Delia Smith Parsnip Food

CURRIED PARSNIP AND APPLE SOUP WITH PARSNIP CRISPS

Steps:

• Begin by heating a small frying pan and dry roasting the coriander, cumin and cardamom seeds - this is to toast them and draw out their flavour. After 2-3 minutes they will change colour and start to jump in the pan. Remove them from the pan and crush them finely with a pestle and mortar. Next, heat the butter and oil in a saucepan until the butter begins to foam, then add the onions and gently soften for about 5 minutes before adding the garlic. You can watch how to prepare garlic and how to chop onions in our Cookery School Videos on the right. Let that cook, along with the onions, for another 2 minutes, then add all the crushed spices, along with the turmeric and ginger, stir and let it all continue to cook gently for a few more minutes while you peel and chop the parsnips into 1 inch (2.5 cm) dice. Add the parsnips to the saucepan, stirring well, then pour in the stock, add some seasoning and let the soup simmer as gently as possible for 1 hour without putting on a lid. To make the parsnip crisps, peel the parsnip and then slice it into rounds as thinly as you possibly can, using a sharp knife. Now heat the oil in a 10 inch (25.5 cm) frying pan until it is very hot, almost smoking, then fry the parsnip slices in batches until they are golden brown, for about 2-3 minutes (they will not stay flat or colour evenly but will twist into lovely shapes). As they're cooked, remove them with a slotted spoon and spread them out on kitchen paper to drain. Sprinkle lightly with salt. (If you like, you can make these in advance, as they will stay crisp for a couple of hours.) When the soup has been simmering for an hour, remove it from the heat, then liquidise it if possible. If not, use a food processor and then a sieve - or even just a sieve, squashing the ingredients through using the bowl of a ladle. After the soup has been puréed, return it to the saucepan, taste to check the seasoning, then, when you're ready to serve, re-heat very gently. While that's happening, peel the apple and, as the soup just reaches simmering point, grate the apple into it. Be careful to let the soup barely simmer for only 3-4 minutes. Serve in hot soup bowls garnished with the parsnip crisps.

SPICED PARSNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a large saucepan. Add the onion and cook for a few mins to soften. Throw in the garlic and ginger, cook for 1 min more, then add the parsnips and spices. Cook for a few mins until fragrant. Pour over the stock and gently simmer for 30 mins. Add most of the cream, bring to the boil, then turn off the heat.
• Blitz the soup until completely smooth in a blender or with a stick blender. The soup can now be chilled, then frozen for up to 3 months. Serve in bowls, drizzled with remaining cream and the olive oil, scattered with cumin seeds, sliced chilli and coriander leaves.

CURRIED PARSNIP AND APPLE SOUP WITH PARSNIP CRISPS

Steps:

• Heat a small frying pan and dry roast the coriander, cumin and cardomom seeds for 2-3 minutes.
• Remove them and crush them finely with a pestle and mortar.
• Next, heat the butter and oil in a saucepan until the butter begins to foam.
• Add the onions and gently soften for about 5 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook for 2 minutes.
• Add the crushed spices along with the turmeric, cayenne and ginger.
• Stir and cook gently for 5 more minutes.
• Add the parsmips and stir in the stock.
• Add salt and pepper and simmer gently for 1 hour without putting on a lid.
• Then liquidise.
• For the parsnip crisps.
• peel and finely slice the parsnip.
• Heat the oil in a frying pan until it is very hot.
• fry the parsnip in batches until they are golden brown 2-3 minutes.
• remove them with a slotted spoon, and put them on kitchen paper to drain.
• Serve on the heated soup.

SPICY ROASTED PARSNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Heat oven to 220C/fan 200C/gas 7.
• In a bowl, mix together 2 tbsp olive oil and 1 tsp coriander seeds, 1 tsp cumin seeds, ½ tsp ground turmeric and ½ tsp mustard seeds.
• Add 1 large onion, cut into 8 chunks, 2 garlic cloves, 675g parsnips, diced, and 2 quartered plum tomatoes and mix well.
• Spread over a heavy baking sheet, then roast for 30 mins until tender.
• Spoon into a food processor or liquidiser with 600ml vegetable stock and process until smooth.
• Pour into a pan with the remaining 600ml vegetable stock, season, then heat until barely simmering.
• Remove from the heat and stir in 1 tbsp lemon juice. Garnish with cumin seeds.