Baked Celeriac Recipes

WHOLE ROASTED CELERIAC

Steps:

• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. If the celeriac has a green sprouting top, cut it off and discard. Scrub off any dirt and trim away any frilly bits of root. Rub the celeriac all over with the oil and place on a large sheet of foil, root-side down. Scatter with the garlic, herbs and seasoning. Wrap the foil tightly and place on a tray and roast on the bottom of the oven for 2 hrs. Check after 2 hrs that the top is very tender - if not give it 30 mins more.
• To serve, unwrap the celeriac and cut off the top. Loosen and mash the middle with the butter, some seasoning and squeezed out softened garlic, if you like. Serve the celeriac with a spoon sticking out of it for everyone to help themselves to.

BAKED CELERIAC

Steps:

• Heat oven to 350.
• Thoroughly wash whole celeriac and pat dry; brush the outside with olive oil, sprinkle liberally with coarse salt and bake for 1 to 2 hours (for celeriac, longer is better; many vegetables will be done sooner), until the outside is roasted and evenly crisp and the inside is tender.
• Remove from the oven, cut up if you like (you can also sprinkle with more oil and salt) and serve. (Yes, you can eat the skin.)

PARSNIP & CELERIAC BAKE

Steps:

• Cook parsnips in a pan of boiling salted water for 2 mins, then tip in the celeriac and boil together for 8 mins. Drain well, then mash with butter and cream. Season, then add a grating of nutmeg, stir in the sage and spoon into a buttered ovenproof dish. Make up to this stage 1 day ahead or freeze for one month. Defrost in fridge overnight.
• Heat oven to 190C/fan 170C/gas 5. Mix breadcrumbs, Parmesan, almonds and oil together. Season, scatter over the mash, then bake for 35-40 mins from cold, 25-30 mins if not, until topping is crisp and golden.

WHOLE BAKED CELERIAC WITH WALNUTS & BLUE CHEESE

Steps:

• Peel the celeriac, keeping it as round as possible. Make a slight indent using a 6-7cm biscuit cutter in the top of the celeriac or score using a knife. Use the indent as a guide to hollow out the middle with a melon baller or apple corer until you're halfway down.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. In a bowl, toss the walnuts, thyme and blue cheese together, then pack into the cavity - don't worry if the filling sticks out of the top. Next, lay out a sheet of tin foil large enough to cover the celeriac. Put the celeriac in the middle, dot the butter on top and around it, then drizzle with honey and sprinkle with salt. Wrap the celeriac in the foil, making sure there are no gaps, and roast for 1 hr 15 mins or until soft. Once cooked, open the foil and roast for a further 15 mins until golden. Serve the celeriac on a chopping board and reserve the juices in a dish to spoon over.