Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

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By: DianaPosted: 11/2/21

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Parsnip Puree is a creamy, sweet, and nutty side dish that goes well with everything! Similar to mashed potatoes, but with an extra flavor kick that makes these mashed parsnips a more sophisticated choice.

Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (1)

Not sure yet about parsnip puree? It’s ok! Parsnips aren’t a typical dinnertime side, they’re usually seen more often on restaurant menus. In this case, the chefs really know what they’re doing! Parsnip puree is like the creamiest mashed potatoes you’ve ever had, but with way more flavor from these exceptional root veggies.

What are Parsnips?

A parsnip looks a lot like a carrot, but it’s white or cream-colored. Parsnips are a root vegetable, like carrots, but are more closely related to parsley. You can eat parsnips raw, but their flavor really shines when they are cooked by either roasting, or like in this recipe, boiling and mashing or blending them.

The flavor of parsnips is very distinct, and hard to compare to any other vegetable. Parsnips are slightly sweet and nutty, with a very, very mild spiciness that makes them feel warm and perfect for fall and winter eating.

Why you’ll love this recipe:

  1. New and Exciting Side Dish. Is your family getting bored of potatoes? Bring on the pureed parsnips!
  2. Great Flavor. We’re mashing the parsnips with garlic, black pepper, and salt to get the best flavor. Butter and cream help in the flavor department too, while also making this parsnip mash super creamy and rich.

Key Ingredients

Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2)

Complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.

  • Parsnips: Pick up a pound of parsnips from your grocery store or your local farmers market if it’s fall or winter. Peel and chop them into 1 inch pieces.
  • Milk, Cream, and Butter: Similarly to mashed potatoes, parsnips are pureed with these creamy add-ins to make them extra good. Let your cream and milk come to room temperature so that the parsnips don’t get cold while you mash them.
  • Garlic: Fresh garlic adds just the right amount of warm, garlicky flavor.

How to Make Parsnip Puree

Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (3)
  1. Boil Parsnips: To a saucepan or a large pot, add chopped parsnips, cover with water, and bring to a boil. Add ½ teaspoon of salt to the water and cook for 10 – 15 minutes, or until the parsnips are fork-tender.
Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (4)
  1. Blend: Drain and carefully transfer the cooked parsnips to a blender jug or a food processor. Add the milk, cream, unsalted butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. Add a bit of water if needed to thin out the consistency.Taste the puree, and season with salt and pepper if needed.
Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (5)

Recipe Tips

Roast the Garlic: Fresh garlic is great in parsnip puree, and roasted garlic is even better. Take the time to roast your garlic cloves while the parsnips are boiling.

Use a good blender: This method works best with a high speed, high powered blender, like a Vitamix. You can use a regular blender, but you won’t get quite the same creamy result.

What to Serve with Parsnip Puree

Parsnip puree goes really well with all sorts of roasted meat dishes, and is particularly delicious with beef. Try it with Pot Roast, Steaks, or these amazing Instant Pot Short Ribs.

Use parsnip puree in place of mashed potatoes in any meal that calls for them. Roast Turkey and even Meatloaf are made tastier with a side of mashed parsnips.

FAQs

Are pureed parsnips healthy?

Yes and no. While parsnips are a vegetable, they are very similar to both potatoes and carrots in that they are starchy, high in carbohydrates and higher in calories than some other vegetables. This recipe also contains a good amount of dairy and butter, so it’s not exactly a diet food. Pureed parsnips are completely delicious though, and should be enjoyed in moderation!

How do I roast garlic?

If you want to use roasted garlic in your parsnip puree, do this:
Cut the top off of a whole head of garlic and drizzle it with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Wrap it tightly with foil and place on a baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 30-50 minutes or until it’s soft and golden brown.
Use two cloves in the parsnips, and save the rest for enjoying with fresh bread or adding to other recipes later.

How to choose parsnips?

Look for parsnips that are firm and without blemishes, similar to how you would pick out fresh carrots. Smaller parsnips will be more tender and flavorful, so if you have an option, choose those.

More Delicious Side Dishes To Try:

Velveeta Mac and CheeseBrown Sugar Glazed CarrotsColcannonCheesy Spaghetti Squash with Spinach

All Sides ➜

Enjoy pureed parsnips with your dinner recipes! It’s such a delicious side dish, you’ll wonder why you’ve not been eating it all along.

Did you make this? Be sure to leave a review below and tag me on Facebook, Instagram, or Pinterest!

Recipe

Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (10)

5 from 5 votes(Click stars to rate!)

Parsnip Puree

Prep Time: 15 minutes mins

Cook Time: 15 minutes mins

Total Time: 30 minutes mins

Author: Diana

Print Rate Recipe

Parsnip Puree is a creamy, sweet, and nutty side dish that goes well with everything! Similar to mashed potatoes, but with an extra, sophisticated flavor kick.

4 servings

Parsnip Puree is a creamy, sweet, and nutty side dish that goes well with everything! Similar to mashed potatoes, but with an extra, sophisticated flavor kick.

Recipe Video

Ingredients

  • 1 pound (450g) parsnips peeled and chopped
  • ¼ cup milk 2% (semi-skimmed in the UK)
  • ½ cup heavy cream (double cream in the UK)
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 cloves roasted garlic optional
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Instructions

  • To a saucepan or a large pot, add the chopped parsnips, cover with water and bring to a boil. Add ½ teaspoon of salt to the water, and cook for 10-15 minutes or until the parsnips are fork tender.

  • Drain and carefully transfer the cooked parsnips to a blender jug or a food processor, add the milk, cream, butter, garlic, salt, and pepper. Blend until smooth. If necessary add a little bit of water to thin out the consistency.

  • Transfer to a serving bowl.

Notes:

Use a good blender: This method works best with a high speed, high powered blender, like a Vitamix. You can use a regular blender, but you won’t get quite the same creamy result.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 257kcal, Carbohydrates: 23g, Protein: 3g, Fat: 18g, Saturated Fat: 11g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 60mg, Sodium: 326mg, Potassium: 480mg, Fiber: 6g, Sugar: 6g, Vitamin A: 667IU, Vitamin C: 20mg, Calcium: 85mg, Iron: 1mg

This website provides approximate nutrition information for convenience and as a courtesy only. Nutrition data is gathered primarily from the USDA Food Composition Database, whenever available, or otherwise other online calculators.

© Little Sunny Kitchen

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Reader Interactions

Leave a Review!

  1. Patti says

    Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (17)
    Easy and excellent!! Will add this to my favorites!

    Reply

  2. Denisa says

    Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (18)
    Delicious !🤤

    Reply

    • Diana says

      Thanks for the positive feedback!

      Reply

  3. Simple says

    Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (19)
    Absolutely delicious! Would recommend this recipe to anyone!

    Reply

  4. Sally says

    Hello can I freeze this recipe? Thanks

    Reply

    • Diana says

      Yes, it freezes well!

      Reply

Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

Creamy Parsnip Puree Recipe - Little Sunny Kitchen? ›

Parsnips are a starchy root vegetable and running them through the food processor too long or at too high of a speed can cause the starches to congeal. I recommend pulsing the parsnips with additional coconut milk or water to prevent an undesirable gummy texture.

Why is my parsnip puree gummy? ›

Parsnips are a starchy root vegetable and running them through the food processor too long or at too high of a speed can cause the starches to congeal. I recommend pulsing the parsnips with additional coconut milk or water to prevent an undesirable gummy texture.

What is parsnip puree made of? ›

Bring parsnips, garlic, cream, milk, and butter to a boil in a medium saucepan. Reduce heat, cover, and simmer until parsnips are very soft, 10–15 minutes. Uncover and cook until liquid is reduced by half, about 5 minutes; season with salt. Purée in a blender until smooth.

What pairs well with parsnip? ›

The flavor of parsnips pairs well with other root vegetables, like beets, sweet potatoes, and carrots. They're also delicious with cauliflower, potatoes, and Brussels sprouts. Don't be afraid to roast these parsnips with other veggies of choice for a fiber-rich, delicious side dish.

What does parsnip taste like? ›

A parsnip is a long, tapered root vegetable. It resembles a carrot in this way, and indeed they are part of the same family. But parsnips don't taste like carrots. They're sweeter—think sweet potatoes—and they have a delicious naturally nutty or earthy flavor.

When should you not eat a parsnip? ›

If a raw parsnip becomes soft and squishy, this is a sign of rot and it should no longer be eaten.

What are the side effects of parsnip? ›

In some cases, people consuming parsnip for the first time may also experience allergic conditions like dermatitis, bloating, gas, stomach cramps, and food allergy symptoms like burning, itching, and swelling of lips and tongue, redness in the eyes, and breathing difficulty.

What is a substitute for parsnip puree? ›

Rutabagas are often used in soups, stews, and roasted vegetables, and can also be mashed or pureed as many root veggies lend well to these preparations. Blended rutabagas can make for a great substitute in a creamy parsnip soup. One rutabaga can replace about 2-3 parsnips.

Which is healthier, potato or parsnip? ›

In fact, if you opt for parsnips over potatoes you'll get nearly four times the amount fibre per serve. Along with this, they are also a good source of folate, potassium, and Vitamin C. Parsnips have a sweet flavour and can be cooked in a variety of ways.

What is the parsnip rule? ›

PARSNIPS might just be the most ridiculous acronym we've ever come across but it actually stands for politics, alcohol, religion, sex, narcotics, -isms, and pork. These refer to the so-called taboo topics in the EFL classroom. Many teachers believe that these topics should not be broached in the EFL classroom.

What should not be planted next to parsnips? ›

They are vulnerable to similar pests and diseases, so planting them together increases the risk. This is the case for carrot root fly and carrot blackhead (Alternaria). Other umbellifers that are not recommended as parsnip companion plants include parsley, fennel and celery (Apium graveolens).

What culture eats parsnips? ›

The main use in France is in a pot-au-feu, and in Italy parsnips are fed to pigs reared for San Daniele and Parma ham. The Americans, however, cook it in much the same way as the British: as a rich, sweet, glazed vegetable for Thanksgiving and Christmas.

Why are parsnips so expensive? ›

Though they may seem pricey at $2.99 a pound, Tomizza says the seeds are much more expensive than carrots, they're more expensive to grow, harvest and pack and workers have to cut off the leafy tops by hand.

Why do my parsnips taste bitter? ›

Parsnips are also quite similar to turnips in texture and are easily interchangeable with turnips in recipes. However, it is important to keep in mind that they can have more of a bitter edge than carrots, potatoes or turnips, especially if older or if a woody core is not removed.

Do parsnips cause gas? ›

For example, foods containing insoluble fibre such as beans, cauliflower and cabbage can produce more wind since they take longer to break down in the bowel. Other foods that may cause flatulence include lettuce, apples, turnips, lentils, parsnips, swedes, onions, Brussels sprouts, garlic and leeks.

Why is my puree gummy? ›

Once there is too much starch in your mashed potato mixture, the texture will quickly turn from fluffy to gummy. Instead of using an electric hand mixer, food processor, or blender — all of which will overwork the potatoes — use a ricer, food mill, or hand masher to gently break down the spuds, per The Spruce Eats.

How can you tell if parsnips have gone bad? ›

As parsnips start to go bad, they become shriveled or wrinkled. A bad parsnip can also be identified by limpness or softness. For example, when held up by one end, the other end drops over. Once parsnips become limp, they will be dehydrated and taste like wood.

What is wrong with my parsnips? ›

Roots can fork in stony or compacted soil, or if manure or garden compost have been added recently. Roots can also split if growth is erratic, so water regularly in dry spells to avoid this. Parsnips can suffer damage from carrot fly, so put protection in place early.

Can you eat slimy parsnips? ›

Avoid those that are bruised, slimy or flabby, or have brown, rotten patches.

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