How to Make Celeriac Mash

Co-authored by wikiHow Staff

Last Updated: October 21, 2021

Celeriac is a variety of celery that comes in a bulbous form and is available year round, but tastes its best in September to April.^{[1]
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Research source} With it’s nutty, celery like flavor, celeriac can be turned into a tasty mash that is ideal as a side dish and is a nice change from the more standard mashed potatoes or squash.

Ingredients

2-3 pounds of celeriac or 3 heads, peeled and chopped into small chunks
1 tablespoon olive oil
4 cloves of garlic, peeled and sliced
1 teaspoon kosher salt
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
5 cups of water or chicken or vegetable stock
2 tablespoons unsalted butter
¼ cup heavy cream
A handful of fresh thyme or 1 teaspoon dried thyme (optional)
A pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)
A pinch of ground ginger (optional)
Small bunch of fresh flat leaf parsley, chopped (optional)

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:
Preparing the Celeriac

1
Look for celeriac that feels firm and appears heavy for its size. Avoid celeriac that looks brown or discolored.^{[2]
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2
Clean the celeriac. Run the celeriac under running water to remove any excess dirt.
3
Peel and chop up the celeriac. Cut off the bottom and top of the celeriac with a sharp knife. Then, use a potato peeler to remove the tough outer skin.^{[3]
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- Dice up the celeriac into ½ inch pieces.^{[4]
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  Research source} Expect to discard about a quarter of the celeriac one you have peeled and chopped it up.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:
Making the Mash

1
Heat the olive oil in a 4-quart saucepan over low heat. Once the olive oil just starts to simmer, add the chopped up celeriac, garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook approximately 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until the celeriac begins to soften.^{[5]
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- If you’re using dried or fresh thyme, add it in with the celeriac, garlic, salt, and pepper.^{[6]
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2
Increase the heat and add the water or stock. Bring to a boil and then cook for about 20 - 25 minutes, until the celeriac is tender.
- Once the celeriac is cooked, you should be able to easily pierce through a piece of celeriac with a fork.
3
Drain the celeriac through a colander. Then, return the celeriac to the pot.
4
Use a stick blender to puree the celeriac for about 1 minute. Ensure there are no lumps and the celeriac is smooth.
- You can also use a masher for this step, but the blender will give you less of an arm workout.
5
Place the butter and heavy cream into a microwave proof bowl. Heat them until the butter is melted, about 45 seconds.
6
Add the cream and butter to the celeriac. Puree the ingredients with the stick blender for another minute or use the masher until they are well combined.
- If you’d like to make a sweeter celeriac mash, add in a pinch of ground nutmeg and a pinch of ground ginger.
7
Season the mash to taste. It may need a bit more salt or pepper, depending on your taste buds.
- Serve the mash warm, sprinkling a handful of chopped parsley for some extra flavor and color.
8
Finished.