What Is Celeriac: Celeriac Recipes & Health Benefits

This usually lesser-known root veggie will not be solely scrumptious however stuffed with vitamins that help our greatest well being. This may occasionally simply be why celeriac has such a deeply rooted (no pun meant) historical past as each a meals staple and medicinal plant. Be taught all about what precisely celeriac is, the way it can profit our well being, and methods you can begin experimenting with it within the kitchen, right here!

What’s celeriac?

“Celeriac, also referred to as celery root, is intently associated to celery however will not be the basis of the celery wherein you’re in all probability acquainted,” explains Bianca Tamburello, RDN at FRESH Communications. Celeriac is a separate species of root vegetable that can be a relative of parsnips, carrots, and parsley. “It may be known as celery root, knob celery, or turnip-rooted celery as properly,” she shares.

Celeriac is additionally recognized by its scientific identify, Apium graveolens L. var. rapaceum, and has a signature bulbous look about it, harking back to an irregularly-shaped turnip. This gentle beige, softball-sized root is roofed in little rootlets, giving it a bumpy texture. Inside you’ll discover a white inside that appears similar to a potato. And whereas there are leafy, celery-like stalks springing from it above floor, these should not the celery you’re used to dipping in hummus or turning into juice. Most individuals discard these stalks, however they’re really good for selfmade veggie inventory.

The bulb itself may be loved both uncooked, providing an excellent satisfying crunchy texture, or cooked to carry out its delicate nutty sweetness, just like different root veggies. Its style is similar to that of celery leaves, parsley, and turnips, however with an injection of earthiness. Like many different root veggies, the harvest season for celeriac is often September by April, although you’ll be able to usually discover it in lots of grocery shops year-round. “Search for celeriac close to the opposite root veggies within the produce aisle,” says Tamburello.

When it comes to historical past, whereas this grapefruit-sized root was first cultivated in Europe, celeriac has been used for hundreds of years throughout the globe. In actual fact, it was used in Roman, Egyptian, and Greek cultures for each medicinal and spiritual functions. Within the historic Indian wellness follow of Ayurvedic medicine, it’s usually used as a detoxifier and diuretic to assist decrease blood stress, as it’s in traditional Chinese medicine for comparable functions.

6 spectacular well being advantages of celeriac

However what does the proof really inform us in regards to the well being advantages related to celeriac? Because of its spectacular nutrition profile, there are fairly a number of – listed below are the highlights:

1. Celeriac helps immune well being

On this root veggie, you’ll discover notable quantities of immune-boosting nutritional vitamins C and E, in addition to an entire host of plant compounds together with phthalides, terpenes, polyphenols, and pigments chlorophyll and carotenoids. All of those micronutrients qualify as antioxidants, which assist to cut back irritation all through the physique and goal free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules which might be the culprits for minor inconveniences like wrinkles all the best way to persistent illnesses like most cancers and neurodegenerative issues.

2. Celeriac boosts coronary heart well being

The vitamin C present in celeriac will not be solely useful for our immune system, but it surely additionally encourages optimum coronary heart well being, alongside the potassium, fiber, and vitamin Ok this root incorporates. Vitamin C, also referred to as ascorbic acid, has been linked with reduced risk for hypertension, or hypertension—a key part to coronary heart illness. In the meantime, vitamin Ok performs a significant function in blood clotting, one other necessary component of coronary heart well being. The soluble fiber on this veggie additionally binds to ldl cholesterol within the small gut, serving to to rid the physique of it as an alternative of permitting it to be absorbed and doubtlessly contributing to plaque build-up in our arteries. And at last, potassium is an electrolyte that helps coronary heart rhythm in addition to retains blood pressure levels in check.

3. Celeriac champions intestine well being

The fiber present in celeriac advantages intestine well being, too. The combination of soluble and insoluble fiber it affords treats and prevents each constipation and diarrhea whereas additionally serving to to keep away from the bloating and cramping related to low fiber intake (a quite common drawback within the U.S.). Plus, the soluble fiber it incorporates acts as a prebiotic, or meals for our wholesome micro organism discovered within the intestine microbiome, serving to it to thrive. The intestine microbiome helps wholesome digestion, in addition to total wellness all through the physique, so this profit is to not be taken frivolously.

4. Celeriac helps keep robust bones

Because of the calcium, phosphorus, and manganese in celeriac, this unusual root vegetable additionally aids in bone well being! All three of those minerals play an integral half within the formation and upkeep of bone well being and density. These advantages assist to forestall bone illnesses like osteoporosis and osteopenia.

5. Celeriac aids in metabolic well being

Celeriac is usually a useful addition for these with metabolic issues or who need to forestall them as properly. That is partly as a result of fiber it incorporates, as this kind of carbohydrate slows digestion, serving to to uninteresting the blood-sugar response. So, after having fun with this veggie, you’ll expertise much less intense spikes and crashes in blood sugars—and in addition power ranges. Nevertheless, this profit could also be most important for these with metabolic considerations like kind 2 diabetes because it makes their blood sugar administration rather a lot simpler. Additionally, not like a lot of celeriac’s different root veggie family members, it’s comparatively low in whole carbohydrates, doubling its blood sugar administration advantages.

6. Celeriac is wealthy in B nutritional vitamins

Lastly, our beloved celeriac additionally affords an entire host of B nutritional vitamins, particularly vitamin B6. “Celeriac’s B nutritional vitamins help common physique capabilities and the immune system, mind, and nervous system,” says Tamburello. Vitamin B6, also referred to as pyridoxine, affords all of those advantages in addition to serving to to deal with and stop anemia.

Whereas all this details about celeriac sounds alluring, how precisely do you have to go about utilizing it within the kitchen?

When selecting celeriac on the market, go for a medium-sized bulb (someplace between three and 4 inches throughout) over an particularly giant one, as they’re often the most effective tasting. It’s additionally a good suggestion to keep away from choices which might be overly discolored, cracked, or hole. You’ll be able to take a look at for hollowness by giving it a little bit knock and the bulb ought to really feel agency and heavy.

Upon getting it dwelling, celeriac is finest saved within the veggie drawer of your fridge the place it ought to keep contemporary for the higher a part of a month, if not two. Alternatively, you possibly can additionally retailer it in a cool dry place, just like potatoes however your shelf life could possibly be a number of weeks shorter, relying on humidity ranges.

To organize this bulbous root veggie, be certain to offer it a great scrub with cool water to take away any lingering dust. Then, use both a paring knife or vegetable peeler to take away the robust outer pores and skin. Now you’re prepared to cut or slice the flesh for an entire host of recipes! You should definitely prep it proper earlier than you propose to make use of it or it is going to discolor—until you soak it in a water bathtub with a number of drops of both lemon or vinegar.

From right here, if you’re choosing uncooked preparations, celeriac provides an fascinating taste to salads or slaws; nevertheless, make sure you thinly slice it or grate it for simple consuming, as it’s significantly crunchy although “not stringy like celery,” says Tamburello. In any other case, the cooked choices for this veggie are almost limitless, pairing completely in soups, stews, savory pies, sauces, casseroles, and even riffs off of latkes.

“Much like different root greens, celeriac is usually roasted, boiled, and pureed into soups, or boiled and mashed like potatoes,” Tamburello additionally affords. You’ll be able to even spiralize them for a low-carb pasta various. Nevertheless, perhaps probably the most well-known dish that includes celeriac is the French celeri remoulade, a shiny salad that includes contemporary celeriac in a tangy mayonnaise-based dressing.

There are such a lot of causes to like celeriac, from its style to its spectacular well being advantages. Experimenting within the kitchen is all the time a worthy trigger in our e book, so give celeriac a do this fall harvest season!