With just 6 ingredients and less than 30 minutes you could be enjoying this savoury mashed parsnips recipe! Made with cream, butter, and chives it makes for a delicious root vegetable side dish. Topped with chopped pistachios, what’s not to love?
If you’re looking to mix things up in the vegetable side dish department, you’ve come to the right place!
These mashed parsnips are a wonderful alternative to potatoes!
Growing up in rural Newfoundland, root veggies (including parsnips) were a regular part of my diet.
They’d be included with every Sunday supper, usually in “Jiggs Dinner” (boiled veg with salt meat).
These days, I leave the Jiggs Dinner to my mom (so good) and usually simply roast or mash veggies when I’m preparing myself.
If you are a parsnip fan, great (and you’ll probably enjoy this parsnip apple soup!
If not, maybe this isn’t for you.
Or maybe you will be when you taste this delicious parsnip mash!
How To Cook Parsnips and Make the Mash
Cooking parsnips is easy. Basically, they’re prepared much like you would prepare regular mash.
Full details are in the recipe card below, but here are the basics:
- Clean parsnips and peel them, then cut into chunks.
- Place the parsnip chunks into a large pot of water, bring to boil and cook until they’re tender.
- Drain the parsnip.
- Place cooked parsnip chunks into a bowl and mash.
- Add melted butter, cream, chives and salt and mash again.
- Transfer the parsnip mash to a serving dish, garnish and serve!
How Do Mashed Parsnips Compare to Mashed Potatoes?
Of course, parsnip mash is going to taste totally different than mashed potatoes.
However, if you are a fan of parsnips, you will love this root vegetable side dish!
Texture-wise, it’s a lot rougher than mashed potatoes, but it’s a great alternative if you’re trying to mix things up!
Recipe Variations
- Use half-and-half or whole milk instead of heavy cream to cut back on fat and calories.
- Don’t have pistachios or prefer not to use? Try chopped pecans, walnuts or almonds instead.
- Instead of chives, you can use thinly sliced green onion.
More Delicious Root Vegetable Recipes
- Roasted Root Vegetables
- Celery Root Soup
- Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
- Brown Mashed Turnip with Roasted Garlic
If you make this parsnip mash, be sure to leave a comment below!
Mashed Parsnips Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds parsnips
- ¼ cup heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons melted butter, plus more to taste for optional garnish
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh chives, plus more to taste for optional garnish
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 tablespoon roughly chopped pistachios
Instructions
- Clean, peel, and cut parsnips into 2-inch chunks.
- Place parsnips into a large pot and cover with cold water (there should be an inch or two of water above the parsnips, basically ensuring that it is fully submerged and covered by the water). Bring to a boil (reduce the heat, if necessary, while still maintaining a boil) and cook for 20 minutes or until tender. Drain.
- Meanwhile, combine heavy cream with butter in a small saucepan over medium-low heat just to heat through.
- Place parsnips back into a pot or bowl and mash.Note: Mashed parsnips have a rougher consistency than potatoes. If you want to rice them instead, you can.
- Pour over warmed cream/butter mixture and mix in chives and salt.
- Transfer to a serving dish and top with crushed pistachios, more chives and a drizzle of melted butter (if desired). Serve and enjoy!
A note on times provided: appliances vary, any prep and/or cook times provided are estimates only.
© Girl Heart Food Inc. Photographs and content are copyright protected.
Tried this recipe?
If you do make this recipe, thank you!! It would mean so much if you could leave a comment below. Love to know how you enjoyed it, and it helps other readers too!
Nicole
Lovely recipe. I’m a fellow parsnip lover, but I’ve never used pistachios; great idea. I’m a fan of scattering toasted pine nuts over mine and it’s tasty, if you want to mix it up.
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much, Nicole! I really enjoy pine nuts too, so I’ll have to give that a try next time. 🙂
Scot
Made mine without the Pistachios.
Lori
Can you freeze this recipe? If so, how would you defrost and reheat them?
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
Hi Lori, I haven’t tried freezing this particular recipe so I can’t say for sure how it would turn out once defrosted and reheated. If you give it a try, I would love to know how it turns out for you! 🙂
Annette
This is the first time I have ever eaten Parsnips, I believe I picked the perfect recipe for my first time. I did however replace the chives with roasted garlic and left out the nuts. Had to do that due to dietary restrictions. These were so yummy! Thank you for this recipe……my dog even loved it (without the garlic of course). I plan on introducing this to my young adult kids the next time we have a family meal. WONDERFUL!
Dawn | Girl Heart Food
That’s terrific, Annette!! I’m so happy you enjoyed the recipe, thank you very much!!
Karen (Back Road Journal)
What is not to love is right, they sound great!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks Karen!
Alexandra @ It's Not Complicated Recipes
What a delicious idea for a side dish, Dawn! I am a huge parsnip fan, and always happy to include it in more recipes.
Love this!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
So happy to hear that! Thanks Alexandra 🙂
Valentina
I’m all over this, Dawn. LOVE it. So cool you grew up with parsnips being a regular part of your diet. I think they deserve a whole lotta love. Delicious mash! 🙂 ~Valentina
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Woo hoo! Thank you Valentina!! I do too 😉
Kevin
Parsnips were not a commonly used vegetable for meals back in the day, but they sure are making a turn around these days and can be so versatile.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
We grew up on ’em, but they were usually boiled. They’re delicious all around, if you ask me 🙂
Mary Ann | The Beach House Kitchen
Ok. I’m gonna come clean. I’ve never tried a parsnip Dawn! Can you believe it? But this looks too good. I’ve got to give this recipe a try. Pinned!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Lol…nope!! Hope you start with these. 😉 Thanks Mary Ann!
Katherine | Love In My Oven
I’m definitely a parsnip lover, Dawn! They always turn out so soft and delicious. We would love to try this as a side sometime! A nice change up from the usual mashed potatoes. Maybe my kids would even eat them, HA! Happy almost weekend my friend! XO
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Yay! Thanks Katherine. 🙂 XO
Leanne
I love parsnip! I usually roast it or add it too soup but I’ve never made a mash! Such a great alternative for when you’re sick of mashed potatoes. Can’t wait to give if a try. And love the addition of pistachios!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Hope you enjoy, Leanne! Thanks!
David @ Spiced
You know, parsnips were never on regular rotation in my house growing up. And they’re still not on regular rotation. We’ve used them when making roast beef, but I’ve never had ’em in mashed form. These sound (and look) delicious, Dawn! And the garnish with the chopped pistachios? Nailed it! This looks like something I’d see at a nice restaurant!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thank you so much, David! Such a sweet comment!
Kelsie | the itsy-bitsy kitchen
I love that you included pistachios here! This sounds so good, and it’s such a great way to switch up regular mashed potatoes as a side dish! And now I’m craving parsnips, haha!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Totally! Thanks Kelsie!
Marissa
What a great option for a creamy side dish instead of mashed potatoes! Loving how you’re shedding some well deserved light on underappreciated root veggies!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Thanks so much, Marissa! Really appreciate the kind words! XO
Haylie / Our Balanced Bowl
These look insanely creamy, Dawn! I honestly don’t think I’ve ever had a parsnip but now I certainly want to try them! This would be a great side dish for a homemade Valentine’s Day Dinner! YUM! 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
For sure! Thank you Haylie! They’re delish!
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
I like parsnips, for sure, so I’m loving this dish! I can just imagine how lovely it is with the pistachios 🙂 A great way to enjoy our roots 🙂
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
Definitely! Thank you Jennifer 🙂
Kathy @ Beyond the Chicken Coop
I know I’ve had parsnips is soups and stews, but I honestly don’t know what they taste like! I need to give them a try and then give these mashed parsnips a try. This looks so creamy and I love the crunch from the nuts.
Dawn - Girl Heart Food
They’re super flavourful, that’s for sure! Hope you enjoy, Kathy 🙂