March 29, 2010

Alien brains have invaded my fridge! Brainiac? Nope. Celeriac.

Mondays we get our list of CSA vegetables and fruits that are ready for pick up on Thursday.  A couple weeks ago, we got some celeriac. 

WTH?  

I have know idea what a celeriac is, how to prepare it or what it is.  Yes, Google is your friend. 


According to wiki...

Celeriac, also known as 'celery root,' 'turnip-rooted celery' or 'knob celery', is a kind of celery, grown as a root vegetable for its large and bulbous hypocotyl rather than for its stem and leaves. The swollen hypocotyl is typically used when it is about 10–12 cm in diameter; about the size of a large potato. Unlike other root vegetables, which store a large amount of starch, celery root is only about 5-6% starch by weight.
I know many o' peeps that would love to be known for their large and bulbous hypcotyls.  *ahem* 




The celeriac is that alien brain looking tentacle thing on the right. I think it was the star in one of the movies David watched and reviewed on Tomb It May Concern. 


But I digress. Back to the food.


I found this on a blog called Tiny Urban Kitchen and after having this soup at the Monday Club in Harvard Sqaure, she made it herself and graciously posted the recipe.  

Ingredients 
1 celeriac root (peeled and chopped)
2 medium sized Idaho potatoes (peeled and chopped)
1 large apple (peeled and chopped)
1/2 onion, diced
1 Qt chicken broth
1 T butter
1 T oil
1/2 tsp dried Thyme
salt and pepper to taste
Chopped bacon for garnish

Directions
Saute onions in butter and oil under medium heat for a few minutes until browned and translucent. Add the celeriac and potatoes. Saute for about 8-10 minutes until they are cooked. Add broth and apples. Bring to a boil and then simmer for 30 minutes. Blend in batches in the blender. I'd like to eventually get an immersion blender for soups like this.

I served the soup with bacon and we enjoyed our roast chicken with roasted CSA vegetables.  The entire meal was either from the CSA, organic or free-range. 


The Tally....
NI: 143 cals/6g fat/3g fiber/3g protein
Cost: $4.83 or $.73 per serving

2 comments:

alf_isThinkingAloud said...

Dang! That sounds awesome! Thanks for sharing the recipe. ... with wierd alien root things, roasting 'em to death before they sprout babies is a easy alternative. You know, the usual oil/garlic/salt/pepper/herbs, bake @ 400 for about 40 min or until tender... for single people, the toaster oven will do. ;)

Christy Z. said...

Althea, this was so good! I had leftovers yesterday for lunch and added some chopped apples too.

I have another brain in the fridge, so roasting 'em before they spawn alien babies sounds like a plan. Maybe w/ some free range chicken....yum!