roasting?
Parboiling parsnip helps speed up the cooking process when roasting. However, if you are slow-roasting parsnip anyway, there is no need to go through this step before putting them in the oven.
Is it better to steam or boil parsnip?
Boiling parsnip exposes it to more evenly distributed heat, which can lead to a superior texture without toughness. On the other hand, steaming parsnip helps retain nutrients and more of their distinctive flavour.
How do you cut and cook parsnip?
Cut off the tops and bottoms of parsnip, then dispose of the ends. Once peeled, you can cut the parsnip into coin shapes. Since it gets thinner at one end, it is often preferable to cut the root vegetable lengthwise in half to cook it more evenly. You can then steam, boil, or roast the parsnip.
Do you have to peel parsnip before cooking?
Peeling is recommended since parsnip grows in the ground, which means the skins are in direct contact with soil. However, as long as you wash them thoroughly, peeling isn't essential for young, small parsnips.
Can you eat parsnip raw?
Yes, you can eat parsnip raw like other root vegetables, such as carrots. If you want to eat them as raw veggie snacks, just make sure you wash, peel, and cut them into bite-sized batons.