We all have been scolded for not eating our vegetables, but there are some really delicious vegetables out there. Yes, celeriac is one such delicious vegetable. You might remember celeriac as veggies for soups and salads, but it is great for casseroles as well. However, if you have run out of celeriac and have a recipe to complete, we are sharing the substitutes for celeriac!
Substitutes For Celeriac
For the most part, celeriac is the hero of the veggie world with the celery-like and subtle flavor. It has nutty overtones that make a perfect flavor. It has tough skin, which means you have to peel off the skin before cooking it and using it in the recipe. This vegetable can be used in the mashed and cut form and is suitable for slow-cooking recipes.
Celeriac is a perfect addition to soups, and some people even much on the celeriac chips (they are incredibly healthy). It is basically a root vegetable that goes perfectly with creamy recipes. It can be consumed with mashed potatoes. On the contrary, celeriac tends to lose the color when it’s peeled and chopped, so keep it in a bowl of water. Now, you can have a look at the substitutes for celeriac!
1) Celery
Celery is the perfect replacement for celeriac. It has an optimal texture and flavor, which helps replicate the flavor of celeriac in the majority of soups, stews, and casseroles. Celery has a mild flavor with a watery texture. For this reason, you might have to add the thickening agent to the recipe to ensure that the recipe isn’t too watery.
In the case of stews and soups, you can add potatoes for thickening purposes. Some people also add carrot or cornstarch for thickening purposes, so it depends on your preferences. In addition, the flavor can be amplified by adding the celery leaves along with the roots and flesh (yes, the leaves are edible). The substitution of celeriac and celery is a 1:1 ratio.
2) Parsley Root
Parsley roots are known for their fragrant and fluffy green leaves and are the root cut out from parsley herb. Parsley root has a white to an off-white color, and the size is pretty long. For the most part, parsley root resembles the parsnip, but they aren’t the same. For this reason, you have to be mindful of which vegetable you choose.
Parsley roots will add a similar color and texture to the recipe like celeriac and delivers a great flavor. However, the flavor might be dominated by parsley herb, so just start with a lower quantity. With parsley root, the flavor might be mild, but you can add celery salt or celery seeds for enhancing the flavor.
3) Carrots
Before we add more details, you can substitute celeriac with carrots, but you will have to add celery seed, celery leaves, or celery salt. However, carrot has a sharp orange color which can change how your recipe looks, so keep that in mind. Carrots have a similar texture when compared to celeriac. Carrots can be used for replacing celeriac in mashed, boiled, and chopped form, depending on the dish.
On the contrary, the carrot will not have an earthy flavor of celeriac, so you should add the celery salt or celery seeds. In addition, you can always sprinkle the celery leaves on the top.
4) Butternut Squash
You might know it as butternut gramma or butternut pumpkin, and it makes a great replacement for celeriac. This is actually a winter squash with a nutty and sweet taste. It has tanned-yellow skin, while the pulp has orange flesh. The ripe varieties will have a deep orange color, so it can change how your recipe looks. In addition, the ripe version will have a sweeter flavor.
It can be toasted, sauteed, roasted, and pureed for adding to the soups. In addition, it can be used to replace celeriac in pies and casseroles. The best way of substituting butternut squash for celeriac is the roasted form. However, we suggest that you take out the seeds and stalks because they can add bitterness to the recipe.
5) Turnip
This is a root vegetable just like celeriac and has a white and fleshy texture. This means that it can easily replace celeriac. You can cut the turnip (do peel away the skin) and add them to soups and stews. For improving the flavor, you can also add the turnip leaves!