This Versatile But Little-Known Root Veggie Is A Godsend In Winter
Sure, it might look like a mandrake rom Harry Potter's herbology class, but celery root (also known as celeriac) won't kill you—in fact, it's delicious, economical and like most root vegetables, super versatile and especially useful during long Canadian winters.
So, what is celeriac?
Celeriac is actually a type of celery—but it won't grow into the light green stalks you're used to chomping down on. Rather, it's a bulbous veggie about the size of a grapefruit and has a mild, slightly sweet, celery-like flavour.
It's a little intimidating upon first glance, but as I'm learning, it's easy to prepare. To peel it safely, cut off the top and bottom and stand it on a cutting board. Now you're ready to peel off the knobby, brown skin with a knife (the bumps make it tough to use a peeler). Give it a wash and you're good to go.
How can I cook with celeriac?
Alida Solomon, the chef and owner of Toronto Italian restaurant Tutti Matti, calls celeriac the universal vegetable because it can be prepared so many ways: cut into cubes and roasted in the oven, grated to add some crunch to a slaw or coated in tempura batter and deep-fried. In the Chatelaine Kitchen, it's common to see it used like potatoes in a creamy mash or mixed with other root veggies atop a hearty cottage pie recipe.
I fell head over heels with it when Chatelaine's former food editor, Irene Ngo, served it to me as an alternative to zucchini noodles. Irene used a spiralizer to transform celeriac into spaghetti-like strands and topped them with bolognese sauce. While it didn't have the same taste or texture as pasta, it was much closer to the real thing than other noodle dupes thanks to its neutral flavour, which really let the tomato sauce shine.
Where can I find celeriac?
Look for it in your local grocery store, especially in the fall, winter and early spring. It's usually right beside other root veggies like turnips, parsnips and rutabaga.
How to prepare celeriac
Celeriac recipes
Celeriac Cauliflower Soup
This undemanding soup is made with vegetables that have gone lax in the oven before being simmered. Get Tara O'Brady's celeriac cauliflower soup recipe.
Celeriac Ramen in Mushroom-Miso Broth
Celeriac stands in for noodles in the warming soup. To make celeriac noodles, cut off the top and bottom of the celeriac and stand it on a cutting board. Peel off the skin with a knife. When spiralizing press it firmly while twirling to get long, even noodles. If your spiralizer has a removable blade, hold it in place with your other hand. Get our celeriac ramen in mushroom-miso broth recipe.
Celeriac Schnitzel
Sub in celeriac for meat in this impressive vegetarian recipe. For an epic vegetarian sandwich, serve on a toasted ciabatta bun with marinara sauce, roasted peppers, sautéed onions and provolone cheese. Get our celeriac schnitzel recipe.
Dan Dan Celeriac Noodles
Top celeriac noodles with a fragrant mixture of pork and pickled cucumbers for a delicious take on this crowd-pleasing dish. Get our dan dan celeriac noodles recipe.
Celeriac Shawarma
A mix of spices, such as sumac, cinnamon, allspice, paprika and cumin, give this dish a ton of flavour. Serve with tahini for an unforgettable vegetarian meal. Get our celeriac shawarma recipe.
Whole-Roasted Celeriac With Tahini-Herb Sauce
When you've got a bit of time, roast a whole celeriac wintery side that satisfies. Top with tahini-herb sauce for a hit of fresh flavour. Get our whole-roasted celeriac recipe.
Celeriac Fritters
Top pan-fried celeriac with apple slices, sour cream, bacon and chives for a side dish appetizer you won't be able to get enough of. Get our celeriac fritters recipe.
Cottage Pie Recipe
Celeriac and potatoes form the creamy mash atop this stick-to-your-ribs one-pan dish that's ready in just 35 minutes. Get our cottage pie recipe.
Potato & Celery Root Mash
Add some intrigue to this classic dish with celeriac, or celery root. Get our potato and celery root mash recipe.
Cream of Celery And Celeriac Soup
Celery has such a delicate, underrated flavour, while celeriac is far too often overlooked. Together, they go from zero to hero in this luscious soup, which is also fantastic served chilled—like a vichyssoise—in the summer. Get Amy Rosen's cream of celery and celeriac soup recipe.
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