Celery Root Bisque With Duck Confit And Cracklings Recipes

CELERY ROOT BISQUE WITH THYME CROUTONS

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add celery; cover and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add shallots; sauté uncovered 3 minutes. Stir in celery root cubes and potato, then broth and 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme. Increase heat to high; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly.
• Working in batches, transfer soup to blender and puree until smooth. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Stir cream into soup and bring to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with additional chopped thyme and serve.

CELERY-ROOT BISQUE WITH SHIITAKES

Steps:

• Cook celery root, chopped celery, and shallots in 1/2 stick butter in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 15 minutes. Add water, salt, and pepper and simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids), then return to pot.
• Stir in cream and reheat bisque over low heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice.
• While bisque is reheating, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté mushrooms with salt and pepper to taste, stirring, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer mushrooms with a slotted spoon to a plate and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to skillet. Cook butter over moderate heat, swirling skillet, until browned, about 2 minutes, then transfer to a small bowl.
• Serve bisque topped with mushrooms and drizzled with brown butter.

CELERY ROOT BISQUE WITH DUCK CONFIT AND CRACKLINGS

Steps:

• If using duck leg, peel off skin and reserve. Remove meat from bones, discarding bones, and shred meat.
• Cut reserved duck skin into thin strips and in a small non-stick skillet cook over moderate heat until fat is rendered and skin is crisp and golden brown. Transfer cracklings with a slotted spoon to paper towels to drain and season with salt.
• With a sharp knife peel celery root and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Thinly slice shallots and chop celery ribs.
• In an 8-quart heavy kettle cook vegetables in butter with salt and pepper to taste over moderately high heat, stirring, until golden, about 6 minutes. Add water and boil, uncovered, until celery root is very tender, about 15 minutes.
• In a blender purée mixture in batches (use caution when blending hot liquids) until smooth, transferring to a large saucepan. Stir in lemon juice and, if necessary, more water to reach desired consistency. Season soup with salt and pepper and keep warm.
• In a non-stick skillet heat duck meat over moderate heat, stirring, just until hot and season with salt and pepper.
• In a bowl whisk cream just until stiff peaks form.
• Serve bisque topped with duck meat, cracklings, and a dollop of whipped cream.

CELERY ROOT CONFIT

Steps:

• Use a coffee grinder or a blender to grind the coffee beans. Put the ground coffee in a bowl large enough to hold the celery root, add the sugar and salt, and stir with a rubber spatula to combine.
• Wash the celery root under warm water to remove any dirt. Put it on a cutting board and slice off the top and bottom. Set the celery root on a cut end so it lies flat. Use a knife to cut off the skin, following the shape of the vegetable from top to bottom. Set the cleaned celery root aside.
• Put all of the celery root peelings into the bowl with the coffee mixture and stir to coat the pieces evenly. Remove the peelings from the coffee mixture, put them in a medium pot, and cover with the rice bran oil. Reserve the remainder of the coffee mixture. Bring the oil to a simmer over medium heat, and cook the peelings at 210°F (99°C) for 10 minutes. Turn off the heat and cover the pot. Let the peelings infuse in the oil for 30 minutes. Strain the oil into a clean pot and reserve.
• Meanwhile, cut the cleaned celery root into 32 pieces. (Cut the celery root in half, cut each half into 8 wedges, then cut the wedges in half so they roughly resemble quarter moons.) Put these pieces into the reserved coffee mixture and mix to coat evenly. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 hours.
• Remove the celery root from the coffee mixture and place it in the pot with the infused oil, set over medium heat, and bring the oil to 210°F (99°C). The oil will bubble around the vegetables. Turn the heat down to low and cook for 15 minutes. Use a cake tester to poke the celery root. It should be tender with a bit of firmness in the center.
• When the celery root is cooked, serve immediately or pour the entire mixture into a shallow brownie or cake pan to cool. The celery root will be in an even layer just covered with oil. Warm the celery root in its oil either on top of the stove or in a low oven (200°F/93°C) to serve.