Creamy Celeriac Soup with Crispy Bacon (Printable Version)

Velvety celeriac soup with cream, finished with crispy bacon for savory crunch.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large celeriac (approximately 1.5 lbs), peeled and diced
02 - 1 medium onion, chopped
03 - 1 medium potato, peeled and diced
04 - 1 clove garlic, minced

→ Liquids

05 - 4 cups chicken or vegetable stock
06 - 3/4 cup plus 1 tablespoon heavy cream

→ Seasonings

07 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
09 - Pinch of freshly grated nutmeg

→ Garnish

10 - 4 slices streaky bacon
11 - Chopped fresh chives or parsley

# Step-by-Step Guide:

01 - Melt butter in a large pot over medium heat. Add onion and garlic, sauté until soft and translucent, approximately 4 minutes.
02 - Add celeriac and potato to the pot. Stir to coat with butter and cook for 3 minutes.
03 - Pour in stock and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 25 to 30 minutes until vegetables are very tender.
04 - Place bacon slices in a cold, dry skillet. Cook over medium heat until crispy, turning as needed. Drain on paper towels and crumble or leave whole.
05 - Remove soup from heat. Purée with an immersion blender until completely smooth, or carefully process in batches using a standard blender.
06 - Stir in heavy cream and nutmeg. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Gently reheat if necessary, but avoid boiling.
07 - Ladle soup into bowls. Top with crispy bacon and sprinkle with chives or parsley if desired.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • The texture transforms from rough root into pure velvet without any fancy techniques
  • The salty crunch against the smooth cream creates the most satisfying contrast
02 -
  • I once skipped the potato thinking I would keep it lighter and the soup was disappointingly thin, that potato is not optional
  • Adding the cream while the soup is still boiling can cause it to separate, always remove from heat first
03 -
  • Buy the heaviest celeriac you can find, lighter ones tend to be hollow or dried out inside
  • If your soup seems too thick after blending, add stock a tablespoon at a time until you reach your preferred consistency
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