I am so in love with the Lancaster Central Market and, today, Theodora. I was not minding my own business at Stoner’s Homegrown Vegetables, awkwardly staring at the curly leaf kale and thinking of what to toss in tonight’s soup when I spotted sparkly fingers, tipped in red pointing to the huge knob of celery root. Then I heard the slightly tinged accent of a gal explaining how she peels the root to make “the best salad.” Okay, she had me there. “the BEST salad” of celery root. It’s an awkwardly ugly root vegetable that I’ll admit I never really use. Uh, never used.
I had to do it…. I introduced myself and asked about this salad. Here is how it’s done, per Theodora. (I love to say her name, even in the quiet of my head as I type).
- boil the celery root until tender
- peel the celery root… after boiling it’s easier AND there will be less waste. love the frugality. (do I love too much?)
- cut into cubes
- add oil, vinegar, salt, pepper and green onions and this salad will last you and your partner for a week! (that’s what she said)
So, note to self, next visit plan dinner around celery root (from Stoner’s) and mushrooms (Groff’s). This visit was about my 2’sday specials at market for my Fig Lancaster blog post. Soup was my mission on this rainy day.
insert… walking, talking and shopping…
Made it over to one of my favorite stands, wait for it, that I love… Groff’s Vegetables. I needed sweet potatoes for my soup recipe and Earl grows his own, pesticide free. Low and behold it was the same jeweled finger but this time playing with the “panisse” bibb style lettuce. This time the lovely Theodora approached me to tell me about the “best” lettuce salad. This German salad, she said, is called “Kopfsalat” and this is how it goes …
- buy the softest head of bibb style lettuce from Groff’s Vegetables (she was clear on this)
- sprinkle with olive oil, vinegar and lots of fresh dill
- enjoy with your cute significant other (I never caught his name but I’m sure I would have loved it too).
I LOVE the posting!
ha ha I LOVE the thought that you have a miniature pinscher! thanks pinscher47
Good stuff, I use celery root, peel and eat raw w/ oil, flax or dha oil from Udos. Your method sounds better.
raw you say? does it taste like celery? theordora’s method (wink, wink)
I shred celeriac raw and fry it up with onions for a Sunday morning hash brown, serve with eggs over easy…yum.
I am SO loving this… all the celery root tips! this is a great idea for a weekend breakfast. ya know… word on the street is that brunch is a big trend right now.. nice, joanne!
Equal amounts of celeriac and cauliflower, boiled til very tender, and smashed with butter and cream makes a WONDERFUL replacement for mashed potatoes (and, I have tried each of these on their own – did NOT love the individuals, but, together, they were awesome).
sounds tasty Ouida! and on a health note the use of celery root is so much healthier (lower in starch and on the glycemic index) than potatoes. 10g carbs vs 22g carbs in 150g of celery root vs potato…