Baking

Oliver’s parsnip and maple syrup cake

This is the most moist and delicious cake that my son Oliver regularly makes. All those who try it prefer it to carrot cake.

175g butter, plus extra for greasing
250g demerara sugar
100ml maple syrup
3 large eggs + 1 large egg yolk
250g self-raising flour
2 tsp baking powder (make sure it hasn’t expired)
2 tsp mixed spice (this is an English mix, so if you can’t find it see recipe below)
250g parsnips, peeled and grated
1 medium eating apple, peeled, cored and grated
50g pecans, roughly chopped
zest and juice 1 small orange
For the filling and topping
500g tub mascarpone
7-8 tbsp maple syrup
75 – 100 grams toasted chopped pecans for the topping

STEP 1
Heat oven to 350F/180C/160C fan/gas 4.
Grease 2 x 8″/20cm loose bottom cake pans and line the bases with baking parchment.
Melt butter, sugar and maple syrup in a pan over gentle heat, then cool slightly. Whisk the eggs into this mixture, then stir in the flour, baking powder and mixed spice, followed by the grated parsnip, apple, chopped pecans, orange zest and juice. Divide between the pans, then bake for 30- 40 mins until the tops start to spring back a little when pressed lightly. Sometimes it takes a little longer, like 45 mins.This cake doesn’t rise like a sponge, so don’t panic.

STEP 2
Cool the cakes slightly in the tins before turning out onto wire racks to cool completely.
Just before serving, mix together the mascarpone and maple syrup. Spread over one cake and sandwich with the other. Spread the rest on the top and sprinkle the toasted chopped pecans over the icing.

Mixed Spice

1 Tbsp ground allspice
1 Tbsp ground cinnamon
1 Tbsp ground nutmeg
2 tsp ground mace
1 tsp ground cloves
1 tsp ground coriander
1 tsp ground Ginger

Blend all spices together, and store in a sealed jar away from light.

Asian flavors · Dairy-free · Do-ahead · Holiday Food · Soup · Vegan

Caramelized parsnip and coconut soup with parsnip bhajis

Recipe c/o the Great British Chef’s website
Chantelle Nicholson’s comforting parsnip soup recipe is given a creamy lusciousness by coconut milk, all the while staying both vegan and gluten-free. Served with beautifully crispy parsnip bhajis, this dish is the perfect winter warmer.

2 tbsp of coconut oil
4 large parsnips, peeled and diced
1 onion, finely sliced
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 bay leaf
1 2/3 pint (800ml) of vegetable stock
2/3 pint (300ml) of coconut milk
sea salt
freshly ground black pepper

PARSNIP BHAJIS
2 parsnips, peeled and grated
1 shallot, finely diced
1/2 tsp turmeric
1/2 tsp cumin seeds
1 tbsp of coriander, chopped
2 tbsp of gram flour
2 tbsp of chickpea water, (aquafaba)
2 tbsp of coconut oil, plus extra for greasing
salt
freshly ground black pepper

GARNISH
cumin seeds, toasted
coriander cress, (optional)
beetroot cress, (optional)
rapeseed oil

To make the parsnip soup, heat the coconut oil in a large saucepan over a moderate heat. When hot, add the parsnips, season well and cook until lightly caramelised, for approximately 25 minutes
After this time, add the onion, cumin seeds and bay leaf and cook for a further 5 minutes until the onion is soft
Add the vegetable stock to the pan and simmer for 20 minutes until the parsnip is cooked through
Meanwhile, make the parsnip bhajis

Preheat the oven to 350F/180°C/gas mark 4

Mix all of the bhaji ingredients together in a large bowl, apart from the coconut oil. Season the mix with salt and pepper then heat the coconut oil in a non-stick frying pan
Using two spoons, shape the bhaji mixture and fry off until golden. Place on a greased baking sheet and cook the bhajis for 8–10 minutes until golden cooked through

To finish the soup, remove the bay leaf, add the coconut milk and blitz in a blender until smooth and reheat on the hob if necessary. Divide the soup between bowls and sprinkle with cumin seeds and cress (if using). Drizzle with rapeseed oil and serve with the hot crispy bhajis on the side, or in the soup as croutons

Baking · Do-ahead · Holiday Food

Parsnip and sage scones with Stilton butter

Recipe c/o the Great British Chef’s website
Parsnips have a natural, gentle sweetness which works well in baked goods like these scones. We’ve combined the parsnips with sage for a festive spin, but you could also use other herbs such as thyme, chives or parsley. They are delicious served warm, piled with Stilton butter, and will keep well for a few days in a tightly sealed container.

16 oz self-raising flour
1 tbsp Baking Powder
1 oz caster sugar
1/2 tsp salt
5 oz unsalted butter, softened
7.5 oz parsnips, peeled and coarsely grated
1 egg
1/2 pint whole milk

STILTON BUTTER
4 oz of Stilton, at room temperature
4 oz of butter, softened

Preheat the oven to 400F/gas mark 6
Whisk together the flour, baking powder, sugar and salt. Add the butter, rubbing it in with your fingertips until the mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs
Add the grated parsnips and stir them into the flour and butter mixture
Add the egg and milk and stir again until just combined. Overworking the mixture will prevent the scones from rising as much, so stop mixing as soon as you have a shaggy dough. Add a little more flour if the dough is too wet to handle
Tip the dough onto a floured surface and gently roll or pat it out until it is around 1 in thick
Use a 2 in round cutter to cut out the scones, taking care not to twist the cutter as you push down. Instead, try to push the cutter straight down – this will help the scones rise better
Bake the scones for 12-15 minutes or until risen and golden. Remove them from the oven and transfer to a wire rack to cool

Make the Stilton butter by mashing together the Stilton and butter until well combined
Serve the scones with generous amounts of Stilton butter on top

Do-ahead · Holiday Food · Nuts · Vegetable-related

Maple-glazed parsnip, chestnut and feta loaf

The nut roast of all nut roasts. This vegetarian recipe is packed with the different textures and flavors of nuts, herbs, tangy feta and sweet, sticky parsnips. A fabulous main course for Thanksgiving or Christmas for your vegetarian friends.
(Hopefully you have measuring scales that convert to grams, as I am loathe to do the conversions on this one!)
Recipe from Olive magazine

Serves 6-8
150g unsalted butter, plus an extra knob and a little to grease
150-200g parsnips, trimmed and cut lengthways into 1.5cm slices
50g pecan halves or pieces
50g blanched almonds
30g pine nuts
2 large leeks, sliced
200g button or chestnut mushrooms, quite finely chopped
200g chestnuts, roughly chopped
2 large garlic cloves, crushed
3 fresh rosemary sprigs, finely chopped, plus extra to garnish
½ small bunch fresh sage, finely chopped
4 fresh thyme sprigs, finely chopped
Small bunch fresh parsley, finely chopped
100g fresh breadcrumbs
50g plain flour
100ml maple syrup
200g feta cheese
3 large free-range eggs

Heat the oven to 350F/190°C/170°C fan/ gas 5.
Lightly butter a deep 8″/20cm loose-bottomed cake tin and line the base with baking paper. Steam the parsnips for 5-8 minutes to take off the raw edge (they don’t need to be cooked all the way through). Put in a colander and leave to dry.
Spread the pecans and almonds in an even layer on a baking sheet, then toast for 5 minutes in the oven. Add the pine nuts and toast for 3-5 minutes more until golden. Cool, roughly chop and set aside.

Melt 75g butter in a large frying pan on a low heat. Add the leeks, season and cook gently, stirring occasionally, for 10 minutes until soft and sweet, then transfer to a large mixing bowl.
Add the remaining 75g butter to the frying pan and turn up the heat to high. When the butter is hot and foaming, add the mushrooms, season with salt and pepper, then cook for 5-7 minutes, tossing every now and then, until golden brown. Add the chestnuts and garlic, then cook for 2 minutes, stirring so the garlic doesn’t brown. Add the mixture to the leeks, along with the chopped nuts, chopped herbs, breadcrumbs and flour.
Taste and season.

Wipe out the frying pan and put it over a medium-high heat. Add the maple syrup and a knob of butter. When bubbling, add the parsnip pieces, without crowding the pan. Fry for 3-4 minutes until golden, then flip over and cook for another couple of minutes on the other side. Remove with a fish slice, leaving the syrup in the pan, and put the parsnips, flat-side down and spaced out a little, into the cake tin. Leave the buttery maple syrup in the pan.

Crumble the feta into the nut mixture, then crack in the eggs and mix well to combine. Spoon the mixture on top of the parsnips and press down lightly. Bake in a 190°C/170°C fan/gas 5 oven for 45 minutes, covering the top with foil if it browns too much (a little color is good). Let it cool in the tin for 10-15 minutes, then invert carefully onto a flat plate and peel off the baking paper.
Reheat the syrup in the pan, season with sea salt and add a few rosemary sprigs. Brush the caramel over the top of the loaf, decorate with the rosemary leaves and serve with a sharply dressed bitter salad.
delicious. tips
Most varieties of nuts will work well with this recipe, so use up what’s in your store cupboard.

Complete recipe to the end of step 6, cool completely, then keep covered in the fridge for up to 3 days. Reheat in a low oven to serve and complete recipe. Alternatively, wrap well in greaseproof paper and cling film, then freeze for up to 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight, then reheat in a low oven to serve and complete recipe.