Over the next several posts, I’m going to be sharing some of my favorite recipes. These are recipes that I don’t make that often but that I want to remember for special occasions. Sometimes when a favorite recipe is buried in a cookbook, it can be forgotten. So my reasons for sharing them on the blog are purely selfish — I just don’t want them to get lost or forgotten over time. But I hope you will enjoy them too.
This first recipe comes from Patricia Wells’ excellent cookbook Bistro Cooking. It combines two ingredients I don’t cook with very often: celery and celery root. This unexpected combination make an absolutely delicious soup that can make an appearance at a dinner party or perk up someone who’s feeling under the weather.
This soup is most appropriate for winter or early spring, so apologies for posting out of season. As a light meal, serve it with crisp crackers and a green salad. It makes 6-8 servings, and leftovers can be frozen.
Double Celery Soup
- 1 med. celery root (about 1 pound), peeled and diced
- 10 celery ribs, cubed
- 3 leeks, trimmed, rinsed and cut into thin rounds
- 1 large sprig of thyme, 3 bay leaves and several sprigs of parsley, tied with a string
- 2 quarts chicken stock
- Salt and pepper
- Handful of fresh chopped herbs for garnish
In a large saucepan, combine the celery root, celery, leeks and whole herbs. Add the stock and season gently. Bring to a simmer over medium-high. Simmer until the vegetables are soft, about 25 minutes. Sprinkle with the chopped herbs to serve.
Tagged: Celeriac, Celery, French, Patricia Wells, Soups, Spring, Winter
I am going to try this. It sounds delicious.
Sounds good but what is a celery root? The base part at the bottom?
No, it is a different vegetable which your grocery store may carry in winter. It I is also called celeriac.