Baked Spiced Parsnip Chips (Healthy Snack)

Swap potato chips for spiced parsnip chips for a natural snack that’s lower in fat and higher in nutrients. Parsnips have fiber, vitamin C, and potassium, and this recipe avoids excess fats by baking the chips instead of frying them. They’re best in late fall through early spring.

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These parsnip chips are spiced with garlic and onion powder, cumin, paprika, and optional red pepper flakes for heat, but you can vary the spices according to your tastes. Here are a few ideas. 

• Ranch: with dried dill, garlic powder, onion powder, and chopped parsley
• Onion Herb: with onion powder, dried thyme, and fresh or dried rosemary
• Italian herb: with Italian herb blend or dried oregano, basil, garlic powder, and thyme
• Salt and vinegar: with sea salt and a few sprays of vinegar after baking
• Sweet spices: with cinnamon, nutmeg, and a drizzle of honey or 1-2 packets of stevia

Here are some other vegetables you can try instead of parsnips. 

• Carrot sticks
• Radish slices
• Eggplant slices
• Sweet potato slices

Dip your parsnip chips in hummus or guacamole, or ranch dip, or turn them into nachos by topping them with black or fat-free refried beans, salsa, diced tomatoes, and low-fat cheese. You can also serve them instead of fries with a veggie burger or turkey burger.

Recipe for Baked Spiced Parsnip Chips

Makes 4 servings

Ingredients:

• 2 large parsnips, peeled and sliced into ⅛-inch rounds, or cut into sticks
• 1 tablespoon of olive oil
• ½ teaspoon of smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon of garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon of onion powder
• ½ teaspoon of ground cumin
• (Optional) red pepper flakes to taste
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions: 

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper or grease it with cooking spray.
2. In a large bowl, toss parsnip slices with olive oil, paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, cumin, salt, and pepper until well-coated.
3. Spread the slices or sticks on the baking sheet in a single layer. Bake for 15-20 minutes, flipping halfway through, or until the chips are golden and crispy. 
4. Let cool before serving. 

Nutrition information per serving: 100 calories; 4 grams of fat; 0.5 grams of saturated fat; 0 mg cholesterol; 150 mg sodium; 17 grams of carbohydrates; 4 grams of fiber; 5 grams of sugar; 1 grams of protein

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