How do you roast your parsnips?

[punkypossum]

Parsnips are pretty much unknown in Germany, and my mum says she has never been very keen on them, but by the sounds of it has never had them roasted. So, she wants to give them another go and has asked me for "parsnip roasting recipes". I need her first impressions to be good, so hopefully I will get served some on my next visit, but as I tend to buy the frozen ones , I'm not an expert on roasting them.

How do you do yours? Any tips and tricks?

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Cut them into "chips" longways and salt them. As with all roast veg, the secret is getting the oil smoking hot before putting them in. I like mine practically carbonised, but I know that makes me a bit odd, so if your mum roasts them until they're golden, they'll be delicious. Should take maybe half an hour.

 

[allen-uk]

Buy proper ones (cheaper and better than frozen).

Peel, clean.

Slice into long thickish lengths (5mm ish?)

Chuck into boiling salted water for 5 mins MAX. Drain, dunk into cold water for 5-10 mins while you heat oil/fat in roasting tin in oven quite hot (mark 8ish gas).

Drain the parsnips, dry off a bit (put a bit of kitchen towel on the table, put the drained parsnips on it). Just saves them sparkling too much when you put them in the oven tin, also stops them cooling the hot oil.

Put them in the hot oil, back in the oven (high shelf), look at them in 15 mins, turn if nec, keep doing that for 30-40 mins until getting crisped and brownish. Serve immediately. They don't keep well once cooked.

A.

 

[puddleglum]

Daft Possum

 

[punkypossum]

It's a valid question! I'm just collecting insider tips and information - where is your method then????

 

[allen-uk]

Those silly little smiley things (which I don't like or use) - is there one of them for obscenities, so that I can put in "I think you're a stupid ...." and get away with it?

A

 

[puddleglum]

Par boil them in salted water, after chopping etc, of course. Dry them thoroughly. Very thoroughly. Then roast in hot oil for 20 - 30 minutes. A little bit of saffron sprinkled on them is nice. All this is for proper dinner, like at Xmas. Normally frozen ones will do. In other words, just treat them similarly to roast spuds, but cooked for a shorter time.

 

[badkitty]

Daft Possum

Lol!

 

[Rhythm Thief]

Why, just out of interest, would you buy frozen ones? Fresh ones aren't expensive or difficult to prepare. All you need to do is peel them and chop the ends off.

 

[puddleglum]

Why, just out of interest, would you buy frozen ones? Fresh ones aren't expensive or difficult to prepare. All you need to do is peel them and chop the ends off.

Absolutely true. But Aldi don't always do fresh ones - it's all very hit and miss. And to go to a different shop would (shock horror) break my routine. And being a creature of habit, I couldn't have that!
And, when Punky comes to tea, she is quite happy to munch away on the frozen ones.

 

[punkypossum]

Stop rambling puddle! Mother not interested in aldi stock levels, she just wants to know how to do parsnips!!!!

 

[puddleglum]

i have already explained to her - at length.....

 

[Flying_Monkey]

I go with allen-uk's technique on this. Parsnips need parboiling. A bit of honey and some sesame seeds, or orange zest mixed in a few minutes before they are ready is also great as a finishing touch.

 

[P.H]

Keep it simple. Jamie Oliver method - cut lengthways, half for small ones quarters for larger. Put in bowl, add a little oil, seasoning, herbs, toss till veg is coated in oil, roast on baking tray for 30 - 40 min. Shoud be golden.
I like to roast a few veg together, in the same way, parsnips, carrots, new spuds, red onion, it's a bit of an art cutting them to a size that they'll all be ready together.

 

[PaulB]

They're bloody parsnips. Save yourself all the effort and cut them in half, boil them for 20 minutes then chuck them in the bin and eat something good. S'what I do!