Tags
AIP, Autoimmune Protocol, Celeriac, Celery Root, Dairy Free, Mash, Paleo, Parsnip, Root Vegetables, Side Dishes
(Image by TSL)
I’m currently on the Autoimmune Protocol, a nutrient-rich elimination diet that removes foods that irritate the gut, cause gut imbalance and activate the immune system. You can read more about the protocol and why I’m doing this here. And, if you want to know why I’m on the sugar-free version of the Autoimmune Protocol, you can read about that here.
As promised last week, today I’m sharing my Herbed Parsnip & Celeriac Mash with you. Truly, it is hellishly good. Even if I do say so myself. Actually – it must be said that I surprised even myself with how good it tastes!
After I made it, I literally stood at my kitchen bench spooning great gob-fulls into my mouth. It wasn’t at all lady like. Good thing I’m not that much of a lady… And, lucky I made so much, really…
I’m very good at smoothing the mash over to hide the evidence of my gluttony
(Image by TSL)
Listen, it’s too big a world to be in competition with everyone. The only person who I have to be better than is myself. And in your case, that’s enough. (Col. Potter in M*A*S*H)
But! – I’m getting ahead of myself.
My smashing mash came about because I had beef cheeks in the oven and I wanted some sort of root vegetable number to go with them.
And, potatoes are off the menu. When you are on the autoimmune protocol, potatoes are verboten. They are a nightshade. Nightshades are potentially inflammatory. Ergo, no potatoes (which doesn’t mean I wouldn’t consider doing many, many things for a bowl of potatoes roasted in duck fat…)
When I went to the fridge, I had a celeriac root and two large organic parsnips looking up at me. So, necessity being the mother of invention and all that, I went to work.
A bit of this and a dash of that. A few herbs, and then a few more. And, doesn’t almost everything taste better with caramelised onions?
The thing about this crazy regime that I’m on is that because I am on SUCH low amounts of sugar – literally only the natural sugars in starchy vegetables, really – this wee number tasted almost dessert-like to me. The parsnips bring a sweetness that I hadn’t expected. Seriously good.
I will not carry a gun, Frank. When I got thrown into this war I had a clear understanding with the Pentagon: no guns. I’ll carry your books, I’ll carry a torch, I’ll carry a tune, I’ll carry on, carry over, carry forward, Cary Grant, cash and carry, carry me back to Old Virginia, I’ll even ‘hari-kari’ if you show me how, but I will not carry a gun! (Hawkeye Pierce in M*A*S*H)
HELLISHLY GOOD Herbed Parsnip and Celeriac Mash with Caramelised Onions
Ingredients:
2 x large parsnips, preferably organic
1 x celeriac bulb (aka celery root)
2 x medium red onions
2 x Tablespoons fat (I used coconut oil, lard would be better)
1 x clove garlic, minced
3 or 4 x sprigs fresh thyme
1 x sprig fresh rosemary
1/3 x bunch flat leaf parsley
1/2 x bunch chives
1/4 x cup bone broth (or stock)
zest from 1/2 a lemon, organic if possible
Himalayan sea salt to taste
1 x teaspoon freshly ground pepper (optional, leave out if on the autoimmune protocol)
Method
1. Peel and roughly chop your parsnips and celeriac bulb. Pop the peeled parsnips and celeriac into a large pot. Add enough water to cover. Bring to the boil over high heat and cook for 15 minutes or until knife tender. Drain in a colander.
2. While your root vegetables are cooking away, peel and chop your red onions. Melt your fat in a frying pan, and add the onions. At this point, I also added my chopped thyme and rosemary. Turn the heat right down and allow to melt down into a yummy unctuous mess of onion. It will smell AMAZING!
3. Using your food processor (or stick blender), blend your cooked celeriac and parsnip. Add the minced garlic, bone broth, chives and parsley, lemon zest and blitz. Add the caramelised onion and pulse a couple of times to mix into the mixture. Taste for seasoning.
4. Stand at your bench with a spoon and congratulate yourself on how delicious your mash tastes.
E N J O Y !
I served this mash with my Bloody BRILLIANT Braised Beef Cheeks. Yum!
This recipe features in the Phoenix Helix AIP Recipe Roundtable
