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Parsnips With Spiced Peanuts and Garlic Yogurt

5.0

(1)

Roasted parsnips on bed of greek yogurt topped with chopped peanuts and parsley leaves.
Photo by Travis Rainey, Food Styling by Micah Marie Morton, Prop Styling Gerri Williams

Parsnips are sick and tired of being compared to carrots. They are their own thing, sweet and earthy, with the nuttiness of a Jerusalem artichoke (sunchoke). Using an easy two-step stovetop cooking method shows off the root vegetable’s best qualities. Simmering in a scant amount of water and butter softens their sturdy centers, and the subsequent browning brings out their faintly earthy quality. Find parsnips that are no larger than two inches across at their widest. Any bigger and you run the risk of tough, woody cores. Quite frankly, you could stop right there with the tender, burnished roots, but a dusting of spiced peanuts and a swoosh of seasoned yogurt feels like an appropriate crowning for this under-appreciated vegetable.

Recipe information

  • Total Time

    30 minutes

  • Yield

    4 servings

Ingredients

1½ lb. parsnips, peeled, trimmed, quartered lengthwise, cut into eighths if large
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces
1½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¾ tsp. Morton kosher salt, divided, plus more
2 tsp. ground coriander, divided
¾ cup salted, roasted peanuts, preferably cocktail, coarsely chopped
1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1 tsp. ground cumin
2 tsp. vegetable oil (optional)
2 tsp. sugar
Juice of ½ large lemon
1 garlic clove, finely grated
½ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt
2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil
Coarsely chopped parsley (for serving)

Preparation

  1. Step 1

    Combine 1½ lb. parsnips, peeled, trimmed, quartered lengthwise, cut into eighths if large, 2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, cut into pieces, 1 tsp. Diamond Crystal or ½ tsp. Morton kosher salt, ½ tsp. ground coriander, and 1 cup water in a cold large skillet. Set over medium heat, cover, and cook until parsnips are fork-tender, 12–15 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook, tossing parsnips occasionally, until liquid is evaporated and parsnips are deep golden brown around edges, 8–10 minutes.

    Step 2

    Meanwhile, combine ¾ cup salted, roasted peanuts, preferably cocktail, coarsely chopped, 1 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes, 1 tsp. ground cumin, and remaining 1½ tsp. ground coriander in a small nonstick skillet over medium heat; if using dry-roasted peanuts, add 2 tsp. vegetable oil to pan. Cook, tossing often, until fragrant, about 1 minute. Remove from heat and stir in 2 tsp. sugar and remaining ½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or ¼ tsp. Morton kosher salt.

    Step 3

    Stir juice of ½ large lemon, 1 garlic clove, finely grated, ½ cup plain whole-milk Greek yogurt, and 2 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil in a small bowl to combine; season with salt.

    Step 4

    Spread yogurt sauce on a platter. Arrange half of parsnips on top and sprinkle with half of spiced peanuts. Top with remaining parsnips, then spiced peanuts. Scatter some coarsely chopped parsley over.

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