Healing foods

Celeriac: the knobbly, ugly tuber with the slender, sleek twin

 By Julia M. Thompson

Ever looked at the knobbly, dirty and ugly tuber that is celeriac and wondered how on earth it’s related to cool, crisp celery ?

Well, they are one and the same plant. With split personality and very different textures. It comes to nurture over nature.

 Though similar in taste, celeriac is subtler, with earthy notes that remind me of potato and truffle.

Speaking of potatoes, celeriac is not related.

But yes, family members are: fennel, carrots, anise, dill, caraway, coriander, dill, and parsley root.

Celery and celeriac, though, are like chalk and tofu when it comes to texture. Celery crunchy and cool, celeriac cumbersome when raw; but rich when pureed.

They are low in calories but high in vitamins and fibre. Celery and celeriac root contain antioxidants, vitamin B, C and K. Celeriac boasts extra phosphorous, iron, calcium, copper and manganese.

This soup is a nod to celeriac and carrots, and the anti-inflammatory that is turmeric.

While turmeric retains more nutrients raw, celery and carrots improve their antioxidant delivery when cooked.

This raw celeriac soup is a wink to my yoga-teaching friends who have asked for speedy, nourishing recipes they can prep for lunch.

This is that: a chop, whizz and pour job!

 I like to sprinkle sunflower seeds or roasted nuts, and drizzle with truffle oil, and fresh herbs to serve.

 Raw celeriac soup

Serves 2

Ingredients

 +1/2 a celeriac (thoroughly washed, peeled and cubed)

+1 carrot (scrubbed/peeled and cubed)

+2 spring onions (washed, sliced)

+1 garlic clove (peeled, sliced)

+25 g fresh turmeric (peeled)

+handful pre-soaked (boiling water/10 minutes) cashew nuts

+Pinch cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, pepper (sprinkle to taste)

+1.5 cup warm water or more depending on consistency

 Seeds, nuts, truffle oil and fresh herbs to serve

 Directions

You’ll love them!

1.     Wash and peel all the veg

2.     Cube and chop

3.     Place the water in a powerful blender (I like the Vitamix)

4.     Add all the ingredients and blend. You might have to do this in two stages and then mix all the soup ingredients with the seasoning.

5.     Sprinkle with seeds

6.     Drizzle of oil and herbs

Enjoy!