Wednesday, January 18, 2012

My Favorite Vegetable 1 - Parsnip Fries

Ever since I started my crazy bean diet, I have tried to find new and interesting ways to eat vegetables. After all, one can only eat so many baby carrots and steamed broccoli. As I made dinner tonight, which included one of my favorite new vegetables, I decided to write a series of posts highlighting my most-beloved ways of preparing them.

Enter . . . Parsnips.

I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit I had never had a parsnip before the bean diet. I'm not sure I would have even recognized one in a line-up if asked. So here is a picture of a parsnip, in case you wondered. Our local store, The Pig sells them pre-packaged in bags, usually containing 8-10 parsnips, perfect for feeding our family of 4.

I begin by peeling and cutting the parsnips into fries. Since they can be rather odd-shaped, thick at one end and itty-bitty skinny on the other, I usually quarter the thick end and only half the skinny end to keep them similar in size.

In a separate bowl (sorry no picture - who do you think I am? The Pioneer Woman?) mix 1/2 tsp. paprika, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. fresh ground pepper, 1 tsp. salt, and 1/8 tsp. cayenne pepper (less if you don't like much heat). To the spice mixture add 3 Tbsp. olive oil. 

Coat the parsnips with the spice and oil mixture and put in a 425 degree oven for 40 minutes, stirring every 15-20 minutes. In case you wondered, I had used some of the parsnips for another dish (this one!) and so my pile is a bit smaller than it would have been if I had used the whole bag.

When they are done, they will be crispy and slightly dark. That is okay. They taste sweet and spicy with the cayenne and are really good. Even my kids eat these up.

Try them some night as a side dish. You might be surprised, like I was, at how tasty they can be!


4 comments:

Rachel said...

Must admit I've only had parsnips maybe once in my life. May have to try these though. They look yummy.

Missy said...

Thanks for the photo. I wouldn't have recognized parsnips in a line-up. :-)

sara said...

Wow- never thought i would want to eat parsnips?! You have inspired me!

OK- about the t-shirts- they do get very frayed and shabby looking. But- I sort of like that look :) I will try and post a picture of a washed shirt. I had made myself a shirt like this a few years ago and it lasted for about a year (I wash clothes after one wear- usually, especially shirts, for me and now I usually have to do that for Skye too, she spills, etc) So the more you sew around the edges --and the closer you sew to the edge the better- I am just really bad and lazy about that- so I am sure yours would be much more durable.

Jenni said...

I've never had a parsnip in my life. You've inspired me to try, though. :) I'm also getting sick of carrots and broccoli... need something new!