Creamy Celery Root Bisque (Printable)

An elegant, velvety soup with subtle celery root flavor, ideal for refined dining and special occasions.

# What You’ll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large celery root (about 1.5 lb), peeled and diced
02 - 1 medium Yukon Gold potato, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, sliced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

→ Liquids

06 - 4 cups vegetable broth
07 - 1 cup whole milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream or non-dairy cream

→ Fats and Seasonings

09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
12 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

13 - Chopped chives or parsley
14 - Drizzle of cream, optional

# Directions:

01 - In a large pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add leek, onion, and garlic. Sauté until soft but not browned, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Add diced celery root and potato. Sauté for an additional 3 minutes.
03 - Pour in the vegetable broth and add the bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 25 minutes or until vegetables are very tender.
04 - Remove and discard the bay leaf. Using an immersion blender or transferring in batches to a blender, purée the soup until completely smooth.
05 - Stir in the milk and cream. Heat gently without boiling, and season with salt and white pepper to taste.
06 - Ladle into warm bowls. Garnish with chopped chives, parsley, and a drizzle of cream if desired.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The silky texture achieves that restaurant-quality elegance without requiring any fancy techniques or equipment.
  • It transforms the humble celery root from that weird knobbly thing you bypass in the produce section into something genuinely luxurious.
02 -
  • Celery root oxidizes quickly when cut, so either prepare it just before cooking or toss the pieces with a little lemon juice if prepping ahead.
  • Reheating requires gentle heat and occasional stirring to maintain the perfect consistency, as this soup can separate if boiled after the cream is added.
03 -
  • For an elegant dinner party presentation, reserve a few paper-thin slices of raw celery root, crisp them quickly in ice water, and float them on top of each serving with a tiny drizzle of truffle oil.
  • The soup actually develops more complex flavor if made a day ahead through the blending step, with dairy added just before serving.
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