Baby and toddler recipes
🌿 Soft roasted parsnip batons with thyme
Parsnip batons roasted soft and sweet with a little thyme, a British roast dinner favourite made baby friendly. Parsnips bring fibre, folate and vitamin C, and their gentle sweetness is usually welcomed.
Makes about 10 batons
Ingredients
- 2 medium Parsnip (peeled, woody core removed)
- 1 tbsp Rapeseed oil
- a pinch Thyme (fresh leaves or dried)
Method
- Heat the oven to 200C (180C fan).
- Quarter the parsnips lengthways, cut out the woody core and cut into finger-sized batons.
- Toss with the oil and thyme and roast for 20 to 25 minutes until soft.
- Cool to warm. Test a piece before serving: it should squash easily between your thumb and finger.
Serving it to your baby
Trim off any very crisp, dark ends, as they can be hard. Offer large batons at 6 months and shorter pieces from 9 months. Always stay with baby while they eat and keep them sitting upright.
For the rest of the family
Season adult parsnips with salt and black pepper, or toss in a little maple syrup before roasting.
Storing and reheating
Cool, then keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. Freeze on a lined tray, then bag up, for up to 3 months. Reheat in the oven until hot through, then cool before serving. Never reheat more than once.
Weaning with OBubba
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Questions parents ask
Why remove the parsnip core?
The core of larger parsnips can be stringy and woody even after roasting, so removing it gives a softer, safer texture.
Are roast vegetables OK if they are a bit crispy?
Lightly golden is fine, but very crispy or hard edges are tricky for young babies. Cover the tray with foil for part of the cooking time to keep them soft.
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).