Creamed Parsnips Recipee

CREAMY MASHED PARSNIPS

Steps:

• Cut parsnips into 1-inch pieces, place in a large saucepan and cover with cold water.
• Add 1 teaspoon salt, bring to a boil, lower heat and simmer until very tender, about 12 minutes.
• Drain parsnips well and combine in a food processor with cream, butter, nutmeg and remaining teaspoon salt.
• Process until smooth. Reheat if necessary before serving.

JULIA CHILD CREAMED PARSNIPS

Steps:

• Combine water and salt and heat over medium to simmering to dissolve; add parsnips and cook until soft, about 20 minutes.
• Drain well, then put into a food processor together with the butter and cream and whir until smooth.
• Pour into a double boiler and heat gently over medium for 15 minutes.
• Season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper, and serve immediately.
• Notes: for a lowfat version, you can use Butter Buds and evaporated skim milk instead of butter and cream; a pinch of nutmeg is also a nice addition.

CREAMED PARSNIPS

Steps:

• Squeeze lemon juice over parsnips, ensuring all pieces are covered.
• Melt butter in a saucepan and add parsnips once it begins to foam. Stir to coat and then add water.
• Cook on low heat for 15 minutes until tender and broken down.
• Slowly bring the double cream to a gentle boil.
• Place the parsnips and cream in a blender, season with salt and pepper, and puree until smooth. They can also be pressed through a sieve after being pureed to ensure a smoother finish.

PARSNIP PUREE

Steps:

• Put parsnips in a pot, season with salt and cover with milk and cream. Add garlic, bay and thyme then place over medium heat and bring to a simmer. Cook until tender, the tip of a paring knife should easily go through without resistance - about 12 to 15 minutes.
• Place parsnips in a food processor with butter and pour in enough of the milk mixture to puree the parsnips and achieve the texture of whipped cream. Season with salt and pepper then finish with a sprinkle of parsley.

CREAMY PARSNIP & MUSTARD GRATIN

Steps:

• Slice enough parsnips thinly lengthways to cover the surface of a small ovenproof dish, then slice the rest thinly into rounds. Combine the milk, cream, stock, mustard and half the cheese in a large, lidded saucepan and bring to the boil. Add a good grating of nutmeg and some seasoning - the sweet parsnips can take a bit of salt - then tip in the parsnips. When the cream is simmering again, cover and cook for 6 mins.
• Using tongs, fish out the long slices of parsnip and set aside. Tip the rest into your dish, then arrange the long slices over the top. Scatter with the rest of the cheese and another grating of nutmeg. Can be chilled for up to 24 hrs.
• To serve, heat oven to 180C/fan 160C/gas 4 and bake for 1 hr, then turn up to 200C/fan 180C/gas 6 and brown for 15 mins more - you can do this while the pie is resting.

CREAMY LEEK AND PARSNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Put olive oil in a heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add leeks and parsnips, and stir to coat. Add the 2 teaspoons salt and pepper to taste.
• Let vegetables sizzle and cook, stirring frequently until nearly caramelized, but without browning, until softened, 10 to 15 minutes.
• Add bay leaf, turmeric and garlic, and stir to coat. Increase heat to high, add water or broth, and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and cook for 10 minutes more. Taste broth and adjust seasoning.
• With a blender, purée soup to a creamy consistency. (Small batches work best.) Thin with water or broth, if necessary - it should be like a thin milkshake, not thick and porridge-like.
• Reheat the soup before serving. Serve plain, or give each bowl a drizzle of extra-virgin olive oil or a dollop of crème fraîche or yogurt, if desired.

CREAMY ROASTED PARSNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Preheat an oven to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C).
• Place the parsnips and carrots into a mixing bowl, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Toss to coat the vegetables with oil, then season to taste with salt and pepper. Spread the vegetables evenly over a baking sheet.
• Roast in the preheated oven until the parsnips are tender and golden brown, about 30 minutes.
• Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and celery. Cook and stir until the vegetables have softened and the onion is beginning to turn golden brown, about 7 minutes. Reduce the heat to low, and stir in the butter, garlic, brown sugar, and the roasted parsnips and carrots. Continue to cook and stir until all of the vegetables are very tender and beginning to brown, about 10 minutes.
• Season with the ginger, cardamom, allspice, nutmeg, and cayenne pepper; stir for 1 minute. Pour in the chicken stock, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium-low, partially cover, and simmer gently until all of the vegetables are very tender, about 15 minutes.
• Pour the soup into a blender, filling the pitcher no more than halfway full. Hold down the lid of the blender with a folded kitchen towel, and carefully start the blender, using a few quick pulses to get the soup moving before leaving it on to puree. Puree in batches until smooth and pour into a clean pot. Alternately, you can use a stick blender and puree the soup right in the cooking pot.
• Stir in the milk and cream. Return to a simmer over medium-low heat. Season to taste with salt and pepper before serving.

CREAMY PARSNIP MASH

Steps:

• Place the parsnips in a saucepan with water to cover. Add the bouillon and lemon juice. Simmer for 20 minutes or until very tender; drain. Mash, adding the butter and cream. Season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately, garnished with snipped chives.

CREAMY PARSNIP & SQUASH BAKE

Steps:

• Place the cream, onion or shallot and the thyme sprig into a small pan. Slowly heat to just below boiling point, then remove from the heat and leave to cool. Strain, discarding the onion and thyme.
• Heat oven to 160C/fan 140C/gas 4. Rub the bottom and sides of a gratin dish measuring about 20cm x 30cm with butter. Peel the parsnips and trim the ends. Peel and scoop the seeds out of the squash. Thinly slice the vegetables.
• Layer the parsnip and squash in the dish, pour over the infused cream, then scatter with the thyme leaves and gruyère. Bake for 1 hr until golden and a fork slides easily into the veg.

CREAMY BRAISED PARSNIPS WITH SAGE

Steps:

• In a large straight-sided skillet, heat oil over medium-high. Add parsnips and saute until lightly browned, 4 minutes. Add broth and sage and bring to a simmer. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and cook until tender, 8 minutes. Uncover, increase heat to high, and cook until liquid is reduced by half. Stir in cream and season with salt and pepper.

CREAMY PARSNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Heat butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add leeks (reserving 1/2 cup for garnish). Cook, stirring, 5 minutes.
• Add parsnips, apples, potato, broth, and 4 cups water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer, partially covered, until vegetables are tender, 20 to 25 minutes.
• Working in batches, puree soup in a blender until smooth. Return it to pot; stir in cream. Season with salt and pepper. Serve with Leek Garnish.
• To make leek garnish, in a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high. Add reserved 1/2 cup leeks; cook, stirring, until golden brown, about 3 minutes.