Parsnip Soup With Coriander And Parsley Food

CHESTNUT SOUP WITH FRIED PARSLEY

Steps:

• Make the soup: Melt the butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add the onion, celery, carrot, garlic and 1/2 teaspoon salt; cook, stirring, until soft, about 8 minutes. Add the chicken broth, 2 cups water and the bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to medium low and simmer 5 minutes. Chop the chestnuts, add to the pan and simmer until the chestnuts and vegetables are tender, about 10 more minutes. Remove the bay leaf.
• Working in batches, puree the soup in a blender until smooth. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve into another saucepan and bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Add the cream, sherry, and salt to taste. Keep warm.
• Make the toppings: For the croutons, melt the butter in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add the bread and cook, stirring, until golden, about 3 minutes. Add the saffron and cook until the croutons are browned, about 2 more minutes; transfer to a bowl. Fry the parsley: Heat 1 inch of vegetable oil in a saucepan over medium-high heat until a deep-fry thermometer registers 350 degrees F. Toss the parsley with the cornstarch, then fry in batches until crisp, about 30 seconds. Drain on paper towels and sprinkle with salt. (The toppings can be made up to 3 hours ahead.)
• Ladle the soup into bowls and top with the croutons and fried parsley.

CARROT & PARSNIP SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan and fry the onion and celery for 10 mins, stirring occasionally until softened. If they start to catch, add a small splash of water. Add the garlic, thyme and ½ tsp black pepper and cook for 2 mins. Add the carrots, parsnips and stock and bring to the boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 mins until the vegetables are soft, stirring occasionally.
• Blend using a stick blender until smooth. Add the cream and blitz again until combined, then taste for seasoning. To serve, ladle into bowls and scatter over a little chopped parsley, if you like.

CURRIED PARSNIP SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, saute onion and carrot in butter until onion is tender. Add parsnips; cook 2 minutes longer. Stir in broth and seasonings. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer for 12-15 minutes or until parsnips are tender. , Cool slightly. In a blender, process soup in batches until smooth. Return all to the pan; stir in milk and heat through.

PARSNIP SOUP WITH PARSLEY CREAM

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a saucepan and fry the onion until soft but not coloured. Stir in the parsnips, bay leaves, milk and stock, bring to the boil and simmer gently until the parsnip is very soft. Remove the bay leaves and drain off, but reserve, the liquid. Whizz the parsnips in a blender, adding a little of the cooking liquid at a time until smooth. Keep adding liquid until you reach a lovely soup consistency that's not too thick.
• For the parsley purée and cream, blanch the parsley in boiling salted water for 30 secs, then refresh in ice water - this keeps the green colour. Repeat this twice. Bring the double cream to the boil. Squeeze out any water from the parsley, then whizz in a clean blender, slowly adding the hot cream until it's as smooth as you can get it. Cool. Fold a little of the parsley purée through the whipped cream until nice and green. Season and chill. Keep the remaining purée for serving.
• For the garnish, blanch the parsnip cubes in boiling water for 2 mins, then drain. Heat the olive oil in a pan, and fry the cubes until golden. Keep warm.
• To serve, reheat the parsnip soup and season to taste. Place a little of the parsley purée into each of 6 shallow soup bowls, followed by the soup, a spoonful of the parsley whipped cream and some fried parsnip cubes.

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.