Celeriac
Celeriac is sometimes referred to as the ugliest vegetable, but don’t let that put you off. This ugly veg has a beautiful nutty flavour and is very affordable.
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, why not make a classic “remoulade” (celeriac slaw) by giving them a few peeled chunks of celeriac and showing them how to safely grate it, or push the buttons on a food processor with a grater attachment. Pop the grated celeriac in a bowl and let them mix in mayonnaise and a little lemon juice, and any seasoning, dried fruit or herbs you think they might want to add in. They could do it solely with celeriac, or mix in some grated carrot and apple to make it a more familiar coleslaw.
For an older child, it could be a great opportunity to teach them some essential knife skills and how to cook over heat. Show them how to safely peel and chop the celeriac into chunks using the bridge and claw grips, and how to carefully boil over heat with some potato chunks cut to the same size for 5-10 mins until the veg is soft. Help them to drain it carefully and let them mash with butter and/or oil, some seasoning and a little milk or cream. This half-and-half mash is a great way to make a sweet, nutty, tasty mash that actually contains some of your 5-a-day, unlike normal potato mash.
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
For celeriac, why not try making a picture using crayons by “rubbing” like you would with tree bark or leaves or coins? Grab a piece of paper and some crayons, and lay it over the knobbly side of the celeriac, then ‘rub’ by drawing with the crayons over the celeriac and seeing the funny, lumpy, bumpy picture that appears. When you’ve got a good-size pattern, see if you can use more crayons or pencils or pens to turn your funny pattern into a character, creature or object!
Kids more interested in science? You can find at-home science fun with veg with our videos from Stefan Gates’ here. Try the “exploring colour and shape” experiment with celeriac.
Seasonality
Buying veg in season is not only great for the planet, it can be good for your wallet, too! Buying celeriac over the autumn and winter will get you the best flavour and price, so keep an eye out from September.
At Its Best:
September - April
Your Food
It’s hard to go wrong with roasted celeriac! But did you know it is great mixed with potatoes in mash, thinly sliced in place of potatoes in a creamy gratin, or even diced in a stew. If you want to bring more celeriac into your meals and sides rotations, why not try some of our favourites…
Recipe Inspiration
The Hairy Bikers’ Winter Vegetable Soup
Si King & Dave Myers (The Hairy Bikers)
Ren’s Quick Celeriac and Sour Cream Slaw with Pan-Fried Fish Fingers
Ren Behan
If You Like Celeriac…Try
Does your child enjoy celeriac? That’s great! Celeriac are usually soft, nutty and sweet, so why not try a similar texture and/or taste…
The Wonderful World of Veg
Check out our vegepedia. When to buy in-season. How to store them to keep for longer. How to engage children with each veg, and simple ideas of how to prepare and cook them for maximum taste and minimum waste. Select a veg…