Celery Root Purée Recipe
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This root-vegetable dish is a sweet, vegetal take on classic mashed potatoes. It pairs perfectly with saucy braised meats like short ribs or seared scallops. Cooking the celery root in milk mellows the vegetable’s bite. However, if you prefer a more herbaceous flavor, substitute water for the milk.
This recipe was featured as part of our Fall Ingredients photo gallery.
INGREDIENTS
- 3 cups whole milk (water may be substituted)
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
- 2 pounds celery root, also known as celeriac (about 3 small)
- 12 ounces Yukon Gold potatoes (about 4 medium)
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 stick), at room temperature
- Freshly ground white pepper
INSTRUCTIONS
- Place milk, water, and salt in a large saucepan.
- Peel celery root and potatoes, cut into 1-1/2-inch cubes, and immediately drop into the pot of milk and water. Cover and bring to a boil over high heat. Uncover, reduce heat to medium low, and cook at a lively simmer until potatoes can be easily pierced with a sharp knife and celery root starts to break up, about 17 to 20 minutes.
- Drain mixture through a colander. Transfer to the bowl of a food processor fitted with a blade attachment. Add butter and process to a smooth purée, stopping to scrape down the sides of the bowl as needed, about 3 minutes from start to finish. Taste and season with salt and white pepper as needed.
I made this last night, and it was excellent. I used my ricer instead of the food processor, and the consistency was just right. Although I should have known better, I got busy doing other tasks while the pot was coming to a boil, and the milk boiled over, as it tends to do. But the mess was worth it!
A stand mixer or hand mixer works great for mashed potatoes with a little milk added in. Would probably work just fine for this as well.
hearts,
I have never tried pureeing potatoes in a blender. I would think it would not work well, as a blender typically needs some liquid to get going. Instead, just mash it by hand with a potato masher. It won't be as smooth as those done in a food processor, but it should work well, and taste delicious.
Good luck,
Jill (from the CHOW Test Kitchen)
Can you use a blender if you do not have a food processor or a potato ricer?
Tis the season for celery root.
If you have one, use a potato ricer to puree this instead of the food processor. The food processor can leave a gummy texture, and the ricer will result in a lighter, fluffier puree.