Celery Root Bisque With Thyme Croutons Recipes

CELERY ROOT BISQUE WITH THYME CROUTONS

Steps:

• Melt butter in heavy large pot over medium heat. Add celery; cover and cook until slightly softened, about 3 minutes. Add shallots; sauté uncovered 3 minutes. Stir in celery root cubes and potato, then broth and 1 1/2 teaspoons thyme. Increase heat to high; bring to boil. Reduce heat to medium-low, cover, and simmer until vegetables are very tender, about 40 minutes. Cool slightly.
• Working in batches, transfer soup to blender and puree until smooth. (Can be prepared 2 days ahead. Cool slightly. Cover and refrigerate.)
• Stir cream into soup and bring to simmer. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle soup into bowls. Sprinkle with additional chopped thyme and serve.

CELERY-ROOT BISQUE WITH SHIITAKES

Steps:

• Cook celery root, chopped celery, and shallots in 1/2 stick butter in a 5-quart heavy pot over moderate heat, covered, stirring occasionally, until softened but not browned, about 15 minutes. Add water, salt, and pepper and simmer, uncovered, until vegetables are very tender, about 30 minutes.
• Purée soup in batches in a blender until smooth (use caution when blending hot liquids), then return to pot.
• Stir in cream and reheat bisque over low heat, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes. Stir in lemon juice.
• While bisque is reheating, melt 2 tablespoons butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderately high heat until foam subsides, then sauté mushrooms with salt and pepper to taste, stirring, until golden brown, about 3 minutes. Transfer mushrooms with a slotted spoon to a plate and add remaining 2 tablespoons butter to skillet. Cook butter over moderate heat, swirling skillet, until browned, about 2 minutes, then transfer to a small bowl.
• Serve bisque topped with mushrooms and drizzled with brown butter.

CELERY ROOT SOUP WITH CROUTONS

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a simmer, add celery root pieces, and simmer until soft, about 30 minutes. Drain.
• Place celery root in a blender and process until smooth. Transfer puree to a pot, add vegetable broth, and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes. Add cream and cook until hot, but don't boil. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
• Meanwhile, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and toast bread cubes until dry and lightly browned, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Ladle soup into bowls and garnish with chopped parsley and croutons.

CREAM OF CELERY BISQUE

Steps:

• Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium high heat. Add onion, celery, and carrot; cook without browning, stirring constantly, 4 minutes or unitl vegetables are tender. Add thyme and rice; cook 1 minute more.
• Add broth to saucepan; reduce to medium. Cook 15 minutes or until rice is very tender. Season with salt and pepper.
• Purée mixture in blender with cream; serve immediately.
• SERVING TIPS: Serve with a garnish of croutons, additional diced celery or a sprinkling of minced herbs. Makes an excellent accompaniment to any entrée featuring chicken breast.