Let's face it, when you think of bisque, the first things that
probably come to mind are lobster or shrimp. But now Tonia's Kitchen wants you to move beyond that, and learn about another kind of bisque: Honey-roasted Parsnip Bisque. The Hearty Boys (not Parker Stevenson and Shawn Cassidy!) formerly of The Food Network stopped by to talk about their latest creation. The hosts of The Party Line with The Hearty Boys told Tonia that they roast parsnips with honey and finish them off with a vegetable broth. It all gets cooked together until the parsnips are very soft. Then you puree it, and finish it off with heavy cream. It's very rich and delicious, yet easy to make!
Ingredients
2 pounds parsnips, peeled and quartered lengthwise
1/4 cup vegetable oil
3 teaspoons salt, divided
6 tablespoons honey, divided
6 cups water
1 bunch parsley
1 carrot, cut in 1/2
1 small onion
2 bay leaves
1/2 teaspoon black peppercorns
2 teaspoons white pepper
3 cups heavy cream
Special Equipment: cheesecloth
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Directions
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F.
Toss the parsnips with the oil and 1 teaspoon of salt and drizzle with 3 tablespoons honey. Place on a baking sheet and put into the top half of the oven. Roast 30 minutes, or until the parsnips are a deep golden brown; they tend to burn easily so make sure to toss often while roasting.
Meanwhile, put the water into a large pot and place over high heat. Lay a double layer of cheesecloth on a flat surface and place the carrot, onion, parsley, bay leaves and peppercorns in the center. Tie the cheesecloth up and around the vegetable and herb mix and drop it into the water. Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Remove the parsnips from the oven and place them immediately into the stock. Add the remaining honey and salt and white pepper; simmer for about 20 minutes. Puree with an immersion blender, or in batches in a blender. Add the cream and cook for another 10 minutes or until thick.
