Using the Air Fryer to cook your vegetables is a fantastic way to enjoy delicious dishes that come together quickly and leave no mess behind! These Easy Air fryer Parsnips are a delicious and hearty side dish that you can make using just 4 ingredients: Parsnips, olive oil, maple syrup, and salt.
Who else is obsessed with beautifully cooked parsnips? I discovered this veggie while in Ireland, visiting my husband's family for Christmas. Parsnips are a staple in Irish cuisine, and I wish I had started cooking with them earlier!
I started growing and harvesting my own parsnips, and even though Spain doesn't have the best weather for this type of root vegetable, I've managed to have a successful harvest this year, meaning I'll definitely be including parsnips on our Christmas menu!
Air frying is one of the best cooking methods for parsnips because it brings out their natural sweetness while keeping them tender on the inside and crispy on the outside. The high heat of the air fryer caramelizes the parsnip's sugars, enhancing its flavor without the need for excess oil or butter.
The best way to serve your air-fried parsnips is with some rich sauces, such as a creamy tahini sauce or our homemade Bravas Sauce.
Did I mention that only four ingredients are needed to make this recipe? That's right: Parsnips, olive oil, maple syrup, and salt.
Ingredients
Parsnips. These root vegetables are a great addition to your menu, and this air fryer recipe can help you become confident cooking them. We love parsnips, especially during the holiday season, but we try to include them in our diet quite often. Choose parsnips that are firm with no soft spots.
Olive oil. We use olive oil for this recipe. You can use another type of vegetable oil such as avocado oil or coconut oil.
Maple syrup. To enhance the natural sweet flavor of Parsnips, we add some maple syrup. While this ingredient is optional, we tried this same recipe without added sweetener, and we believe it is a great addition to the dish. You can use another type of sweetener, such as honey, date syrup, or agave.
Salt and pepper. Add a little salt and black pepper to season the parsnips. Optionally, you can use other spices or flavors. Some popular choices are Italian seasoning, onion powder, or sweet paprika.
Fresh thyme or mint for garnishing. Before serving, you can garnish your air-fried parsnips with fresh herbs such as thyme, mint or rosemary.
Step-by-step Method
Wash and peel the parsnips. For this recipe, we slice the parsnips length-wise into four pieces. If you have thinner parsnips, you may need to slice them in just two pieces.
Season the parsnips. Place the sliced parsnips in a large bowl and add the olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Combine well until all the pieces are evenly coated.
Place the seasoned parsnips into the air fryer in a single layer. Avoid placing them on top of each other, as they won't cook evenly.
Cook the parsnips at 200C or 400F for about 18 minutes or until fork-tender with crispy and golden brown edges. Turn them halfway through to ensure they are even cooking. Serve them with some fresh mint and your favorite dipping sauce.
Air Fryer Parsnips
Equipment
- Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 4-5 parsnips
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and pepper
- Fresh thyme for garnish
Instructions
- Wash and peel the parsnips.4-5 parsnips
- Slice the parsnips length-wise into four pieces. If you have thinner parsnips, you can slice them into just two pieces.
- Place the sliced parsnips in a large bowl and add the olive oil, maple syrup, salt, and pepper. Combine well until all the pieces are evenly coated.1 tablespoon maple syrup, 1 tablespoon olive oil, Salt and pepper
- Preheat the air-fryer for 3-4 minutes to 200C (400F)
- Transfer the parsnips into the air fryer in a single layer. Avoid placing them on top of each other, as they won't cook evenly.
- Cook the parsnips at 200C (400F) for about 18 minutes, or until fork-tender with crispy edges. Turn them halfway through, to ensure even cooking.
- Garnish with fresh thyme, and serve with your favorite dipping sauces!Fresh thyme for garnish
Newsletter
Nutrition
Variations to our Air Fryer Parsnips
- Change the seasoning. Our seasoning is fairly simple, but it works fantastic for this side dish. You can also use other fresh or dried herbs and spices to make these parsnips to your taste. Some options are basil, parsley, sage, cumin, garlic powder, onion powder, cinnamon, five-spice powder, cloves, etc.
- Use butter instead of olive oil. You can toss the parsnips with melted butter or vegan butter before air frying for increased browning and flavor.
- Make it spicy. For spicy parsnips, toss with Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes before air frying. Another option is to coat them with chili oil instead of regular oil.
- Cutting method. You can cut the parsnips into smaller pieces, but make sure to adjust the cooking time. We recommend doing this if you want to make a bigger portion, as you will be able to fit more pieces into the air fryer. If you intend to make air fryer parsnip fries, you will need to cut them into thinner slices that resemble fries.
- Add other vegetables. You can add other root vegetables to air fry with your parsnips, such as carrots, beetroot, or potatoes.
Serving Suggestions
The air-fried parsnips make a delicious and easy side dish on their own, but you can also serve them with some optional garnishes or sauces for extra flavor.
Our Air Fryer Parsnips are a great alternative if you want to cook something different than potatoes or carrots this Holiday season. We usually include vegan mashed potatoes in our festive menus, so we prefer serving air fryer parsnips instead of potatoes to add more root vegetables in different ways.
Our favorite way to enjoy this side dishs is with some dipping sauces such as Bravas sauce, simple tahini, lemon dip, or even peanut sauce!
For garnish, we use fresh mint or thyme, but you can also add some crushed toasted nuts such as pinenuts, pecans, or hazelnuts.
If you want to add something colorful and fresh, we believe fresh pomegranate or some orange zest will make a fantastic festive addition to this side dish, adding a unique flavor.
These parsnips pair beautifully with our Vegan Mushroom Wellington, a hearty Nut Roast, or a Sunday Roast dinner. Make sure to include these Air fry parsnips in your next Christmas dinner or Easter lunch.
Store and Reheat
Leftover parsnips can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Make sure the parsnips are completely cooled before storing them to prevent getting them soggy.
To reheat, you can use the air fryer. It takes about 5-6 minutes to reheat your parsnips. Avoid using the microwave, as they will get soft and mushy.
FAQ
We have a Ninja Air Fryer and are honestly very happy with it. It works well, and it has different functions that we often use, such as reheating or baking. If you are looking into buying an Air Fryer, we recommend checking this post from Homes & Gardens, in which we participated, to avoid common buying mistakes.
Preheating is recommended for best results. Preheat the air fryer for about 3-5 minutes before adding the carrots. This helps ensure even cooking and a crispy texture.
Yes, you can mix vegetables in the air fryer. However, be mindful of cooking times. Carrots may take longer than softer vegetables, so consider cutting denser vegetables into smaller pieces for even cooking.
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