Parsnip Soup for Beginners

This is a very easy no-fuss version that anyone can make with little equipment or skills.

I’ve written this for complete beginners.

The ingredients are extremely simple so if you have more experience you can add to it if you wish.

I’ve made this one in a big pan because I didn’t want big chunky soup and I didn’t want it totally blended which my soup maker would do.

I do like my soup maker a lot but for tonight’s version, the pan worked better.

Utensils

• Sharp knife
• Cutting board
• Big pan
• Big spoon
• Peeler optional
• Ladle optional
• Masher or blender optional

Ingredients

• 3 medium carrots
• 3 medium parsnips
• 3 medium potatoes
• 1 large or 2 medium onions
• 2 stock cubes.
• Water 2 litres maximum
• Optional chilli powder or small chilli if you like it spicy.
• Black pepper, use about 1/4 of a teaspoon . If you use chilli, unless you are certain, again, about 1/4 of a teaspoon full.

Method

1. Wash your veg and trim the ends off of the carrots and parsnips.
2. Peel them if you prefer although I don’t.
3. Slice potatoes about 2 cm slices and slice carrots and parsnips about 1 cm slices. I don’t peel my potatoes either!
4. The idea is they all cook at the same time fairly quickly
5. Take your onions and with the knife slice off the bits top and bottom. Just slice off about the size of a 2 pence piece.
6. Peel the skins off of the onions.
7. Cut each onion in half then chop up roughly-size doesn’t matter too much.
8. Put all veg into a biggish pan.
9. Add the stock cubes. I cut them up so they dissolve easilly.
10. Add chilli and pepper if you wish.
11. Add enough cold water to cover the veg with about 5 cm extra water. This will depend on the size of your pan. Don’t worry-it does not need to be exact. ( about 1.5 litres) Just make sure the veg is covered with extra water.
12. I used chicken stock cubes because I like the flavour and they contain the herbs spices and salt for the recipe. You use whatever you prefer. I get mine in Sainsburys as they are good flavour and great price.

Boil all of this up and let it simmer for about 15 mins. Check to see if the veg is cooked with a fork. You want them softish-like you would to eat them.

Now the soup is cooked, decide how you like it. If you want it as it is then of course do so.

I wanted mine not quite smooth but something in between smooth and chunky. I used a blender but you can use a potato masher or a fork. If you only have a fork, sieve the veg out of the liquid and in a separate bowl, mash it. Then add it back into the liquid and mix well. You don’t need anything fancy for a basic soup. This recipe makes between 1.6 and 2 litres depending on the pan. This will make 4-6 servings. If you want to make it a bit more or a bit thicker add larger veg.