Jamie Oliver's Whole Roasted Parsnips Are The Unexpected Holiday Side Dish You've Been Looking For

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Getting presents on Christmas morning is exciting, because you never know what you’re going to get. If only the same thing could be said about Christmas dinner (or Thanksgiving, for that matter). So often we get stuck in a boring holiday cooking routine, churning out the same dependable dishes year after year. But maybe it’s time to add something new to your celebration table. And while pans of warm rolls and carving boards stacked with juicy roasted meats are always a welcome sight, adding some vegetables to your holiday meal is always a good idea. Hey, we all need some help digesting that rich and hearty food, and some fiber-rich vegetables can help do the trick.

But you don’t have to opt for something boring — the vegetables on your table should be just as delicious as the rest of the food. That’s why these whole roasted parsnips from Jamie Oliver, author of One: Simple One-Pan Wonders, caught our eye. Just as show-stopping as a whole-roasted turkey or branzino, these parsnips are deserving of a place on your menu this year, and even better? They’re made with just five ingredients.

If you’ve never had parsnips before, you might just think of them as those weird white carrots you see in the produce aisle at the grocery store. But while they look like carrots, their flavor is much more complex. Parsnips have a sweet, nutty, earthy flavor, and though they can be a tad bitter when eaten raw, they get sweet and tender after a long roast in the oven. Their naturally earthy flavor pairs well with sweet and tangy ingredients, and that’s just what Oliver opts for in his roasted parsnips recipe.

To ensure that the parsnips cook up tenderly without drying out in the oven, Oliver first blanches the parsnips. Then, he roasts them with butter, salt and pepper, letting them bake for an hour. Finally, to add that sweet-tart flavor and to give the parsnips a roasted, golden-brown sheen, Oliver drizzles the roasted root veggies with honey, wine vinegar, and bay leaves, popping the pan back into the oven for another 10 minutes until the parsnips are caramelized to perfection.

If you’re looking for something new to add to your holiday meal but don’t have tons of time to master a new recipe, then Oliver’s 5-ingredient whole roasted parsnips could be the dish you have been looking for. And with 9.2 grams of fiber per serving, the recipe will add some valuable nutrition to your celebratory feast.

Need more holiday side dish ideas? Then check out our gallery of Jamie Oliver’s best potato recipes:

Watch: Peppermint Bark Is the Perfect Holiday Gift That You Can Make Right at Home