What Are Parsnips and How Can I Use Them?

Wondering what to do with parsnips? This guide covers how to pick them, cook them, store them, and swap them, plus 142 recipes to put them to work.

What are parsnips?

Parsnips a root vegetable related to the carrot. Parsnips resemble carrots, but are paler than most carrots and have a stronger flavor.

While parsnips can be eaten raw, they are more commonly served cooked. Parsnips can be boiled, roasted or used in stews, soups andcasseroles. In some cases, the parsnip is boiled and the solid portions are removed from the soup or stew, leaving behind a more subtle flavor than the whole root and contributing starch to thicken the dish.

The parsnip is richer in vitamins and minerals than its close relative, the carrot. It is particularly rich in potassium with 600 mg per 100 g. The parsnip is also a good source of dietary fiber. 100 g of parsnip contains 55 Calories (230 kJ) of energy.

Nutrition

Quick facts

Where to find parsnips: Parsnips are usually found in the produce section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.

Food group: Parsnips are a member of the Vegetables and Vegetable Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.

In Chinese

欧洲防风草

British (UK) term

Parsnips

en français

panais

en español

chirivía

How much do parsnips weigh?

Related

Vegetables and Vegetable Products

Recipes using parsnips

There are 142 recipes that contain this ingredient.

Roasted Veg

This is an awesomely flexible dinner. You basically chop everything up, douse it in oil and some salt, pepper or whichever spices you're in the mood for (or grab first!) and chuck it in the oven for an hour or so.

Beef & Vegetable Soup No. 2 (Instant Pot or not)

A beef vegetable soup made with homemade stock made one day ahead, featuring tender shredded beef, diced vegetables, and fresh herbs. A comforting and flavorful meal loaded with beefy goodness.

Cucumber Soup with Spring Vegetables

All veggies are young, fresh and full of spring garden aroma. Is there anything more lovely?

Colcannon

A scrumptious side dish made with potatoes and parsnips that can give your dinner a new look.

Vegetable Curry

Vegetable Curry recipe

Green Barley Soup with Sorrel & Spinach

here and there they call this soup green borsht or green krupnik.. very popular in Latvia but they cook it in different way than my proposition..

Kohlrabi Soup with Anise Flavor

Delicate, spring soup which is my rendition of the traditional Silesian soup called oberiba. Both recipes differ a lot, so this one shouldn't be named as Silesians did.

Spring Beet soup (Polish Botwina)

There are hundreds versions of this very Polish soup. Here you have an original proposition of mine. I used to cook it on the base of my favorite duck and chicken stock. The cream is a must to create wonderful pink color. Optionally you may add a quarter or a half of hard boiled egg to your bowl. By the way, I change my recipe sometimes, for instance by adding dried California prunes instead of sugar, or by adding some white vinegar instead of lemon juice.

Roasted Root Salad With Carrot Vinaigrette (Thanksgiving)

Thanksgiving comes to mind! Healthy and interesting recipe. From my MIL's recipes but I think she got this from her SIL! This could be a salad or a side dish and could be made a day ahead and brought to room temperature before serving.

Pho Bac (Hanoi Beef & Rice-Noodle Soup)

A savory and hearty soup made with succulent beef, hot chili sauce and bean sprouts.

Roasted Root Vegetable Galette with Black Olives

Black olives are mixed into the whole wheat galette dough, different kinds of fresh, seasonal and roasted root vegetables, it is delicious!

Roasted Parsnip & Pear Soup

Using seasonal parsnips and pears, adding skim-milk gives the soup more creamy flavor, drizzle concentrated balsamic vinegar on top. It is a fabulous dish.

Corned Beef & Cabbage (Stovetop)

Traditional Irish Corned Beef and Cabbage recipe with tender brisket, carrots, parsnips, and potatoes. The authentic stovetop method for St. Patrick's Day perfection.

Corn & Parsnip Cakes

Quite nice, very soft creamy and delicate texture inside the cakes. The sweet and slightly spicy parsnip and sweet corn work well together. We served them with some homemade sweet chili sauce.

Hellmann's Boxing Day 'Bubbly Jubbly'

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Hanoi Beef & Rice-Noodle Soup (Pho Bac)

Authentic Hanoi-style pho bo with slow-simmered oxtail and beef bone broth, star anise, charred ginger, rice noodles, and paper-thin sirloin. This traditional Vietnamese beef noodle soup recipe takes 5 hours but rewards you with deeply aromatic, soul-warming bowls.

Ashkenazic Chicken Soup & Matzo Balls with Fresh Dill

A classic passover Matzah ball soup that simply delicious. No need to be Jewish to enjoy this chicken soup recipe.

Creamy Roasted Parsnip Soup

Wintry spices make this a rich, creamy, and flavorful holiday favorite!

New England Boiled Dinner (Clay Pot)

This hearty and healthy New England Boiled Dinner is a classic dish that is perfect for feeding the whole family. Made in a clay pot, this one-pot meal is full of flavor and nutrition. The dish includes a variety of vegetables and protein, such as corned beef, cabbage, carrots, potatoes, and onions, all cooked together to create a delicious and satisfying meal. This recipe is perfect for busy weeknights or lazy Sundays, and is sure to become a family favorite.New England Boiled Dinner (Clay Pot) Classic boiled dinner is full of falvor and nutrition you need, and one pot tasty food that feeds the whole family!

Red Cabbage & Red Bean Soup

Vegan red cabbage and kidney bean soup with parsnips, carrots, and a smoky broth seasoned with liquid smoke, allspice, and thyme. Hearty, low-fat, and full of flavor.

Holiday Roasted Root Vegetables

Seasonal root vegetables are tossed with olive oil, salt and black pepper, after baking, they look nice and colourful, you can serve them with any kind of your favorite gravy or roasted turkey, chikcen, it is also a fantasitc side dish.

Spicy Tomato-Based Vegetable Stew

A big-batch vegetable stew loaded with carrots, turnips, parsnips, and mushrooms in a spicy tomato-chicken broth. Freezer-friendly and served over couscous.

Chicken Spaghetti Casserole

Old-fashioned chicken spaghetti casserole made from scratch with a whole stewing hen, creamy mushroom roux, hard-boiled eggs, and melted cheddar. Makes two casseroles so you can freeze one for later.

Tasty Vegetable Stew

An old-fashioned root vegetable stew with salt pork, cabbage, carrots, turnips, parsnips, and potatoes slow-steamed until fork-tender. Farmhouse cooking at its most honest and filling.

Orjaleves

Orjaleves is a traditional Hungarian pork and beef bone soup: a rich, clear golden broth perfumed with paprika and saffron, full of root vegetables, tender pork and hand-rolled spiral egg noodles. A heritage feast-day soup.

Popular Parsnip & Bean Pie

Vegetarian shepherd-style pie with chili-spiked kidney beans and tomatoes under a topping of mashed parsnips. Gluten-free, budget-friendly, and ready in about 40 minutes.

Matzoh Ball Soup with Homemade Stock

Classic Jewish penicillin with tender matzoh balls floating in rich chicken stock made from scratch with carrots, celery, leeks, and parsnips. Comfort in a bowl that takes time but rewards with deep, soul-warming flavor.

Vegetable Stew with Nut Dumplings

Hearty vegetarian stew with potatoes, carrots, parsnips, and turnips topped with homemade walnut dumplings. Slow-simmered for deep, rustic flavor.

Garbanzo Parsnip Gnocchi

Deep-fried garbanzo parsnip gnocchi made with chickpea flour, parsnips, and gluten flour. Vegetarian gnocchi with a crispy shell, served with homemade tomato sauce.

Pear & Parsnip Salad

Pear and parsnip salad with blanched parsnips, fanned fresh pear slices, green onions, and a light honey yogurt dressing. A low-fat, elegant side for fall and winter.

Felvideki Finom Nulleves

Felvideki finom nulleves, a hearty Hungarian hare soup from the Upper Highlands with root vegetables, lard-browned liver roux, and rice. Old-country game cookery from the Felvidek region.

Curried Parsnip Soup

Velvety pressure cooker parsnip soup with curry, ginger, and rolled oats for body, finished with a swirl of cream. Sweet, earthy, and warming. On the table in about an hour with minimal hands-on time.

Southern Chicken & Dumplings

Classic Southern chicken and dumplings simmered from a whole chicken with carrots, onions, parsnips, and fresh herbs. A slow-cooked, soul-warming one-pot supper like grandma made.

Lencseleves Fogoyhussal

Lencseleves fogoyhussal, a traditional Hungarian lentil soup with partridge, smoked bacon, and a mustard cream finish. A hearty game-day soup rooted in Hungarian hunting tradition.

Root Vegetable Soup

Root vegetable soup simmers leeks, carrots, turnips, parsnips, and potatoes in a butter roux-thickened chicken broth. Finished with cream, wilted spinach, and chives for a rustic European bowl.

Savory Beef Stew

Savory beef stew with parsnips, turnips, succotash, and red wine in a crushed tomato base. A hearty root vegetable stew with chuck beef simmered until tender.

Paneer Bake

Vegetarian paneer bake with root vegetables slow-cooked in stock until tender and rich. Cubed paneer, rutabaga, carrots, parsnips, and mushrooms braise together in a hands-off casserole that fills the kitchen with savory warmth.

Chicken Soup with Matzo Balls

Chicken soup with light, fluffy matzo balls, parsnips, broccoli, and mushrooms in a savory broth. A vegetable-loaded twist on the classic Jewish comfort soup, finished with fresh dill.

Consomme Primavera

Crystal-clear chicken consomme reduced to a quarter of its volume, garnished with steamed julienned vegetables and enoki mushrooms. A refined French-Italian soup with intense concentrated flavor.

Garlic-Roasted Lamb

Use fresh rosemary, if possible (many supermarkets carry it). The flavor it imparts to the lamb will be far superior to that of dried. If you like, white potatoes may be substituted for the sweet potatoes, and turnips for the parsnips. You can also flavor lamb by covering it with lemon slices before roasting.

Grilled Fish with Winter Root Slaw

Whole grilled sea bass over a raw winter slaw of julienned carrot, parsnip, and celeriac with toasted walnuts and champagne vinegar. Bistro-style dinner for two in 30 minutes.

Pisnyi Borsch

Pisnyi borsch is a meatless Ukrainian beet soup with dried boletus mushrooms, beet kvas, root vegetables, and fresh dill. A clear, jewel-toned broth served over vushka dumplings for a traditional Lenten meal.

Pressure Cooked Stock- Poultry

Pressure cooker chicken stock made in 30 minutes with stewing hen, celery, carrots, onion, and peppercorns. Rich, gelatinous stock in a fraction of the time.

Spicy, Tomato-Based Vegetable Stew

Spicy root vegetable stew with carrots, turnips, parsnips, and mushrooms simmered in tomato-paste-thickened broth with chili pepper and herbs. Big-batch, freezer-friendly, and served over couscous.

Noisettes of Lamb on Artichokes

Pan-seared lamb noisettes served on artichoke hearts with a tarragon-infused lamb jus and julienned root vegetables. An elegant French-inspired main course.

Mild Cheddar Soup

Creamy mild cheddar soup with grated carrots, parsnip, celery, and onion in a beef consommé base, finished with melted cheese and milk. A homestyle bowl of cheesy comfort, ready in 45 minutes.

Ox Tails

Oxtail Stew Recipe We serve the oxtails with the bone-in, though if you want you can easily remove the bones from the meat before serving.

Vinaigrette of Braised Soup Veggies

Braised root vegetables served chilled with a reduced cooking-liquid vinaigrette. Carrots, leeks, turnips, and parsnips dressed in dill and coriander.

Pressure Cooked Stock- Vegetable 2

Homemade vegetable stock in the pressure cooker in just 10 minutes at high pressure. Sauteed onions, carrots, celery, parsnips, and herbs for a rich, flavorful base.

Roast Chicken with Spiced Mushroom & Winter

Roast chicken rubbed with cinnamon, cumin, and coriander served with a spiced mushroom, parsnip, carrot, and hazelnut stuffing plus a sherry pan gravy.

All 142 recipes