Alice Zaslavsky’s parsnip and pear soup with cheesy toast tops – recipe

Parsnip at a clip! The root veg is affordable now, and paired with pears, the retro combo works wonders in Alice Zaslavsky’s midweek soup

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Some vegetables are a Tuesday night no-brainer, while others feel like more of a Sunday schlep. Poor parsnip falls into the latter category, relegated to slow braises and weekend roasts.

Weather-resistant root veg like parsnips, swedes and celeriac are affordable at this time of year, but their fibrousness doesn’t yield as easily or quickly as tender, fair-weather veg.