Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (2024)

This carrot and parsnip soup is creamy, tasty and perfect for welcoming in the fall season. The root vegetables are simply sautéed and then simmered in broth. Flavors from turmeric, ginger and fresh herbs give this soup an earthy aroma.

Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (1)

As many know, I love to garden! This year gardening has felt extra healing given the pandemic and additional time I have spent working from home. Throughout the spring and summer I found myself taking “gardening breaks” from all the virtual meetings, extensive emails and phone calls. I’d step outside, even for just 5 minutes, to tend to my vegetable and flower beds.

Besides getting fresh air, I appreciate the opportunity to grow food for my family. Having fresh produce in the backyard has been favorable and I tried growing a variety of vegetables this year. For example, I grew the carrots and herbs that I used here in this Carrot and Parsnip Soup. The parsnips are organic from the grocery. I am definitely going to add parsnips to my garden next spring.

Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (2)

Bouquet Garni

One culinary technique I implemented in this recipe was the use of a “bouquet garni” to help flavor the soup.

What is a bouquet garni? It is a bundle of fresh herbs. The tied together herbs are immersed into dishes like soups, stews and sauces. The flavors from the herbs steep into these dishes as they cook and the bundle is simply removed once the flavors dispel.

I used twine to keep my herbs wrapped together. My bouquet garni included fresh parsley, thyme, and tarragon.

Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (3)

Mise En Place

Here’s what to prep for my Carrot and Parsnip Soup.

Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (4)
  • Carrots – peeled and diced
  • Parsnips- peeled and diced
  • Onion – peeled and chopped
  • Bouquet Garni of fresh herbs: Tarragon, Parsley, and Thyme
  • Butter
  • Olive Oil
  • Ground Turmeric
  • Ground Ginger
  • Dried Bay Leaf
  • Garlic Powder
  • Vegetable Broth
  • Milk
  • Salt and Pepper
  • Garnish: Pepitas and chopped parsley

How to Make Carrot and Parsnip Soup

  1. In a large pot or Dutch oven, sauté the diced carrots, parsnips and onions for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Note: You’ll want to stir the vegetables frequently to prevent them from browning.
  2. Lower the heat and pour in the liquids. Next, gently stir in the spices, bay leaf, and the bouquet garni.
  3. Let the soup simmer for 30-40 minutes until the vegetables soften and are fork-tender. Once done, discard the bay leaf and herbs.
  4. In batches, puree the soup in a blender or food processor until smooth.
  5. Return soup to pot and stir in milk. Season with additional salt and pepper if needed.
  6. Serve warm and garnish with pepitas and chopped fresh herbs.
Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (5)

All in All

Soup season is officially here. I really enjoy this tasty recipe and hope that you will too. I look forward to making this again and again because it is vibrant, earthy and so simple to make. Happy Fall!

Other fall recipes you’ll enjoy:

  • Swiss Chard GratinCLICK HERE
  • Roasted Brussel Sprouts & Chicken QuartersCLICK HERE
  • Bourbon & Orange Cranberry Sauce CLICK HERE
Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (6)

Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (7)

Carrot and Parsnip Soup

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Ingredients

  • 1 pound Carrots diced
  • 1 pound Parsnips diced
  • 1 medium sized yellow onion chopped
  • 3 tablespoons Unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons Kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1/2 teaspoon ground turmeric
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 4 cups vegetable broth
  • 3 cups water
  • 1 bouquet garni of fresh herbs I used parsley, tarragon, and thyme
  • 2/3 cups whole milk

Instructions

  • In a large pot or dutch oven, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Sautee the diced carrots, parsnips and onions for 10 minutes. Stir frequently to prevent browning. Season vegetables lightly with salt and pepper.

  • Lower heat and add vegetable broth and water to the pot. Stir in garlic powder, turmeric, ground ginger, and bay leaf. Add in the bouquet garni of fresh herbs. Cover and let simmer for at least 30 minutes or until the vegetables are fork-tender.

  • Once the vegetables are tender, remove and discard the bay leaf and bouquet garni.

  • Using a food processor or blender, puree together the soup until smooth- This may need to be done in batches.

  • Return the pureed soup to the pot and stir in milk. If needed, season the soup with additional salt and pepper.

  • Serve soup warm and garnish with chopped parsley and pepitas.

Keyword soup

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (8)J

    I don’t have fresh herbs. Can I use dried?

    Reply

    • Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (9)brittany.fiero2

      Yes, you absolutely can. You won’t need as much as the recipe calls for fresh.

      Reply

  2. Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (10)Roger Burch

    I make a similar carrot soup and several other soups that require pureeing. I find that a wand blender works best and fasest fot that. Mine cost $8 and works great. It is also great for emulsifying salad dressings, etc.

    Reply

    • Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (11)brittany.fiero2

      Hey Roger! Yes, I agree that a wand blender is quicker for those who own one. I love my wand blender and have found that I use more often than expected. It really makes a difference for dressings and I used it to puree small batches of baby food when Freddie was little.

      Reply

  3. Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (12)Abbie Hills

    This looks dreamy!

    Reply

    • Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (13)brittany.fiero2

      Thank you very much!!!

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Carrot and Parsnip Soup: Perfect way to welcome Fall | Fall Recipe - Her Mise En Place (2024)

FAQs

What happens to the Flavour of vegetables such as parsnips and carrots when cooked? ›

While raw vegetables can often taste bitter, roasting them means that the dry heat of the oven helps caramelise the natural sugars within, resulting in the incredible sweet flavour of roasted carrots and parsnips.

How long will parsnip soup last in the fridge? ›

Once you've put it out, ideally you should eat it within 4 hours. If you allow any leftovers to cool, make sure to refrigerate in a container with a lid and chill. You can keep leftovers of Curried Parsnip Soup in the fridge for approximately 3 days or so.

What do you use parsnips for? ›

Parsnips are a classic ingredient in some chicken broths and soups, and can also be baked, sauteed, steamed, mashed or pureed, roasted, used in stews and fried. The parsnip is a root vegetable related to both carrots and parsley (and, come to think of it, don't the tops of carrots look a lot like parsley?).

What's the difference between a carrot and a parsnip? ›

Both parsnips and carrots come from the same family, but where they differ most is their flavor. Parsnips have a sweeter, licorice-like taste with a hint of spice to them, as opposed to the carrot's sweetness that is more reminiscent of other types of winter squash.

Which takes longer to boil carrots or parsnips? ›

In my experience the carrots take longest to fully cook, so throw them in the pot first and let them get started while I finish cutting up the other ingredients.

Is 5 day old soup OK to eat? ›

Leftovers can be kept for 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. After that, the risk of food poisoning goes up. If you don't think you'll be able to eat leftovers within four days, freeze them right away. Frozen leftovers will stay safe for a long time.

Can you eat 4 day old soup? ›

For best safety and quality, plan to eat refrigerated soup within 3 to 4 days or freeze it. And avoid letting soup set at room temperature for more than TWO hours. Don't put a large pot of hot soup directly into your refrigerator.

Can you eat soup after 3 days in fridge? ›

The United States Department of Agriculture recommends using cooked leftovers within 3 to 4 days. Refrigeration slows but does not stop bacterial growth.

Why is my parsnip soup bitter? ›

I recommend peeling parsnips before adding them to recipes like this parsnip soup. If you don't peel them, you'll likely be adding a bitter taste to the soup. Why is my parsnip soup bitter? If you leave the peels on the parsnip, it can cause your soup to taste bitter.

How do you thicken parsnip soup? ›

Add flour or cornflour

Put a tablespoon of either into a small bowl and stir in 2-3 tbsp of the soup until you have a smooth mixture. Stir this back into the soup and bring it to a simmer. Cook for a few minutes to allow the starch granules to burst to thicken, and to cook out any flour flavour.

What is a good substitute for parsnips in soup? ›

White Potatoes

With their white starchy flesh, regular potatoes can make a great replacement for parsnips in many dishes. While they have a milder taste, potatoes can be a great option for replacing parsnips in soups and roasted dishes.

Can parsnips be eaten raw like carrots? ›

Can you eat parsnips raw? Yes, parsnips are perfectly safe to eat raw! This may go without saying for some of you, but I don't blame you at all if you were wondering. Raw parsnips are sweet and nutty, with very subtle hints of licorice.

Are carrots and parsnips healthy? ›

Parsnips are a type of root vegetable, closely related to carrots and parsley root. They're rich in several important nutrients and antioxidants that may improve immunity, enhance digestive health, and aid weight loss.

Do you cut parsnips like carrots? ›

Also, some larger parsnips may have a woody core, which you might want to cut out and discard. Cutting a parsnip is similar to cutting a carrot. Use a Vegetable Peeler to peel away the skin and then use a sharp prep knife like a 7" Santoku knife to trim and slice.

What happens to the flavor of vegetables when cooked? ›

Flavor and Nutrient Content

The longer certain vegetables are cooked, the more flavor is lost. This can happen either because flavor compounds dissolve into the cooking liquid or evaporate. Some nutrients (like vitamin C) may also be lost as they leach out into the cooking water.

What do parsnips taste like when cooked? ›

A parsnip is a long, tapered root vegetable. It resembles a carrot in this way, and indeed they are part of the same family. But parsnips don't taste like carrots. They're sweeter—think sweet potatoes—and they have a delicious naturally nutty or earthy flavor.

What happens to carrots when cooked? ›

Your body has an easier time absorbing the carotenoids in carrots if you eat them cooked rather than raw. Cooking breaks down the vegetable's cell walls, making its nutrients more available. Of course, how you cook them matters—boiling vegetables can leach out nutrients, so it's better to steam, sauté, or roast.

What factors affect changes in flavor when vegetables are cooked? ›

Flavor changes are brought about mainly through exposure to heat and water. In the case of beans, the longer they cook, the more flavor they lose—some by evaporation, and some by dissolving in the cooking water. Just-picked, young green beans may cook in as little as two minutes.

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