Welcome to root vegetables reinvented. Sturdy parsnips soften in a warm bath of olive oil, then get seared and bejeweled with pickled currants. It’s hard to know if a parsnip will have a woody core, but generally speaking, small ones are tender throughout. Worst case scenario? Trim the tough centers before cooking.
Recipe information
Yield
8 servings
Ingredients
2½
2
1
3
1
3
½
¼
½
2
Preparation
Step 1
Preheat oven to 300°. Combine parsnips, garlic, ginger, 2 rosemary sprigs, and 1 Tbsp. salt in a rectangular 3-qt. baking dish; turn garlic cut side down. Pour oil over.
Step 2
Roast 35 minutes. Remove from oven; turn parsnips over. Return to oven and roast until a knife easily slides through flesh, 30–40 minutes. Let cool slightly.
Step 3
Meanwhile, bring currants, sugar, ½ cup vinegar, remaining 1 tsp. salt, remaining rosemary sprig, and ¼ cup water to a boil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer, swirling pan occasionally, until reduced by three-quarters. Transfer to a small bowl and stir in Aleppo-style pepper, 1 Tbsp. parsnip confit oil, and remaining 1 Tbsp. vinegar.
Step 4
Remove parsnips from oil, letting excess drip back into baking dish, and place on a rimmed baking sheet. Pluck out garlic and set aside for serving. Strain oil through a fine-mesh sieve into an airtight container; discard aromatics. Cover and reserve oil for another use.
Step 5
Heat a large skillet, preferably cast iron, over medium-high. Working in batches, arrange parsnips in skillet in a single layer and cook, turning occasionally, until golden brown and charred in spots, about 4 minutes per batch. (Alternatively, you can broil them, turning halfway through, 10–12 minutes.)
Step 6
Transfer to a platter and spoon currant sauce over. Top with reserved garlic and rosemary leaves.
Step 7
Do Ahead: Parsnips can be cooked in oil 1 week ahead. Let cool completely; cover and chill. Reheat in oil in a 300° oven before browning. Currants can be pickled 1 week ahead; cover and chill.
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Reviews (13)
Back to TopThe flavours were sublime, however I had a real problem with the 3 cups oil, so I adapted. I tossed the parsnips in oil (probably 3 Tbsp) and roasted them with the garlic and ginger ( I removed the ginger, next time I would grate some on. I didn't have aleppo pepper so substituted 1 tsp paprika and 1/2 tsp cayene ( wow what a kick). I only used 1/2 the pickled currants, which seemed like the correct proportion to parsnips. Using them to drizzle on another roasted veg, like carrots.
Linda BB
Waterloo, Canada
5/20/2022
This is A Great Side Dish,Vegan and Vegetarian,I would Pair it with Any kind of Protien.
RONALD MASSENBURG
N.J
1/6/2022
I cannot stress how amazing this dish is. Was a hit at Thanksgiving and I can't wait to make it again for Christmas. I've always been a fan of roast parsnips and honestly didn't think they could get any better but this dish took the cake. I couldn't find dried currants where I live so I had to resort to cranberries, which actually worked pretty nicely. Bravo, Molly!
Katya
USA
12/17/2021
Fabulous. Was a winning dish at a family Christmas and may have even outshone the meat mains! I followed the recipe exactly and found I didn't really need quite as much olive oil as stated, so I think you could eyeball it (or use the remaining olive oil to cook something else if you're doing a big feast) Also even though there are a few more steps than your average, bang-in-the-oven roast veg, it's very simple and totally worth it. A true revival of the humble parsnip. A new festive staple.
Anonymous
Perth, Australia
3/18/2020
Does this really require 3 cups of EVOO? What would one do with the reserved oil after the fact?
Anonymous
12/25/2019
Probably the best dish at the table this thanksgiving, even if it was out of my comfort zone of a simple chop and roast. I couldn't get Aleppo-style pepper so I used 1.5t paprika, .25t smoked paprika, and .25t cayenne. It brought something exciting to the currants even if it wasn't exact what was called for.
Anonymous
11/29/2019
Wow - this turned out to be the star side dish on our Christmas table. Everyone loved it. I made the currants a day before, minus the extra vinegar,oil and Aleppo pepper. Once the parsnips were done the day of, I stirred the rest in. It was easy to confit first, then let sit while other items (at different oven temps) baked, then threw them under the broiler to finish. Leftovers were good the next day. I've been asked to make these a tradition and plan to do so!
TXHusker
Texas
12/29/2018