SEASONAL FOOD
Celeriac An Unsung Hero I
t may not be the most beautiful of veg, but underneath its knobbly exterior is a world of potential and delicious dishes featuring that delicate celery flavour. An excellent low-cal, low-carb alternative to potatoes, it’s packed full of vital nutrients too. Raw or cooked, here are 6 ways celeriac can spice up your diet. The whole hog Scrub clean and trim a whole celeriac. Rub all over with olive oil, and place on a large sheet of baking foil, root side down. Scatter over whole garlic cloves, herbs and seasoning to taste, then wrap the foil tightly around the celeriac, place on a tray and roast in the bottom of an oven for 2 hours at 180C. When cooked, unwrap, cut off the top and dig in. Chip off the old block Pre-heat your oven to 230C. Peel a celeriac and cut into fat chips. Blanch in boiling water for 1-2 minutes, drain and throw the chips back into the saucepan with 4tbsp veg oil, sea salt and
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other seasoning to taste. Toss, then spread the chips over a large heavy baking sheet and cook in the oven for about 30-35 minutes. Grate expectations! This celeriac and carrot remoulade side dish (a bit like coleslaw) is full of flavour and ready in a flash. Grate a celeriac and one large carrot and put them in a large bowl with a small bunch of chopped dill, 6tbsp light mayo, the juice of half a lemon and salt and pepper. Mix thoroughly and enjoy the refreshing crunch! Perfect puree Peel and cut a whole celeriac into 2cm dice, and cook gently for 20 minutes in a pan with a little butter, olive oil and seasoning until very soft. In another pan, bring 150ml double cream to the boil. Tip the cooked celeriac into a food processor and, adding the double cream gradually, whizz until smooth. Push through a fine sieve.
Super salads With spring upon us, we’ll be eating lighter and enjoying more salads. Try making ribbons from raw celeriac and mixing it with some tasty ingredients to really pack a healthy punch – such as capers, gherkins, mustard, yoghurt, anchovies, herbs and spices or sherry vinegar. You can create a host of salads that the whole family can enjoy. Choose your partners Celeriac’s delicious aroma and flavour goes with so many other ingredients, but it pairs particularly well with apples, pears, raspberries, melon, watermelon, butternut squash, quinoa, rum, skate wings and elderflower.
