Nutrition

It’s packed full of vitamin C! Essential to support the immune system as well as vitamin K, which supports a healthy heart and bones. Celeriac is rich in fibre which contributes towards good digestion. 

Shopping Guide

When shopping for celeriac look for firm skin with minimal rootlets. 

Storage

To store, just pop it (unpeeled, with dirt brushed off but not washed) in the fridge or a dark cupboard out of direct sunlight for up to a month. Keeping it whole keeps it fresher for longer. 

Preparation

Celeriac is an amazing substitute for mashed potato (or try a half-and-half mix). It can also be eaten raw – try a celeriac slaw or try it chopped into sticks and served with a dip. For a more subtle, sweet and nutty flavour pop into stews, casseroles and one-pot dishes.

Kids in the Kitchen

For a younger child, try making a simple celeriac ‘remoulade’. Let them grate peeled celeriac (by hand or using a food processor), then mix with mayonnaise, lemon juice and any extras like herbs, dried fruit, carrot or apple.

For an older child, use celeriac to practise knife skills and cooking. Peel and chop it, then boil with potatoes until soft and mash with butter or oil and a little milk. This half-and-half mash is sweet, nutty and adds veg to a family favourite.

Find more ideas for involving kids in the kitchen here.

Sensory

Celeriac is great fun to explore through sight and touch since it is such an unusual veg! It’s knobbliness and gnarliness might not win it any prizes in beauty contests, but it is great fun to explore and describe. See what is brought to mind by a whole celeriac – what does it look like and remind you of? Then cut it open and describe the interior. It can also be fun to use your sense of smell here, since celeriac has a lovely fresh, nutty smell that many kids actually enjoy! Describe it and see if it makes you think of anything.

Find more sensory ideas, tips and videos here. If you get stuck and need a little help with describing words, we have a selection for you here, too!

Serving

Next time you make a meal that includes celeriac, why not ask your child to help you with one small step, then see if they want to help you serve it as “their” meal. Perhaps they could help lay the table and even create a fun centrepiece, maybe with all white objects to reflect the celeriac’s colour?

Find the best ways of involving your own child and their skills and interests on our Roles for Kids page.

Activities

Try making a celeriac rubbing with crayons. Place paper over the knobbly skin and rub with crayons to reveal the bumpy pattern, then use pencils or pens to turn it into a character, creature or picture.

Kids into science? Explore celeriac’s colour and shape with Stefan Gates’ simple experiment and more at-home veg science fun with our videos from Stefan Gates’ here.

Find loads more free veg-themed crafts here and games here.