These really easy Roasted parsnips with maple syrup & thyme make a delicious side on the Christmas table or for a fall meal. It's Crispy and golden on the outside and tender on the inside - just how perfectly Roasted parsnips should be!
Side dishes are really important on any holiday table. Take a look at many more in our Christmas collection.
Easy roast parsnips recipe
Roasted parsnips make a tasty and healthy side dish for any meal. Try oven roasting for a traditional option or air frying for a quick and easy version.
Toss the parsnips with seasoning and herbs. Then bake in the oven for 30-40 minutes or air fry for 12 minutes. To add a touch of sweetness, drizzle with honey or maple syrup and sprinkle with thyme during cooking. The result is a sweet and savoury dish that's perfect for the Christmas table.
No matter how you choose to cook your parsnips, one thing is for sure - they will be a delicious and nutritious addition to any meal.
Prepare the Parsnips
To prepare parsnips for cooking, first cut off the top and tail and then peel the skin. Then, if the centre is tough, remove it with a sharp knife. Cut the parsnips into batons or sticks. If the centre is not tough, you can leave it in.
Your parsnips are now ready to be used in a recipe.
How to make Oven-Roasted Parsnips with Maple Syrup and Thyme?
To make roast parsnips, mix the parsnips with oil, sea salt, and thyme. Place them on a baking sheet in one layer and bake for 20 minutes.
Then, pour maple syrup over the parsnips. Bake for 10-15 more minutes or until they are golden brown. Serve the parsnips, garnish with fresh herbs.
How to make Air fryer Roast Parsnips?
- Prep the parsnips: Top and tail and peel the parsnips. Then cut into batons.
- Seasoning: Toss with maple syrup, herbs, and seasoning of your choice.
- Air Fry: Place the parsnips in the air fryer basket and fry at 200°C for 12 minutes or until golden brown.
- Enjoy: Serve and enjoy your delicious and healthy air fryer roasted parsnips!
Why you'll love this Maple roast parsnips recipe?
- 10-15 minutes prep time: Simply peel, core, and chop parsnips into batons
- Budget-friendly: Parsnips are an inexpensive root vegetable that can be turned into a festive side dish
- Versatile: Parsnips roast can be made in air fryer or oven.
- Healthy: Roasted parsnips are a healthy side dish. Leave out maple syrup if desired
- Side dish: Perfect for serving with Sunday roast, Thanksgiving, or Christmas mains
- Dietary needs: Vegan, gluten-free, and dairy-free.
Tips to make the Best roasted Parsnips
- Choose tender parsnips that are small. For larger parsnips, core the woody centre to avoid stringy bits.
- Cut the parsnips into equal size and thickness to ensure even cooking.
- Parboiling is optional and may not greatly affect the texture of roasted parsnips. So I really don't parboil.
- Use the cooking time as a guide, taking into account the size of the parsnips.
- Roast parsnips in the oven or air fryer for fantastic results. Air frying will result in quicker cooking.
- Avoid overcrowding the baking tray, to prevent steaming instead of roasting.
How to prepare the Parsnips ahead for Christmas?
Christmas can be a busy time, but you can save time by prepping your parsnips ahead of the big day. Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
Minimising Discolouration: One of the main concerns when prepping parsnips ahead of time is that they tend to discolor after being cut. To combat this, place the cut parsnips in a container filled with water mixed with lemon juice and refrigerate. This will help to minimize discoloration of the vegetable.
Semi-Roasting the Parsnips: Another option is to semi-roast the parsnips a day before Christmas. On Christmas day, you can simply transfer them to the oven to finish cooking, just before serving. This will save you time and effort on the big day.
How to serve perfectly Roasted Parsnips?
Crispy Roasted parsnips are a versatile side dish that can be served with a variety of main courses, including whole roasted cauliflower, vegetarian shepherds pie, stews, and casseroles. They are also a popular holiday side dish, especially during Christmas.
What to do with Leftover Roast Parsnips
Don't waste your leftover roasted parsnips! Here are a few delicious ways to enjoy them:
- Bubble and Squeak Cakes: Use your leftover parsnips to make delicious bubble and squeak cakes. Perfect for a Boxing Day breakfast.
- Soups: Incorporate leftover roast parsnips into your soups for extra flavor and nutrition.
- Mash potato: Mash the leftover parsnips and add them to your favourite mashed potato recipe.
- Vegetable Stock: Use leftover roast parsnips in the preparation of vegetable stock for soups and stews.
Roast Parsnips variations
- Honey Roast Parsnips: Toss parsnips with butter or oil, spices, honey, and roast for 35-40 minutes. Serve with thyme or rosemary.
- Sticky Roast Parsnips and Carrots: Add 450g of carrot batons to the recipe and season with salt, pepper, maple syrup, and thyme. Perfect for vegans.
- Roasted Carrots and Parsnips: Use the Christmas traybake recipe as a guide to cook both vegetables together with other ingredients.
- Roasted Parsnips with spices: Add spices (cumin, coriander, turmeric, chilli powder, salt, pepper) to parsnip batons or cubes, toss well and roast until done.
Recipe FAQ's
Soggy roast parsnips can result from overcrowding the pan or roasting at too low a temperature. Ensure the parsnips have enough space to crisp up, and roast at a high heat (around 200°C/400°F). Preheating the tray with a bit of oil can also help achieve that crispy exterior.
Yes, you can roast parsnips with carrots and potatoes! Make sure to cut them into similar-sized pieces for even cooking. Keep an eye on the cooking times, as parsnips may cook slightly faster than potatoes, so you might want to add them a little later.
Roast parsnips can last in the fridge for up to 3 days when stored in an airtight container. To reheat, pop them back in the oven or air fryer to restore some of the crispiness.
More Easy Vegetarian Christmas recipes
Perfectly Roasted parsnips recipe below
Ingredients
- 450 g Parsnip 1lb
- 2 tablespoon Oil
- 1 teaspoon Sea Salt
- ½ teaspoon Ground Black Pepper
- 2 Tsp Maple Syrup or Honey
- 3 teaspoon Fresh Thyme
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 220C or 200 fan assisted oven or 425F.
- Wash, dry, top, tail, and peel the parsnips. Core the parsnips to remove the woody center and cut them into batons or even-sized pieces.
- Toss the parsnips in oil, sea salt, thyme and arrange them on a baking sheet in a single layer.
- Roast for about 20 minutes.
- Drizzle Maple Syrup evenly and toss together. Cook for another 10-15 minutes or until golden.
- Transfer to a serving dish, garnish with fresh herbs, and serve.
Lubna says
I never tasted parsnips. This recipe looks tempting. Love the new look of the blog.
Sandhya's Kitchen says
Thank you, Lubna. Oven roast Parsnips are easy to make, delicious and they make a fantastic side dish.