11201 'Parsnips'

For those of you with parsnip withdrawal symptoms, I managed to convince friends at lunch here (Arezzo, Italy) on Sunday that they were eating roast parsnips, which they thought I had brought over from my recent trip to the UK. I found some large, purple sweet potatoes at my local ethnic shop, cut them into parsnip shapes and then roasted then in the normal way. They were delicious and are an excellent substitute.

Category
Food & Drink

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 08:08

I am permantly suffering from PWS, but can't even track down sweet potatoes in the area.

More fool me, I've got parsnip seeds from the UK, but forgot/was too busy to plant them back in the summer. A great example of getting the work/home life balance wrong even in my new life in Lunigiana. Doh!

Ghianda
[URL="http://www.olivopiegato.com"]Tuscany Bed and Breakfast - L'Olivo Piegato, The Crooked Olive[/URL]

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 08:55

[quote=Ghianda;105861]I am permantly suffering from PWS, but can't even track down sweet potatoes in the area.

More fool me, I've got parsnip seeds from the UK, but forgot/was too busy to plant them back in the summer. A great example of getting the work/home life balance wrong even in my new life in Lunigiana. Doh!

Ghianda
[URL="http://www.olivopiegato.com"]Tuscany Bed and Breakfast - L'Olivo Piegato, The Crooked Olive[/URL][/quote]
i have found parsnip seeds here without difficulty even though i never heard of anyone growing them ,i've found both french and italian seed companies packets
get them at local consorzio agricolo, they appear to be better known in the north and in puglia "hiding"under the name of pasternacche...

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 11:51

Its one of the [many] reasons I like Italy - No parsnips!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 12/17/2008 - 13:11

I'd be happy to buy and post parsnip seeds to any of you! Just pm me.

In the uk its best to plant them in Feb or March but I suppose if you tried this in Italy they'd be huge by mid summer! Perhaps sowing in Sept would work?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 12/20/2008 - 04:53

I plant seeds in April. Just started to harvest now. Blissful.

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Sat, 12/20/2008 - 15:02

Having previously brought parsnips from occasional trips to the UK, I was surprised to see them in the market in L'Aquila's main square over the last couple of weeks. That said, the supply is variable - the old ladies with very small "pitches" rather than the larger fruit & veg stalls - but they're available more than on a one-off. Also turnips, which I haven't seen elsewhere.....