Baby parsnips vs. parsley root
I cooked parsnips for the first time this week (glad I did - delicious). When the produce clerk pointed them out, I asked if he had baby parsnips instead (as the recipe called for them).
He pointed out parsley root, which looked very similar. I did a search while in the store (and got in many shoppers' way), but could not find whether they were the same thing definitively.
A follow up question would be, if they aren't in fact the same thing, had I chosen to make this dish (roast veggies and chicken), how would the taste have differed for the parsley roots?
Best Answer
Parsley root is not the same as parsnip. It tastes more like parsley, which is not really a surprise. Parsley roots don't get as sweet and delicious when you roast them as parsnips do, in my opinion - I get plenty of both from my Community Supported Agriculture box and buy a lot of parsnips as well.
If you can't find parsnips you could use parsley root as a substitute rather than going without. On the matter of "baby" parsnips -- I just cut the large ones into more pieces. The centre of the largest ones are woody sometimes, but unless it's 4" or more across (which I have seen) you have nothing to worry about.
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Quick Answer about "Baby parsnips vs. parsley root"
The colour of the root in both parsnip and parsley root is white, off-white or light yellow. Parsnip is usually bigger than parsley root. The foliage of parsley root is quite similar to flat-leaved parsley. When grown in the garden, it's quite easy to tell the difference between parsnip and parsley root.Are parsnips and parsley root the same?
Also called Hamburg parsley, rooted parsley, and turnip-rooted parsley, parsley root looks deceptively similar to a parsnip, but parsnips are creamier in color and have a more earthy flavor. Parsley root is a purer white, and it's often sold with its parsley-like tops still attached.Can I substitute parsley root for parsnips?
You could be forgiven for mistaking a parsley root for a parsnip as they look very similar, especially the root. If you're trying to replicate the starchy texture that you get from a parsnip, then the parsley root is a great option.Is there a substitute for parsley root?
Substitutes for parsley rootParsnip root: this is so similar to parsley root, even in appearance, that no one will know. Parsnip can be sweeter, softer, creamier, and milder in flavor though. Carrots: these can replace parsley root, but they will provide a sweeter taste and alter the color of the dish, most likely.Is parsley root the same as parsley?
Although closely related, it should not be confused with the more popular varieties of leafy green parsley that you might grow in your garden or use as an herb. Parsley root comes from a subspecies of garden parsley known scientifically as Petroselinum crispum Tuberosum.Frederick Hiam Grows Parsley Root
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Answer 2
No, they are not the same.
Parsnips are Pastinaca sativa, parsley roots are roots of Petroselinum crispum.
They are interchangeable only to a degree:
Parsnips are a lot milder, with a sweet note and a lot more tender. Parsley is sometimes slightly sharp, can be more fibrous, especially the core, and takes longer to cook.
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