Monday 14 January 2013

A soup of three celeries...


I enjoy making soups and this one is a real winter treat.  There is not so much to it but it really is filling!

1 kg / 2 lb  celeriac (celery root)
450 g/ 1 lb  celery (stalks) 
3 to 4 tablespoons of cashew nut purée (health food store or whiz up your own)
1 teaspoon of crushed celery seeds (you can use celery salt but add less and make the stock weaker - you don't want to over salt it)
1.5 (just over 6 cups) litres of vegetable stock

Peel and dice the celery root into cubes and put in a large pot to cook with the vegetable stock.  The celery stalks need to be cut across the grain finely or the soup will be stringy. You can also use a peeler to remove the outside. Add the cut celery stalks to the pot and cook this all for half an hour until the root is soft.  Blend the soup in a machine in small batches if it is hot (allow for the steam to push up!) or use a hand blender in the pot directly.  Add in the purée of cashews and blend again until smooth.  Adjust the seasoning (salt and black pepper) and add water if too thick or reduce if too thin! Garnish with a few cashew nuts.

This will warm your soul... and with no cream! (I am still trying to be a bit good!!)

31 comments:

  1. Recipes seem so easy when you explain everything....no cream...I'm one of those that shouldn't eat dairy but sample every once in awhile and suffer for days...me bad!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Ron,
      Thanks, there are many alternatives to cream and this is one I enjoy, you can add it to sauces also(but best to buy the puréed one from the store as it's smoother).
      Ivan

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  2. Thanks for the recipe, Ivan.
    I'm really looking for ways to up our vegetable intake and to learn to broaden the variety of vegetables we eat. So I'm going to add celery root to my grocery list and try this soup out. I like "filling!"
    Have a good day.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Louise,
      Thanks, I am the same and a soup is a good way to eat lots of veggies!!
      Ivan

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  3. Wait! I haven't made my crustless goat cheese tart yet, and now you give me another delicious recipe!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Terry,
      It's fine... they go together!
      Ivan

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    2. I was thinking the same thing! The next cold day I'm making both.

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  4. That sound really great, I love to make soup.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Jill,
      Thanks, pleased you like it and I also enjoy making soup!
      Ivan

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  5. Soup of the evening, beautiful soup. I got sidetracked into reading your other soup recipes, particularly appreciate that you thicken some sans flour. Gluten-sensitive people thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Emm,
      Thank you, happy you like the alternative thickener, as I said above it is good to thicken sauces also.
      Ivan

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  6. Dear Ivan,
    We are both fans of soup here - especially at this time of year. I have never tried celery soup before. AGA dislikes eating celery but this could change his views.
    Kirk

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    Replies
    1. Hello Kirk,
      I am a celery fan, hope the AGA likes it but it is a bit full on with all three celeries! Good luck in changing his mind! I suppose you could do a mix root vegetable soup to start.
      Ivan

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  7. Hi Ivan...I love soup recipes, keep them coming...they're so easy to make aren't they? That's a good warning about using the blender and the hot steam. I made a soup a couple of weeks ago and burnt my hand and I had a tea towel over the top holding it down as well! Claire

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    Replies
    1. Hello Claire,
      Thanks, I make soup maybe three times a week and it is good to use up leftovers also. I use a hand blender as it is quite dangerous with the steam (a friend burnt his face once as it was too full!). Be careful - that must of hurt a lot.
      Ivan :)

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  8. Good tip about the steam - my blender has a steam hole which is very useful but I keep thinking I should buy a hand held blender, they are so useful (and easy to wash up!)

    The soup looks delicious and the addition of cashew nut paste sounds intriguing.

    Gillian x

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    Replies
    1. Hello Gillian,
      Thank you, the cashew nuts add a creaminess with out the cream (healthier as no cholesterol but higher in calories). I can recommend a hand held blender if you are making soups - I have one that unclips, so goes in the dish washer and a tiny blender which is also really useful. Go for the highest power if you have a choice.
      Ivan

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  9. Hi Ivan and Hi Aston!
    Wow! I loooove soups and this one seems to be a wonder for winter time! I'll try, be sure! Thanks for sharing your delights! Let me tell you Rebecca( don't smile :)))) but this is my sweet pug's name ), was ill with a conjunctivitis that time consuming to improve. The vet prescribed an antibiotic eye but only now it is improving. I was very worried because he said if it doesn't improve it could be glaucoma. Rebecca has only 8 months and our hearts were very tight. Now, finally she is improving and the heart is lighter. uff And how is Aston? Hope sweet as always.
    Hugs for you and woofs to Aston from Rebecca!

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    Replies
    1. Hello Marie and Rebecca...
      Thank you, poor little Rebecca - I hope she gets better soon. Pugs often have eye problems, Aston's eyes are washed every week to try and help. He has a lot of problems with his back legs sadly, the same as my pugs before :(. We will have to have a scan soon to see if there is anything to be done. They are a worry... but we wouldn't change them!
      Best wishes Ivan and Aston

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  10. Hello Ivan. This soup sounds very interesting and would be perfect for us! And as Ron mentioned no cream.....even better for him! Thanks for this.
    Jim

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    Replies
    1. Hello Jim,
      Happy you like this, I though this would suit you. Needless to say the cashew paste is good in most things where you may want to substitute cream.
      Ivan

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    2. I think Tahini would work too, don't you?

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    3. I would think so (good idea!), it may need a bit extra as the cashew paste is very thick - one of us will have to test it and report back!!
      Ivan

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  11. Thank you so much For another great recipe. I love celery and this will certainly hit the spot. Also thank you for a gluten free recipe at that !!!

    Lynda

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    Replies
    1. Hello Lynda,
      My pleasure, there seems to be a need for more gluten free - so watch this space!
      Take care,
      Ivan

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  12. I love Normandy and this soup looks fantastic. (Cashew nut purée -- that's genius.)

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    Replies
    1. Hello,
      Thank you for stopping by, pleased you liked the combination... I try!!
      Best wishes,
      Ivan

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  13. Hello! new to your blog, but I love it!!I am extremely fond of celeriac so I am very keen to try this recipe....wondering if almond butter would substitute for the cashew puree'? what do you think? I am also going straight out to get the ingredients for the chicken braise...we are very dreary here in New Hampshire and I am in need of some light, yet warming dishes!
    Cheers!
    Meredith

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    Replies
    1. Hello Meredith,
      Thank you, so pleased you like this soup. Almond butter would be a wonderful alternative (I use almond butter in pastry - with good results). We also are dreaming for some spring sunshine - some due this week! Thank you for stopping by. I am not sure if you have a blog as there is no link back on your profile - I would love to visit if you do...
      Best wishes and happy cooking!
      Ivan

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    2. Thank you so much for answering, Ivan! was not so sure you would see my question as it was an older post...I do have a blog, but it is really just begun so not much to see yet...but I have made a commitment to myself to post more and really "join" the blogging community;-)
      would absolutely love it if you would stop by, plus, I also have a FB page that has more comments and posts about my design work.
      http://www.facebook.com/MeredithBohnInteriorDesign
      and my blog is at www.mlbinteriordesign.com
      Cheers! and Happy Sunday!
      Meredith

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    3. Hello Meredith,
      Thanks for getting back to me also, I have just been over to your website and I look forwards to reading more of your blog in the future - really wonderful taste you have. I am not on Facebook but should be!!
      Have a good week.
      Ivan

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