I once again find myself turning to Jack Bishop in my time of vegetative need. When you get a celery root in your CSA bag you sometimes need some inspiration. Luckily, Jack is usually there for me. This recipe comes from his superb 'Vegetables Every Day' book which I have mentioned countless times on this site.
I wish I hadn't been in a hurry yesterday so that I could produce a photo of the very dirty, very ugly (but very delicious!) celery root I used in this recipe. You probably waltz past its ugliness in the grocery store where it is relegated to obscure status, drying out by the horseradish and taro root (if your grocery store even bothers to carry them!). Fortunately, our farm pops one in our bag as a surprise every now and then and they *are* fun to cook with.
This salad took me all of 6 minutes or so to make last night as a side to go with roasted potatoes and buffalo burgers. Give it a try - you won't be disappointed. I will note here that the recipe does require a food processor (or good knife skills and a LOT of patience). I used to think it was too fussy to mess around with the other blades on the processor but now that I've worked the shredder into the rotation, I don't give it a second thought.
Celery Root and Apple Slaw
Adapted from Jack Bishop's Vegetables Every Day
Serves 6 as a side
2 tablespoons white wine vinegar (Bishop calls for lemon juice, but I didn't have any, hence the 'adaptation')
1 tbsp Dijon mustard
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
2 tbsp plain yogurt
1 tbsp minced fresh parsley leaves or 1.5 tsp minced fresh tarragon leaves (it was cold and rainy and I didn't feel like going outside to find parsley, so I didn't add any fresh herbs. Dish was still great, though undoubtedly could have been even better with the herbs!)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 medium celery root
1 medium Granny Smith apple
Whisk the vinegar and mustard together in a bowl. Whisk in the oil until the dressing is smooth. Whisk in the yogurt and herbs. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Cut a thin slice from either end of the celery root. Place the root on a cutting board and cut around the root with a paring knife to remove the skin as if removing the peel and pith from an orange to expose the flesh. Cut the peeled celery root into chunks that will fit in the feed tube of a food processor. Quarter and core the apple, but do not peel.
Shred the celery root and apple in a food processor fitted with the shredding disk. Place the shredded celery and apple in the bowl with the dressing and toss well with your hands until all is well coated. Adjust seasonings as necessary. Serve immediately or refrigerate up to 2 hours and serve chilled.
Technicolor tacos
When I am confronted with too many vegetables to come up with an easy, cohesive meal (and that is rather frequently), I tend towards the 'how much can I use in one recipe' solution. Tortillas in all of their glorious forms tend to help in this kind of situation.You've got tostadas and tacos (though it's very hard to find tostadas without partially hydrogenated oils in them anymore - let me know if you do! Sadly, Whole Foods have stopped carrying the 'Bearitos' brand, which were pretty darn wholesome), and flour tortillas in various sizes and grains. You can jam them full of any sort of vegetable (or meat if you wish) and some beans and call it a meal.
This particular recipe is more of a method...a way to get lots of veggies into one place and then into your belly. I use whatever I have on hand at home that will go well together and cram it all into a tortilla and call it dinner. But really, it's better than that. It's a go-to meal that requires little forethought, just a fridge with some vegetables in it and whatever tinned beans you have on hand. It comes together to deliver a tasty meal that is nourishing.
Technicolor Tacos
Serves 2
4-6 tortillas (flour hold up better)
1/2 can tinned refried beans with green chiles
2 tsp vegetable oil
1 lb sturdy greens (I used beet greens, but chard, kale, collards, etc will work)
tomatoes, sliced
cabbage, sliced
tomatillos, diced
onions, sliced
peppers, sliced
radishes, diced
(or *any* combination of vegetables you have on hand that would take well to Mexican flavors)
Wash greens thoroughly. Heat 1 tsp oil in a large skillet. Add greens and cook over medium high heat until they wilt and drastically reduce in volume, about 5 minutes. Remove and set aside.
Heat 1 tsp oil in the same skillet. Add onions and saute for 3 minutes over medium heat. Add peppers and saute a further 3-5 minutes until all veggies are soft.
Heat beans over a flame or in the microwave until bubbly. Heat tortillas in microwave (about 10-15 seconds). Put veggies in containers and let people assemble their own tacos as they see fit. Repeat as needed.
ALL of these ingredients are optional. Nearly any combination will work. Add some cheese on top if you wish. Or salsa. Or guac. Or sour cream. Do whatever you want and don't be limited by my suggestions above. It's an easy, no fuss way to get a healthy dinner on the table.
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