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Roasted Parsnip and Cauliflower Soup

“When I’m in a blue mood, I head for the kitchen I turn the pages of my favorite cookbooks, summoning the prospective joyful noise of a shared meal. I stand over a bubbling pot of soup, close my eyes, and inhale. From the ground up, everything about nourishment steadies my soul.”

-Barbara Kingslover, “Vegetable, Animal, Miracle: A Year of Good Food”

Roasted Parsnip & Cauliflower Soup is a big bowl of wonderful if you ask me. Parsnips are the underrated winter veggie that seem to only get any attention in British pot roast. Well, I’m here to tell you roasted parsnips combined with cauliflower, potatoes, warming spices and coconut milk make for an absolutely outstanding soup.

Let’s talk about parsnips

If you grow your own parsnips, (which I suggest you do!) wait until at least the first frost before harvesting. The roots will concentrate their sugars and take on a sweetness rather than a bitterness. When stored in a root cellar or cold room set to around 32-40 degrees Fahrenheit, parsnips can last for 3-4 months. When purchasing parsnips at the store, opt for parsnips that have firm skin, no cuts or chunks missing, and are a bright white with a hint of yellow.

Parsnips sowed in April, harvested in fall

Key Ingredients

Besides the obvious parsnips we have a few other stand out players.

  1. Cauliflower- roasted cauliflower in the puree plus more on top is not overkill. I could eat a whole sheet pan of roasted cauliflower.
  2. Gold fingerling potatoes- these are the cute, mini potatoes. No need to peel. This will give the soup an added buttery taste and texture
  3. Beef broth (sub chicken broth)- homemade is always preferred. If you buy store bought, go for bone broth rather than broth or stock. It has more nutritional value and flavor.
  4. Spice mix- Indian notes go especially well with root veggies. Earthy is a happy camper alongside warming. Toasting the coriander before grinding brings out the flavor that much more. The citrus smell of free coriander seed should he made into a candle, stat. To my spice mix I just about always add salt. I love Redmonds Real Salt pure and unprocessed from a mine in Utah.
  5. Coconut milk- Coconut milk creates magic in a soup. It acts like heavy cream, making the taste and feel super decadent and wonderfully rich.

I almost didn’t grow parsnips because they are a long season crop (sown in April, harvest in October) and I didn’t want to take up valuable real-estate… Safe to say I will always have parsnips in my garden just to make this soup. Full recipe with measurements below.

Roasted Parsnip and Cauliflower Soup

Difficulty:BeginnerPrep time: 10 minutesCook time:1 hour 5 minutesRest time: minutesTotal time:1 hour 15 minutesServings:4 servingsCalories: kcal Best Season:Fall

Description

Rich and aromatic parsnip & cauliflower soup is the perfect weeknight meal, lunch or meal prep. The Indian inspired flavor profile is well balanced with spice and citrus. Crispy cauliflower compliments the ultra-smooth texture.

Ingredients

  • Crispy Cauliflower

Instructions

    Make the soup

  1. Preheat oven to 400F
  2. On a sheet pan, combine parsnips, cauliflower and potatoes with oil, 1 tsp salt and the spices.
  3. Spread out in one layer. Do not overcrowd. Roast 30 minutes.
  4. In mean time, melt butter in a large pot or Dutch oven. Set to medium heat. Add onion.
  5. After a few minutes, add the rest of the salt.
  6. Remove veggies from oven. Higher oven to 425F.
  7. Drizzle honey on veggies. Toss and return to oven for 10 more minutes.
  8. Set the heat for the onions to low. Cook about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  9. Add garlic, roasted veggies, broth and coconut milk to pot.
  10. Bring to a simmer for 10 minutes.
  11. With immersion blender, blend until smooth.
  12. Squeeze lime over top.
  13. Crispy Cauliflower

  14. Preheat oven to 425F
  15. Combine all ingredients.
  16. Roast for 25 minutes.
  17. Toss pan. Higher oven to 450F.
  18. Roast another 10 minutes.

Notes

  • Enjoy served with rice and cilantro if desired.
Keywords:Cauliflower, Dinner, Lunch, Main entree, Parsnips, Recipe index, Root veggies, Soup

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