Recipe - Oven-Roasted Salsify Soup

16 lg Shallots ; (1 One half lbs)
1 tablespoon Extravirgin olive oil
1 One half tablespoon Fresh thyme
(or 1 tspn dried thyme)
Thyme sprigs; for garnish
Kosher or coarse sea salt
Freshly ground pepper

Place unpeeled shallots in shallow baking dish and toss with olive oil,
thyme and salt and pepper to taste. Roast uncovered at 400 degrees until
tender when pierced with knife, browned and some of papery skins have
split, about 40 minutes. Sprinkle with more thyme and salt if desired.
Garnish with thyme sprigs. Serve hot or at room temperature. Yields 8