Root Vegetable Purée Recipes

PUREE OF THREE ROOT VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Put all the vegetables in a large saucepan,cover with cold water and simmer, covered, 25-30 minutes or until tender; drain vegetables, reserving 1/2 cup of the cooking liquid.
• Force the potatoes through a ricer into a bowl or mash them in the bowl with a potato masher.
• Puree the parsnips in a food processor with the butter; stir into the potatoes.
• Coarsely shred the carrots into the bowl and gently but thoroughly stir them in, adding salt and pepper to taste and enough of the cooking liquid to attain the preferred consistency.
• Can be made the day before and refrigerated; reheat in microwave to serve.

SAVORY MASHED ROOT VEGETABLES

Steps:

• Place all the vegetables and garlic in a large pot and fill with cool water to cover; season with a teaspoon of salt. Bring to boil over medium heat and simmer for about 30 minutes, until the vegetables are very tender.
• While the vegetables are cooking, combine the heavy cream, butter, and herbs in a pot and heat over low flame to melt the butter and infuse the herb flavor into the cream ¿ do not allow to boil. Shut off the heat, cover, and let steep until needed. When ready to use, remove the herb stems and the bay leaves.
• Drain vegetables and put them into a large mixing bowl. Mash with a potato masher. Stir in the warm cream mixture and mix until the liquid is absorbed and the vegetables are smooth; season with salt and pepper. Put the mashed root vegetables in a serving bowl, garnish with chopped chives and drizzle with a healthy dose of olive oil.

ROOT VEGETABLE PUREE

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Brush the carrots, parsnips, turnip and sweet potato with the olive oil and place the vegetables on a large baking sheet. Roast until tender, about 30-45 minutes, turning frequently. Set aside to cool.
• Peel the sweet potato. Finely chop all of the roasted vegetables and transfer to a large saucepan.
• Add the celery root, mace, nutmeg, thyme, broth and Sherry vinegar. Bring to a boil and simmer over medium heat for 15 minutes. Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree until smooth. Add the salt and pepper. Serve with the veal shanks.

ROOT VEGETABLE PURéE

Steps:

• In a large saucepan cover rutabagas and carrots with salted water. Bring water to a boil and simmer, covered, until vegetables are very tender, 40 to 50 minutes.
• While rutabagas and carrots are simmering, peel potatoes and cut into 1/4-inch pieces. In another large saucepan cover potatoes with salted water. Bring water to a boil and simmer potatoes, covered, until tender, 15 to 20 minutes.
• Drain rutabagas and carrots well in a large sieve and in a food processor puree until smooth. Drain potatoes well in sieve and force through a ricer or food mill fitted with a medium disk into a large bowl. Stir in rutabaga-carrot puree, butter, and salt and pepper to taste and combine well. Puree may be 3 days ahead and chilled, covered. Reheat puree before serving.

MARBLEIZED ROOT VEGETABLE PURéE

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 2-quart baking dish. Cook potatoes, turnips, parsnips and pear in large pot of boiling salted water until very tender, about 20 minutes. Drain. Return to pot. Stir over low heat until excess moisture evaporates, about 1 minute. Add cream and 5 tablespoons butter and mash until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Meanwhile, cook carrots in another large pot of boiling salted water until tender, about 15 minutes. Drain. Transfer to processor. Add 2 tablespoons butter and 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg and puree until smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
• Alternate potato and carrot purees by 1/2 cupfuls in baking dish. Draw knife through purees to marbleize. Melt 1 tablespoon butter. Drizzle over purees. Sprinkle with additional nutmeg. Cover with foil. (Can be made 1 day ahead; chill.) Bake covered puree until heated through, about 35 minutes (or 45 minutes if chilled).