Celeriac

9 Best Substitutes for Celeriac

The root of the specific type of celery plant is what is known as celeriac. It tastes earthy with just a touch of celery flavor.  Not only is celeriac delicious, but it also has positive health effects. It contains several vitamins, minerals, and a lot of fiber. Additionally, celeriac has few carbohydrates, which makes it an excellent substitute for potatoes in dishes like creamy root vegetable soup.

Celery root is crisp when uncooked. The texture changes into rich, starchy, and silky after cooking. It has an earthy, nutty, somewhat minty, intensely herbal fragrance. It is naturally fairly salty and has a peppery, refreshing aftertaste. If you run out of celeriac and look for alternatives, you can use carrots, parsley roots, Jicama, potatoes, butternut squash, parsnips, daikon radish, radish, and celery. Additionally, the replacement for Celeriac can be celery seeds, celery salt, and celery stalks

Uses of Celeriac in Cooking

Celeriac strips

Let’s first study more about celeriac before moving on to the list of the best alternatives for cooking. A kind of celery known as celeriac has soft stalks on top and a sizable root that resembles a knob on the bottom. The surface of celery root has several bumps and grooves, which are scraped away before cooking or eating raw.

The celery stalks that sprout from celery roots do not have the same taste and flavor as the regular celery we buy in the stores. They are more like cousins despite seeming identical. Although they have a milder flavor than celery, celeriac stalks can be eaten. Despite having an odd look, Celeriac is a nutritious food option that is high in vitamins and minerals.

Celery root may be consumed either cooked or raw. It is a great addition to any soup and salad. However, before use, it is essential to clean it thoroughly.  Depending on the recipes, celeriac has to be cleaned and peeled properly. After being skinned, celery root starts to oxidize and turn black when exposed to air.

Soak it in water with some vinegar or lemon juice if you’re not going to use it straight away to preserve its color and avoid oxidization. Some recipes that need celeriac as one of the main ingredients are Apple and Celeriac Salad, Potato, Celeriac soup, and celeriac Gratin.

How to Choose a Celeriac Substitute?

Celeriac is a root vegetable, so bear that in mind when selecting a replacement. Since there are many different types of root vegetables, the majority of them will serve as a substitute for celery root.

If color is important in the meal you are creating, you may not want to use orange carrots or butternut squash. You may always use carrots and it will not have any effect on the color of the final dish.

 SubstituteBest For
1.ParsnipsStews, Soups, Baked vegetable dishes
2.Parsley rootsMeat roasts, Soups, Stews, Puree
3.CarrotsReductions, soups, broths, sauces, Salads
4.Daikon RadishSalads, Meat roasts, broth
5.JicamaSalads, Baked vegetable dishes, Soups
6.RadishesMeat roast, Salads, Bakes vegetable dishes
7.Celery SeedsSoups, broths, salads
8.Celery StalksSalads, Smoothies, Soups, broths
9.Celery SaltStews, Sauces, Meat roasts

Best Flavor Substitutes for Celeriac

Parsnips

Parsnips

In terms of flavor and texture, parsnips are comparable to celeriac, and they even have a similar appearance. When substituting celery root, it can well be the finest choice for you. However, parsnip tends to smell more intense than celeriac and is sweeter when cooked. Parsnip is smoother, lighter, and creamier in texture than celery, but celery root typically retains a small crunch.

Parsnips should be used in the same quantity as celeriac, and don’t forget to peel them as well. One thing to keep in mind, though, is that parsnips have a considerably sweeter flavor when cooked than celeriac does. Parsnip can be a good substitute for celeriac in baked vegetable dishes, stews, and soups.

Parsley root

Parsley root

One of the greatest celeriac alternatives is parsley root. Its taste and texture are comparable to celeriac and it comes from the same family. Similar to celeriac, parsley root may be boiled, peeled, and shredded. It has a carrot-like form.

It may be consumed both raw and cooked. Because parsley root is more potent than celeriac, less of it is needed in most recipes. Visually, parsley root is extremely similar to a parsnip, but when cooked, it is less creamy.

Best Texture Substitutes to Celeriac

Carrots

Carrots

Carrot is a common vegetable that is simple to locate in every kitchen. Carrots provide an excellent substitution for celeriac in soups, stews, reductions, broths, and sauces. When boiled, carrots and celery roots, both have a sweet flavor. The carrot’s crunchiness makes it a fantastic addition to salads as well.

Carrots’ sweet taste and orange hue will change the appearance and flavor of the final meal. However, given how delicious carrots are and how they can make any dish better, you might even prefer it this way. Additionally, you won’t need to change your cooking time at all because carrots and celeriac both boil in around the same amount of time.

Daikon Radish

Daikon Radish

Daikon radish is a great substitute for celeriac in salads and tastes well either roasted or boiled. It is white and tastes somewhat spicy. Sure, you’ll taste a little of the characteristic radishes’ spice, but overall, it’s pleasant.

The spiciness will assist to simulate the strong herbal taste of celery in terms of flavor. But the dish won’t smell like parsley in particular. You may mix this component with some coriander or celery to enhance the flavor of your meal.

Jicama

There is no better substitute for celery root in salads than jicama. It resembles potatoes in appearance and has a similar crisp texture and subdued sweetness. You must also take off its skin, slice it into little sticks, and then dice it before cooking.

Jicama is a vegetable that resembles celeriac greatly and has a similar solid feel. Since the flavor is equally soft to celeriac, it won’t have any impact on how your cuisine turns out in the end. The ratio of Jicama in recipes can be the same as it is for the celeriac.

Although jicama is frequently consumed raw, you may still prepare it if you choose. To keep this ingredient’s crunchy texture in this situation, you need only cook it for a smaller amount of time.

Radishes

Radishes

Similar to turnips, radishes may have a unique crunchy feel when eaten raw or can have a soft, yielding flesh when cooked correctly and for the right amount of time. It can be used either raw or cooked.

As for the flavor replacement, radishes are comparable to celeriac in terms of strength and pungency, but they also have a “spiciness” that isn’t seen in celeriac. This makes some radish species less acceptable for particular recipes that would ordinarily call for celeriac.

It is preferable to cut or chop radishes before using them as a replacement for celeriac in order to leach off some of its more unpleasant taste.

Alternative Forms of Celery

It is perfectly feasible to keep the flavor using alternative celery plant components in cases when celeriac is just unavailable. But keep in mind that these substitute forms of celery might not perfectly duplicate the strength of taste that one would typically find in the celeriac root. Also don’t have the same texture due to the physical shape differences. So, those products cannot be textural replacements.

Celery Seeds

Celery Seeds

Celery seeds, which are technically fruits according to botany, are frequently ground up or sold whole. Their tiny size, shape, and ease of dispersion also make them ideal for use in any type of recipe.

Celery seed is a great alternative for celeriac in situations when the other components are also quite light in flavor since it may add a milder intensity to any dish that would otherwise include the celeriac root.

Celery Stalk

Celery Stalk

Celery stalk is the most widely used type of celery and is often eaten raw. It has a mild flavor and crisp texture, making it a popular component of salads and snack food.

The relative volume difference between celery stalks and celeriac means that a sizeable quantity of celery stalks is needed to replace the equivalent amount of celeriac root in a recipe.

In meals like stews or vegetable smoothies, where the liquids of the recipe may bring out the numerous taste compounds, celery stalks make a great flavor-alternative for celeriac.

Celery Salt

Celery Salt

Celery salt can be used as a replacement for celeriac in recipes that would ordinarily benefit from the inclusion of additional salt in the ingredient list. In order to prevent over salting the meal and drowning out the other tastes present, it is crucial to lower the overall amount of salt used in the recipe when replacing celeriac with celery salt.

Bottom Line

Although it might be a little difficult to replace, celeriac is a distinctive and tasty vegetable that will provide the same fantastic flavor to your meal. Above, we explored several alternatives and substitutes for celeriac. Some of these alternatives could even be a healthy choice for you, depending on what you’re searching for. Try one of these replacements in your next recipe if you can’t locate celeriac or don’t have any on hand.

Celeriac

9 Best Substitutes for Celeriac

Seasonal and Savory
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 10 minutes
Servings 2

Ingredients
  

  • Parsnips
  • Parsley roots
  • Carrots
  • Daikon Radish
  • Jicama
  • Radishes
  • Celery Seeds
  • Celery Stalks
  • Celery Salt

Instructions
 

  • From the list of substitutes above, pick your favorite to use in its place.
  • Use your imagination and be creative with these substitute recipes!

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