Veg and recipe - parsnip gratin

Veg and recipe - parsnip gratin

This dish turns earthy parsnips into something luxuriously creamy.

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees C.  Prepare six or so parsnips by top-and-tailing them and then slicing them lengthways or into thin discs using a food processor.

Prepare the sauce by heating around 300 ml of milk or vegetable stock and the same of double cream or crème fraiche in a saucepan.  Add a few handfuls of Parmesan cheese and flavouring of your choice, such as whole-grain mustard, thyme and bay leaves, or chilli and garlic.  Bring this to the boil, then lower the heat and add a grating of nutmeg.  Cover with a lid and simmer for five minutes and let the flavours infuse for a further five minutes.

Add the prepared parsnips to the sauce and simmer with the lid on for a few more minutes.  Pour the mixture into an oven proof dish then sprinkle two to three teaspoons of parmesan and a bit more nutmeg on top.  Then cover with foil and cook it in a preheated oven for 15 minutes.  Remove the foil and cook for another 20 minutes until golden. 


You may also like

View all

Plant of the month - Salvia

At this time of year, the soft summer pinks have faded, to be replaced with rich-toned jewels shining out from the borders.  Salvias are a stand-out plant in a mixed...
Read More

Body, soul and soil - the sounds of nature

When you’re in your garden, balcony or patio and you stop to sit down for a few minutes, what can you hear? Is your garden a peaceful place?  Perhaps it’s...
Read More

Gardeners' notes - jobs to do in August

Clip lavender Cutting back lavender now when it’s finished flowering helps to keep the growth strong and retains a neat, compact shape.  Clip all the spent flowers and shear the...
Read More