Maple roasted parsnips are sweet, soft and sticky with an earthy, peppery and toffee-like flavour. They’re a delicious side dish to meats like chicken, turkey or pork, or vegetarian dishes like nut loaf or burger patties.
I love the sweet, earthy flavour of parsnips. Yet, not everyone likes them as I do. It seems that parsnips are an acquired taste and texture.
I guess only those of you who enjoy parsnips would have found yourself on this page. However, if you’re reading because you’re curious, I hope I can help you fall in love with parsnips, too—or, at the very least, combine them in your diet occasionally.
How do parsnips taste?
Parsnips are closely related to carrots. They have a similar sweetness but are more nutty and earthy in flavour. It is this flavour people either enjoy or don’t.
Or it may be the texture people don’t like as cooked they become quite soft. Overcooked parsnips can be mushy and, if they’re old, quite woody and dry.
I encourage you to try these roast parsnips. No pressure, but why not give them a go?
How do maple roasted parsnips taste?
The maple syrup in this recipe brings out the delicate, sweet, earthy taste of parsnips. They’re so good I could devour them as a snack.
Even if you’re not as enthusiastic about roast parsnips as I am, they’d be delicious alongside roast meats, veggies, or nut loaf.
For this recipe, you want to use young, small-medium parsnips and cook them on high heat to give them a yummy, crispy, toffee-like coating without overcooking them.
Delicious flavour pairings with parsnips
If you’re looking to get more adventurous with parsnips, here are some ingredients that compliment them well:
- Sweet: maple syrup, brown sugar
- Spices: nutmeg, ginger, garlic, pepper
- Herbs: parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme
- Vegetables: carrots, potatoes, spinach
- Fruits: apples, pears, sultanas
- Proteins: pork, chicken, nuts (particularly hazelnuts, pecans, walnuts etc.), tempeh
Are parsnips healthy?
Adding a variety of veggies to your meal repertoire is always a good thing.
Parsnips are a good source of dietary fibre and vitamin K, a fat-soluble vitamin involved in blood clotting and regulating blood calcium levels. They also contain falcarinol, a phytonutrient that may be protective against some cancers.
Not that I’m proclaiming they’re any health miracle—nothing is!
It’s about getting variety in your diet and remembering that enjoying what you eat is as important as what you’re eating. If you don’t enjoy them, why eat them?
Do you have to peel parsnips?
In this recipe, use young parsnips, unpeeled.
When young and small parsnips don’t need peeling—they simply need cleaning and can be cooked whole or cut lengthwise or into rounds.
However, older parsnips generally need peeling, as the skin can be thick. The central core, which can be fibrous, may also need to be cut out. Older, large parsnips are best kept for soups and stews.
How to store parsnips for freshness?
Unwashed parsnips should be stored in a cool, dark place along with carrots. They can also be stored in the crisper of your fridge. To extend freshness for up to two weeks, wrap them in a paper towel and place them in a plastic bag. You won’t want to keep them longer than this.
Once your parsnips have become wrinkled, shrivelled and limp, although they are still probably okay to eat, they are likely to be woody and dry. Combine them in a soup or stew before they reach this stage, or peel, pre-cut and freeze them, ready for soups.
Have you tried this recipe for roasted parsnips?
I’d love to hear if you’ve tried this roasted parsnips recipe and whether you enjoyed it.
If you’d like to cook more with parsnips, you can generally substitute them where you’d use potatoes. You could even try them mashed or grated in a hash brown.
Download FREE eBook
A Hug in a Bowl
12 simple plant-based soup recipes that are comforting and nutritious, mostly based on pantry staples.
Maple Roasted Parsnips
Ingredients
- 6 (~500-600 g) young parsnips, unpeeled, cleaned and sliced into quarters lengthwise
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper optional
- Pinch salt
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 200oC.
- Place all ingredients in a mixing bowl so the parsnips are fully covered in oil and syrup.
- Spread parsnips on a baking tray in a single layer.
- Roast for 30 minutes, until tender.
