Celeriac, also known as celery root, might not be the prettiest vegetable in the produce section, but it’s a true gem in the kitchen! With its earthy, slightly nutty flavor and versatile texture, it can be transformed into a variety of delicious dishes.

If you’re looking to diversify your vegan meals, celeriac is the perfect ingredient to experiment with. In this post, I’ll introduce you to this humble root vegetable and share 20 different ways you can use it in your plant-based cooking.

What is Celeriac?

Celeriac, a close relative of common celery, is the bulbous root of the celery plant. Though it has a gnarly, rough exterior, once peeled, the pale, creamy flesh reveals itself to be a culinary powerhouse. Its flavor is milder than regular celery, with a slight hint of earthiness and nuttiness, making it a fantastic addition to soups, stews, salads, and more.

This root vegetable is rich in fiber, vitamins C and K, and potassium, making it both nutritious and filling. It’s a wonderful option for anyone following a vegan diet, as its hearty texture can be used as a base or substitute in many recipes where a starchy element is needed. Now, let’s dive into 20 creative ways you can incorporate celeriac into your vegan meals!

20 Best Celeriac Recipes

1. Hasselback Roasted Celeriac

Roasted celeriac might just be one of the most delicious and underrated veggies out there. It’s tender, mild, nutty, and roasting it really brings out that natural sweetness too.

Now think whole roasted celeriac, but add in thin cuts like hasselback potatoes. All the dressing seeps in infusing the celeriac with so much amazing flavour. Crispy on the outside and fluffy in the middle… now that’s drool worthy!

2. Celeriac dauphinoise

Make a vegan version of creamy dauphinoise, with celeriac in place of the usual potato, and dairy-free ingredients. It’s an excellent side dish for a feast

3. Celeriac Steak

Roasted celeriac steak has a wonderful ‘meaty’ texture and a deep, mellow flavour. These easy marinated steaks make a delicious main served with mash and gravy.

4. Celeriac Mash

Celeriac mash offers a creamy and sophisticated alternative to traditional mashed potatoes. Not only is it easy to prepare, but it’s also a nutritious, low-carb option. Moreover, this recipe is dairy-free and vegan, making it an excellent choice for various dietary preferences.

5. Celeriac Chips

Celeric cut into thin strips, seasoned, and roasted is a great way to enjoy this vegetable. It’s a healthier take on fries.

6. Creamy Celeriac Pasta Alfredo

Satisfy your comfort-food cravings with this easy vegan alfredo pasta dish. The creamy sauce features a base of blended celeriac, a relative of celery that is cultivated for the bulbous section of its root. You can often find it at grocery stores under the name celery root. 

7. Celeriac Gnocchi With Tenderstem Broccoli

A take on classic gnocchi, made with this underused root vegetable, that makes for a super delicious meal

8. Celeriac Fritters

These fritters are a great way to use up celeriac. They’re wonderfully crunchy and spicy. They’re super versatile and go with anything from burgers to soups.

9. Celeriac Risotto with Butternut Squash & Kale

This Celeriac Risotto with Butternut Squash & Kale is a deliciously creamy grain free & low carb risotto made with riced celeriac, roasted butternut squash & shredded kale. 

10. Celeriac Sheperd’s Pie

A take on the traditional Sheperd’s Pie, where instead of a potato mash, it is crowned with a creamy layer of celeriac mash.

11. Celeriac Curry

With its nutty, creamy flesh, celeriac works really well in this curry – the roasted cubes soak up the flavours of the spices. Serve with steamed rice for a warming vegan dinner

12. Celeriac Soup

This velvety celeriac soup is simply delicious. Creamy and delicious – this soup has a beautiful, slightly nutty celery flavor. Yum!

13. Celery Root and Peanut Stir-Fry with Ginger, Scallions, and Cilantro

If you don’t want to boil or mash your celeriac, stir frying is an option. Since celery root can be eaten raw, it’s a good candidate for quick cooking, too, if sliced thinly.

The dish has a generous amount of chopped roasted peanuts, combined with plenty of garlic and ginger, as well as a little Asian finishing sauce and cilantro.

14. Celeriac Pastrami Slices

Vegan pastrami slices made from roasted celeriac. Perfect for a plant-based reuben sandwich or served as a carving board with your fave pickles! This recipe uses a whole roasted celeriac for the basis of the pastrami. It’s marinated just right and even gets those crispy “burnt ends” like real pastrami. But the most exciting thing is the texture – it’s SO tender and delicate – you won’t believe it until you’ve tried it!

15. Whole Roasted Celeriac

Substitute this vegan show-stopper for your usual Sunday Roast this weekend. With whole roasted celeriac and a flavoursome herb and mushroom gravy, it’s a deeply wintry feast.

16. Celeriac Schnitzel

 a German classic, with a plant-based celeriac twist! This Celeriac Schnitzel recipe is a tasty alternative to the more traditional pork schnitzel. It’s much less of a hassle to make and tastes just as good. The schnitzel cut looks very similar to traditional breaded schnitzel, but its flavor comes from the vegetable and whatever spices are used instead.

17. Celeriac Tacos

Fake out your meat-loving family and friends with this fast plant-based taco dinner recipe. Ground toasted nuts and chopped sautéed celeriac yield a texture similar to ground beef, then classic taco seasoning does the rest. If you want a little heat, sprinkle these healthy vegetarian tacos with some minced jalapeño.

18. Celeriac Hummus

This is an excellent alternative to hummus. It’s made with root vegetable instead of chickpeas (hummus). You can make it with celery or parsley root, turnip or Jerusalem artichokes.

19. Vegan Celeriac Slaw

A combination of celeriac, walnuts and apple combined with vegan yogurt or mayo makes the most delicious winter salad.

10. Pickled Celeriac

Pickled celeriac or celery root is a perfect side to a charcuterie board, sandwich or just on its own. The aniseed and vinegar combine to make a perfect counterbalance to oily and rich foods and because of the way it is shredded it is almost like coleslaw in its own right.

Final Thoughts

Celeriac might not be the most common vegetable in your kitchen, but with so many ways to use it, it’s worth adding to your repertoire! Its versatility, subtle flavor, and hearty texture make it a fantastic ingredient to experiment with. Whether you’re making soups, side dishes, or even plant-based mains, celeriac is a root vegetable that can add something unique to your meals. Give some of these ideas a try, and you’ll soon see why celeriac deserves a place in your next grocery haul!