Celeriac Champ Recipes

Steps:

• Heat the butter in a saucepan. Add the leeks, rosemary and bay leaf, then cover and cook very gently over a medium-low heat for 15-20 mins until the leeks are soft. Pour over the milk and almost all of the cream, then season and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and leave to cool a little, then scoop out the bay leaf.
• Pour a little of the leek mixture into an ovenproof gratin dish. Arrange a layer of celeriac in the dish, then season. Spoon over some more of the leek mixture and scatter with a little cheese. Repeat the process, alternating between layers of the leek mixture, cheese and celeriac slices, then finish with a drizzle of cream and the last of the cheese. Can be prepared up to a day ahead and kept in the fridge.
• Heat oven to 180C/160C fan/gas 4. Bake the gratin for 1 hr-1 hr 15 mins until the top is golden and the celeriac is tender when poked with a knife. If the gratin is browning a little too much, cover the dish in foil. Can be chilled, then reheated in a microwave or oven on a low heat with a drizzle more cream.

Steps:

• Boil the potatoes for 20-25 mins until tender, adding the celeriac after 5 mins. Drain and press through a potato ricer back into the pan once the surface water has evaporated, or mash well with a potato masher in the dry pan.
• While the potatoes cook, melt the 140g butter over a medium heat, then sweat the spring onions for about 5 mins until soft and silky, stirring occasionally. Add the cream and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg. Bring to a simmer, then cook for another few mins until this thickens a little.
• Stir two-thirds of the creamy onions into the potato and celeriac purée. Season to taste. If making in advance, cover the surface of the mash and the sauce with cling film, then set aside. Can now be frozen or made up to a day ahead. Just before serving, gently reheat the mash and reserved sauce. Spoon the mash into a serving bowl, pour the sauce on top and turn it over a few times to loosely mix. Make a well in the centre and drop in the remaining knob of butter.

Steps:

• Boil the celeriac in a covered pan for 15-20 mins or until tender. Meanwhile, heat a frying pan and cook the bacon for 5 mins until golden and crisp. Add the cavolo nero or cabbage and cook over a low heat for 5 mins.
• Drain the celeriac and blitz with a hand blender until smooth. Stir in the butter and cream. When the butter has melted, add the bacon and cavolo nero or cabbage, and stir well. Season to taste.