Parsnip facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Parsnip |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Pastinaca
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| Species: |
sativa
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The parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) is a root vegetable that looks a bit like a white carrot. It's known for its sweet, earthy taste, especially after a cold winter.
Contents
All About Parsnips
What is a Parsnip?
A parsnip is a type of root vegetable. This means the part we eat grows underground. It has a long, thick root that's usually creamy white on the outside and inside. Parsnips are related to other plants you might know, like carrots and parsley. They all belong to the same plant family called Apiaceae.
Where Do Parsnips Come From?
Parsnips originally grew wild in Eurasia, which is the big landmass of Europe and Asia. People have been eating them for a very long time! The ancient Romans, for example, grew them as a crop. Before people had sugar from sugarcane, parsnips were sometimes used to make food taste sweet.
How Parsnips Grow
The parsnip plant grows its long, thick root underground. This root is the part we harvest and eat. If you leave parsnips in the ground until after the first winter frosts, they become even sweeter! The cold weather helps change the starches in the root into sugars.
Cooking with Parsnips
Parsnips are a tasty and healthy addition to many meals. You can roast them, boil them, or even mash them like potatoes. They are often used in soups and stews. Their natural sweetness makes them a great side dish, especially when roasted with other vegetables.
Images for kids
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Pastinaca sativa fruits and seeds
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Flowering parsnip, second year
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Illustration from Johann Georg Sturm's 1796 Deutschlands Flora in Abbildungen
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Parsnip prepared with honey and mustard
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Previous-year growth of wild parsnip as seen in the spring. Invasive specimen photographed in Ottawa, Ontario.
See also
In Spanish: Apio de Campo para niños
