Parsnip Truffle Fries

Parsnip Truffle Fries served with Italian parsley and shaved pecorino is my favorite new treat. Drizzling truffle infused extra virgin olive oil adds a wow factor to these parsnips. Yes, this decadent tapas is Mediterranean Diet compliant. As a starchy vegetable, parsnips are compliant. Be sure to have plenty of leafy greens and colorful, non-starchy vegetables, at other times during the day. It is important to note starchy vegetables should NOT make up the majority of the vegetables consumed throughout the day. I eat a giant salad on days these are on the menu.

My sweetheart and I enjoy these Mediterranean Diet compliant fries with a glass of red wine on the weekend. I recently started using parsnips in place of carrots or even in conjunction with them. The parsnip is sweeter than a potato and the texture is more like a carrot. Be sure to peel them, because the skins lend a certain bitterness not everyone will enjoy.

Everyone loves french fries right? Not until I thought about them as potatoes did I first try these Parsnip Truffle Fries. Why do these fries work on the Mediterranean Diet, unlike the ones you get from the golden arches? Tossing the parsnip fries in extra virgin olive oil rather than in canola oil is the key difference. Baking them and not deep frying them is another healthy method as is using salt sparingly if at all. All of these methods could be used on regular potatoes for a special Mediterranean tapas.

It is easy to elevate these fries from a greasy side dish to a tapas. The toppings are what makes the fries luxurious. Shaved pecorino adds just enough salty creaminess to make you smile and the truffle oil adds the elegance. Italian truffle oil is shipped from a vineyard Tenuta Torciano Winery. My sweetheart and I visited the winery in San Gimignano, Tuscany, Italy. It may seem pricey, but a little goes a long way, The truffle oil will keep for five years if not in direct sunlight. Reserved to make a meal feel special, we do not go through it too quickly.

My Sweetheart and I enjoy these unique fries with a glass of red wine on the weekend. We value our weekends, and this tapas makes sitting by the intercoastal enjoying the sunset even more enjoyable.

Enjoy!