
Parsnip soup recipe with medlar jam
A tasty recipe for parsnip soup that you can cook over an open fire in your garden. Recipe by Cleve West
Hearty soup such as this can be a meal in itself or served as a starter – although too rich a main course afterwards will leave absolutely no room for pudding. To inject even more nuttiness to this recipe, we sometimes roast the parsnips first, but this version is easier, and still delicious. Cook it at home and take it to the allotment to warm your hands and belly at lunchtime or, cook over an open fire when camping.


Ingredients
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 onion, chopped
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 1 carrot
- 450g parsnips
- 5cm nub of fresh root ginger, chopped
- 1 litre vegetable bouillon stock
- salt and freshly ground black pepper
- medlar jam and/or crème fraîche to garnish
Method
- Heat oil, sauté onion gently until translucent. Add garlic and ginger and fry for a few seconds before adding the carrot and parsnips. Stir and cook for a further five minutes.
- Add stock, bring to the boil and simmer for 30 minutes or until the vegetables are tender.
- Taste for seasoning. If making this soup at home, purée in a blender – if cooking alfresco, improvise with a potato masher for a more rustic version. Add a little extra stock if the soup is too thick.
- Reheat gently, before serving with either crème fraîche and/or a dollop of medlar jam as a garnish.

13 issues for £30 when you subscribe
Subscribe to Gardens Illustrated magazine and receive your first 13 issues for £30!
*UK only

Transform your Garden- Special Edition
Transform Your Garden
This special edition features advice on designing your garden from the world’s top garden designers, including top tips for redesigning your plot or creating a new garden from scratch.
Discover eight inspirational gardens in town and country, and beautiful planting ideas for year-round colour. Learn how to make the most of a small space, how to cope with a slope, and the ten most common mistakes people make, according to professional garden designers, and how to avoid them.
Enjoy insights on everything from paths and parking spaces to wildflowers and water features, so that you can be confident in starting to create the garden of your dreams.
Just £9.99 inc UK p&p
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Gardens of the Globe
From botanical wonders in Australia to tranquil havens closer to home in Ireland, let this guide help you to discover some of the most glorious gardens around the world
By entering your details, you are agreeing to our terms and conditions and privacy policy. You can unsubscribe at any time.