Celeriac, also known as celery root or knob celery, is a cultivar of celery grown for its large, gnarled hypocotyl rather than its stalks, prized for its mild celery flavor and starchy, creamy texture.
History & Origins
Celeriac was selected in 17th-century Italy and southern Germany from wild celery (Apium graveolens), a plant referenced in Homer's Odyssey and used medicinally by the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans. By the 18th century it had spread across Northern Europe, becoming a winter staple in French, German, Dutch, and Russian kitchens where it was valued as a hardy, long-keeping substitute for scarce green vegetables. It remains a defining ingredient of Alsatian, French, and Central European cookery, particularly in the classic céleri-rave rémoulade first popularized in Parisian bistros in the 19th century.
Nutrition Facts
Per 100 g, edible portion (estimated)
- 42 kcalCalories
- 1.5 gProtein
- 0.3 gFat
- 9.2 gCarbs
- 1.8 gFiber
- 1.8 gSugars
- 300 mgPotassium
- 8 mgVitamin C
- 41 mcgVitamin K
Culinary Uses
- Classic French céleri-rave rémoulade: grated raw with mustard, lemon, and mayonnaise
- Puréed or mashed as a lower-carb alternative to potatoes
- Added to soups, stocks, and aromatic mirepoix bases
- Roasted with other root vegetables, garlic, and thyme
- Braised in cream or butter and featured in German Selleriesalat or Russian salads
Known Benefits
- Excellent source of dietary fiber supporting digestive regularity
- Rich in vitamin K, important for bone density and blood coagulation
- Provides meaningful potassium for blood pressure regulation
- Contains vitamin C and manganese for antioxidant defense
Hidden Benefits
- Yields phthalides and polyacetylenes with documented anti-inflammatory and lipid-lowering activity
- Source of mannitol, a natural diuretic sugar alcohol
- Provides apigenin and luteolin, flavonoids under study for neuroprotective effects
- Contains natural nitrates that may support vascular function
Cautions & Considerations
- Known allergen; cross-reacts with birch pollen and mugwort in oral allergy syndrome
- Furanocoumarins can increase skin photosensitivity in sensitive individuals
- Must be scrubbed carefully as the deeply fissured surface traps soil
- Raw consumption in very large amounts may irritate thyroid function due to goitrogens
