Parsnip

About

Cooked parsnip has the sweet, earthy flavor typical of root vegetables, along with distinct notes of nutmeg and parsley. Raw parsnip has a much less appealing flavor and a fibrous, woody texture. Roasted or mashed with plenty of fat and salt, parsnip develops a rich sweetness reminiscent of coconut or banana.

Pairs well with parsnip

• EaPotatoThe potato's arrival in sixteenth-century Europe caused parsnip's popularity to decline and effectively ended cultivation of the…
• MeBeefParsnip's more complex sweetness makes it a better match for beef than carrot.
• MaShellfishScallops pair well with almost any purée, and parsnip is no exception, its sweetness and nuttiness complement the shellfish nicely.
• MePorkOnce dismissed in France as fit only for livestock, parsnip has gained appreciation for its ability to enrich the flavor of pork, and is…
• GrAniseRaw parsnip has a subtle anise note of its own.
• MeChickenRoasted parsnips are a classic side for roast chicken and turkey, and parsnip is also used to flavor chicken broth; other stock-enrichers…
• BrBaconSalty bacon emphasizes parsnip's sweet, spicy flavor, working well in soups or mashed alongside liver or scallops.
• ChHard CheeseParsnip's sweetness pairs well with salty foods, especially Parmesan, classically, parboiled parsnip is tossed in flour and grated…
• CrBananaDuring World War II, when bananas were unavailable in Britain, 'mock banana' was made from mashed parsnip -- the two share a sweet, spicy…
• WoWalnutBoth bring a woody character to the pairing; using younger parsnips, or trimming the tough cores from older ones, keeps it from becoming…
• GrPeaParsnip's characteristic flavor comes largely from the compounds terpinolene, myristicin and a musty, green-pea-scented pyrazine present…
• SpNutmegParsnip's flavor is partly reminiscent of nutmeg because it contains myristicin, a compound also central to nutmeg's flavor, most…
• MaWhite FishSalt fish was traditionally served with parsnips, a pairing noted as far back as 1822 by horticulturalist Henry Phillips and dating to…
• MuWatercressRoasted parsnip and watercress share a bitter spiciness, tempered by watercress's fresh, clean edge and parsnip's sweetness, good tossed…