All about Celeriac

Poor celeriac. This alien looking, ugly duckling of a vegetable is so underrated. Yet it is one of the most versatile veggies out there.

Celeriac is also called celery root, but is it celery’s root? No, but yes. Celeriac is a member of the celery family of plants. It is the root of a celery, but not the kind you buy at the store.

Does celeriac taste like celery? Yes, but also a bit like parsley and a little nutty. Its texture is like potatoes, but crunchier.

Where to Find

Celeriac hails from the Mediterranean. Greek poet Homer wrote about it in the Odysey, though it was called “selinon.” It is easily grown in North America and is considered a winter vegetable. You can usually find celeriac alongside other economical veggies like rutabaga, turnips, and parsnips in fall and winter.

When shopping for celeriac, look for a firm root, free of soft spots. You’ll want to store it in the vegetable compartment of your fridge.

Preparing Celeriac

Scrub to get off any initial dirt
Those alien tentacles – just cut it off! Don’t try to peel around it, unless you have an hour to spare J
Peel with a knife. Celeriac’s bumps make it hard to use a peeler
Give it a wash to get any residual dirt off
Chop the celeriac in whatever shape you need. When you cut it, it will start to discolor. To avoid this just put it in water with a bit of lemon juice

Now you are good to go!

How to Eat Celeriac

Celeriac is delicious raw or cooked. It imparts its lovely celery flavour in whatever it is combined with!
Celeriac is great at withstanding heat. It stays firm and crunchy
For raw dishes, you can grate or matchstick it. Use it in slaw, salad, or as an alternative to zucchini noodles
Celeriac pairs well with pear or apple in a salad. Yum!
Try adding celeriac and pear to sauerkraut. Double-yum!
All you really need is a little bit of olive oil and some herbs. Coat the celeriac and just roast it at 350F
If you want something a bit fancier, cut celeriac up like fries, add oil and various flavourings, and roast
Include it it in soups, stews, curries (great with lime), pastas, etc.
Celeriac is also great as a puree or mashed like potatoes (you can combine with other vegetables)
My favourite way to eat celeriac is celeriac rosti! So delicious with a little sour cream and spring onions

Celeriac Nutrition

Celeriac is a healthier, lower carb version of potatoes. It contains roughly 7g of net carbs per cup and can be enjoyed in small amounts on a keto diet.

Celeriac is high in fibre, including prebiotic fibre so it is good for the beneficial bacteria in your gut. It is high in B5, B6, and vitamin C (although much of the vitamin C is lost when cooked). The Vitamin K and Potassium in it make it a good vegetable for heart health. It is also rich in antioxidants and has anti-cancer properties.