This perfectly comforting recipe for rich-tasting parsnip puree will be a surefire hit at holiday dinner. The best part? The vegetable gravy is a gravy that everyone can enjoy, regardless of dietary focus.
Add the parsnips and potatoes to a large pot of boiling water and cook for 20 minutes or until tender.
In a separate saucepan, heat buttermilk to just warm, do not let it boil. Add thyme and let it steep in the hot liquid for 10 minutes.
Drain the parsnips and potato and turn the heat off. Add the parsnips and potato back to the pot, place on the stove and let the residual heat dry up the remaining moisture. Transfer the parsnips and potatoes to a bowl.
Set a ricer over the used pot on the element and rice parsnips and potato 2 cups at a time. With the heat still turned off, add butter, salt and pepper to the riced parsnip mixture. Remove the thyme from buttermilk, then add half of the milk to the mixture, stirring constantly with a spatula. Add the remaining milk and stir until creamy. Turn the heat to low, cover, and stir once or twice while making the gravy.
Vegetable Gravy
Melt the butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. When it foams, add diced onion and sauté for a few minutes until translucent.
Add the flour and whisk to combine. Keep stirring until roux starts to lightly brown. You don’t want it to brown too much, so watch the heat.
Slowly add the stock and keep stirring. Once everything is combined, incorporate the nutritional yeast, pepper, Worcestershire sauce, soy sauce, and tomato paste and whisk for 1 minute or until the sauce is thick enough to caot the back of a spoon.
If the sauce is to thick, stir 1 Tbsp (15 mL)pf hot water. Taste and season with more salt, if needed.
Keep sauce in the pot, covered and over low heat. When ready to serve, transfer to gravy boat, place alongside the bowl of pureéd parsnip and potatoes, and let guests help themselves.
Notes
Note: If parsnips are large, quarter them lengthwise and cut out the woody core, otherwise they will be difficult to mash to a nice consistency. If they're small, simply peel and cut them into evenly sized-rounds.To Make Roasted Vegetable Broth:3 cloves garlic, skin on2 leeks, split and washed, or 1 cup green parts or white ends1 large onion, halved, skin on3 unpeeled carrots or 1 cup carrots ends3 celery stalks or 1 cup celery ends3 parsnips or 1 cup parsnip peels or ends1 cup fresh mushrooms, any kind will work2 sprig fresh thyme1 handful fresh curly or flat-leaf parsley1 bay leaf3 Tbsp canola oil2 tsp salt10 cups waterDirections:
Preheat the oven to 325°F.
Add the garlic, leeks, onion, carrots, celery, parsnips, mushrooms, thyme parsley and bay leaf to a large roaster, drizzle with oil, and sprinkle with the salt.
Roast 1 hour, stirring once or twice. Add the water to the roaster and let cook in the oven for another hour.
Remove from the oven, let cool, and strain out the cooked vegetables and herbs with a large slotted spoon. Pour the remaining contents through cheesecloth or a sieve set over a large bowl.
Portion out into containers and freeze, or store in the fridge for up to 1 week.
Makes 8 cups.
Nutrition Facts
Parsnip Potato Purée with Vegetable Gravy
Serving Size
1 serving
Amount per Serving
Calories
331
% Daily Value*
Fat
4
g
6
%
Saturated Fat
2
g
13
%
Cholesterol
10
mg
3
%
Sodium
723
mg
31
%
Potassium
1152
mg
33
%
Carbohydrates
65
g
22
%
Fiber
10
g
42
%
Sugar
14
g
16
%
Protein
11
g
22
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.