By: Judy Davie - The Food Coach
 The other morning, I was given a large celeriac bulb. It's one of the few vegetables I'd never cooked with, and although I'd tried it once before in a soup, I wasn't tempted enough to buy it. Let's face it, celeriac is hardly a head turner. Aside from its less-than-attractive appearance, I must confess to harbouring a belief that celeriac wasn't especially good for you. Mashed, it's often combined with potato and cream, and being white, you wouldn't imagine it to contain many health-beneficial antioxidants.
Anyway, it was a gift, and everything is worth trying at least once.
So this is what I did. First, I removed the ugly knobbly skin and diced it. Being new to the celeriac game, I consulted Jamie Oliver, whose recipes never fail, and once I'd gained confidence, I added my own finishing touches.
Sautéed in a bit of garlic and olive oil until golden, I simmered it in stock and, during the last few minutes of cooking, tossed through some chopped silverbeet. It was accompanied by a piece of grilled kingfish, and it was delicious.
What struck me when I first cut into this ugly vegetable was how strong and pungent it smelled. The strong smell of celery stayed on my hands for ages, but compared to the smell, it had a surprisingly sweet and delicate taste.
I was expecting it to be quite starchy, but it wasn't at all - which was great as I am forever looking for ways to hearten up a meal in winter without loading up on carbs.
I was so impressed with my new discovery that I decided to do some more research on this ugly duckling to find out whether it does have some beneficial nutrients. Here's what I found:
Health Benefits of Celeriac
Low in Energy (kJ/calories)
This is good news for anyone who wants to lose weight. Just 100g has 175 kJ, less than you'll find in potato and sweet potato - just don't mash it with cream!
Low in Carbohydrates
This is more good news for those who want to lose weight. The body likes readily available carbohydrate to burn for energy so we can move and think, but when it's unavailable it must turn to body fat to burn instead. A lower carb root vegetable like celeriac, which offers winter comfort similar to potato, pasta, and rice, is a good substitute for anyone with a few kilos to lose.
Good Source of Fibre
For good digestive health, we need both soluble and insoluble fibre. Celeriac is a particularly good source of insoluble fibre, which also helps to lower blood cholesterol.
Rich in Potassium
To prevent fluid retention and regulate blood pressure, we need potassium. It's a mineral that is easy to obtain from vegetables. The only problem these days is that most people don't eat enough vegetables.
What to Do with Celeriac
Now that I know how delicious and nutritious celeriac is, I'm excited to experiment with it more.
Here are a few ideas:
Celeriac Mash
Instead of combining with cream, try mashing it with a bit of olive oil, salt, and pepper for a healthier alternative to mashed potatoes.
Celeriac Remoulade
Grate the celeriac and mix with a dressing of mustard, lemon juice, and a little yoghurt for a refreshing and crunchy side dish.
Celeriac Soup
Blend cooked celeriac with vegetable broth, garlic, and thyme for a creamy, comforting soup.
Roasted Celeriac
Cut into wedges, toss with olive oil, salt, and your favourite herbs, and roast until golden and crispy.
Celeriac Fries
Slice into thin strips, toss with a bit of oil, and bake for a low-carb alternative to potato fries.
What I now know is that celeriac tastes PDG (pretty damn good), so I'm keen to learn some new things about what to do with it.
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