Celery root soup (Celeriac soup)

Have you ever cooked with a celery root or a celeriac before? It resembles the shape of misshapen turnip with beards growing here and there. At first glance to be frank it is not very appealing, particularly when seated next to the rows and rows of beautiful pink perfect red carrots of the season; but since I had heard so much about the delicate celery like flavors of these root vegetables, I could not pass up the chance to pick one up in the farmer's market yesterday.

Celeriac is a root vegetable in celery family. For a long time I thought celeriac is the root bulb of celery but that is not quite the case! The stalks and leaves attached to a celeriac are _not_ actually celery; I was planning to use them up in my soup but a bit of Googling told me that they may not be edible so I skipped them and used regular celery instead. In texture celeriac is simlar to the Mexican Jicama with a dominant celery flavor with a slight bit of sweetness like an apple!
Preparing celery root is very easy. First you chop off the celerish stalks attached to the root and then run the root through running water for a few minutes making sure to remove as much dirt as you can. Then using your knife peel of the outer skin as shown in the image below. You can then chop off the celery root into bite sized pieces. The celeriac is fantastic raw in salads or roasted with a bit of rosemary, salt & pepper or pureed in a soup. For my first attempt I decided to go with a simple but absolutely delicious celery-celeriac soup!

Celeriac is in season for a short duration and its not found that easily in supermarkets either, so if you get a chance to try this root vegetable, definitely go for it, I am sure you will love it!


Recipe: Celery root soup
Serves 4
Ingredients:
1 large celery root
3 stalks of celery
1 leek
6C water
olive oil
salt & pepper
red chili flakes

Recipe:
Prepare the celery root. First chop off the celeri-sh stalks attached to the root and then run the root through running water for a few minutes making sure to remove as much dirt as you can. Then using your knife peel of the outer skin. Then chop the peeled celery root into small cubes.

Prepare the celery and the leek. Chop the celery sticks into small pieces. Chop the leek into small pieces and wash well (dirt gets trapped inside the leek leaves, so cleaning them after chopping is the best way to get rid of the dirt.

Heat 1Tbsp olive oil in a large soup pot. Add leeks and saute for a couple of minutes. Add chopped celery and celery root and saute for a few more minutes.

Add 6C water, enough salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Let the soup come to a boil; then reduce heat and simmer covered for half an hour or until the celery root is tender. Remove from heat. Puree soup using a blender to a thick consistency. Serve warm garnished with some more good quality olive oil, crushed chili flakes and more pepper.

    Comments

    You know what ive always wondered how it would taste like. I havent seen it at the local store...il keep a look out for it..
    its def soup weather here..and im craving some
    Treat and Trick said…
    First time came across the celery root, I only know the celery but you've introduced them with this great looking and yummy soup, thanks for sharing dear...
    Cool Lassi(e) said…
    PJ, the soup looks divine. Creamy soup is what I am craving for right now!

    Hey, If you are looking for an alternative way to cook this veggie, look no further. Check out my "Celery root Remoulade" i posted ages ago in my blog..its to die for. You must make it sometime.Then you will thank me and be forever garteful for introducing to you such a divine dish..Ahem, I am getting carried away here, but its true.
    Cool Lassi(e) said…
    PJ, the soup looks divine. Creamy soup is what I am craving for right now!

    Hey, If you are looking for an alternative way to cook this veggie, look no further. Check out my "Celery root Remoulade" i posted ages ago in my blog..its to die for. You must make it sometime.Then you will thank me and be forever garteful for introducing to you such a divine dish..Ahem, I am getting carried away here, but its true.
    aipi said…
    Sounds like a delicious, comforting soup on a cold day..beautiful pictures!
    aipi said…
    This comment has been removed by the author.
    Suji said…
    I love celery, but never seen the root so far..Looks and sounds yumm and i am sure to have my portion of soup in this weather here...
    Sushma Mallya said…
    looks healthy, am sure very tasty too...
    Kanchan said…
    This ones quite new to me ... the soup does look quite healthy
    Sanjeeta kk said…
    Looks refreshing and healthy. Hope I get my hands on this wonderful and flavorful herb soon.
    Priya Suresh said…
    I do soup with celeriac, urs looks absolutely inviting and comforting..
    sangeeta said…
    Even i thought that it is the bulbous root of the celery plant. I was really waiting for the roots of my celery plant , only one has survived the summers and the root is getting really bulbous ... you information about the roots had dampened my hopes :(

    the soup looks yummy but makes me feel horrible right now..:)
    Pari Vasisht said…
    Never heard about this root, but anything in soup is always welcome.
    FOODELICIOUS
    Nope , i have never cookied with C root!!
    Looks so pretty too , i did wonder about it though and it aint so easily found around here!
    Love googling around too , a world of info there!!
    U have a pretty pic of ur lovely soup!
    tinyskillet said…
    I am so glad that you posted this. I saw one the other day, had it in my hands, wanted to buy it so bad, but put it down because I wasn't sure yet what to do with it. Thanks for the information on celery root! Now I'm going back for it to make this soup!
    Miri said…
    Thats something really new to me - looks heart warming though
    Ooooooh i love this root and soo healthy and flavorful too. The soup looks soooooo warm and wish to have a bowl for this weather.. so inviting.
    Ushnish Ghosh said…
    Dear Prajakta
    How are you? I was off blog and now ctaching up.
    I like this recipe except that I wont get the bulb here in delhi, so need to eat virtually, reading your recipe.
    Let me see what all I have missed during my absence.
    Have a nice day
    this is why I love blogging you get to learn so much. thats a very new veggie to me and thanks to you for bringing this in notice. love the warming bowl of soup.
    Ushnish Ghosh said…
    Dear Prajakta
    Merry Christmas and wish you a very Happy New Year!!!