Parsnips required

[Muad_dib]

Anyone seen any parsnips while doing your weekly shop?We have a nice rabbit for a pie and it must have parsnip in it.

[carrierbag]

Very difficult to get in the North...they might be in some shops mid-December but you can get them South side usually

[sophie]

As carrier bag says, very difficult to find until about 3 weeks before Christmas and then not all places have them in. Down South usually sell them. Can you get frozen ones here, I'm not sure?

[SourBrandy]

Try Bell Foods in Karaoglanoglu, they definitely have frozen ones at Christmas but they may have them at other times.

[Muad_dib]

Thx all,we went down south last week and there wasn't any about,as for Bells the last ones we had were honey coated and i didn't like them very much.

[Deniz1]

.parsnips need to be exposed to frost so its not the season yet.

[JBA]

Having paid 10tl per kilo for them last Christmas we have decided to try growing them. Unfortunately only got the seed in last week (2 varieties) so they won't be ready on time - still, I enjoy them all year round. I read on the internet that while a frost is ideal, if you put them in the freezer for a couple of days, wrapped in newspaper with all the leaves and roots intact, then you get pretty much the same result.
Also planted seed for swede (2 varieties) and rhubarb (2 varieties) both of which I miss very much.

Fingers crossed!

[carrierbag]

I have bought them from Ileli before Christmas in the past. I buy a load Southside when available then parboil them, then freeze them.

[Tanyaahmet]

I know this isnt about parsnips but does any one know were i can buy sweed?

[Muad_dib]

The same place as parsnips

[Groucho]

I know this isnt about parsnips but does any one know were i can buy sweed?

Swede is not readily available here but there is a veg that makes a fine substitute... Sarmak Beyaz (White bandage) and funnily enough it looks just like a turnip wrapped in a bandage... It usually has stalks coming out of the top that look a bit like spinach. All the greengrocer shops sell it.

Cut it up and cook it just like swede... apart from the colour you'll be hard pushed to tell it's not swede. One thing, I have found that it retains water more than swede and needs to be rinsed well mashed and returned to the heat to dry it out a bit so that it's not sloppy. If you microwave cook it of course you won't get this problem.

[Becker]

Swede,parsnips & celeriac available in South,we were there last week.Not really shopping,just killing time as a family member was arriving at LCA.Bought a few then.

[Philoz]

@Groucho
you are spot on there-I didn't know it's correct name,but I bought some and treated it like a suede.
It has quite a high sugar content I think,a bit like sugar beet, but It makes great oven chips, a bit like yams.
If I see a veggie here I don't recognise,I buy some cook it and give it a whirl!

[kaiserphil]

How I miss parsnips, cant get them where I live. Also miss swede, mashed with carrot, salt and pepper, with a rich gravy.

Sheer bliss.

[JBA]

I mash swede with cream, chopped bacon and black pepper. I always make too much so there is some left to make patties and shallow fry for breakfast next day.

[carolhm]

JBA that sounds blooming lovely

[karmels]

Philoz.

The name of the veg is kohlrabi.

[Philoz]

Karmels- I know the veg you mean,but I thought the veg that Groucho was referring to was Kolokasi, and this was the veg I was referring to in my post- there is an interesting article here-

http://my.telegraph.co.uk/john_akritas/ ... _kolokasi/

This is what I have been using as parsnip/swede substitute.

[karmels]

Philoz.

Sorry we seem to have got our wires crossed. My reply was to Groucho's message 11 which you answered.
Sarmak Bayaz is Kohlrabi.
I find I am unable to eat Kolkas as it is slimey and has a strange taste and texture.