Cream Of Celeriac Soup With Crispy Pancetta And Croûtons Food

CELERIAC, PANCETTA & THYME SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large pan. Sizzle the pancetta for about 3 mins on each side until crisp, then remove to a plate and set aside. Melt the butter in the same pan, add the onion, bay leaf and thyme stalks, and cook for 10 mins until just starting to turn golden. Add the celeriac and cook for 2 mins more.
• Pour over the stock and simmer for 10 mins until the celeriac is soft. Stir in the cream and bring back to the boil. Fish out the bay and thyme stalks, then purée the soup until smooth. Stir through half the thyme leaves and ladle the soup into bowls. Serve topped with the crispy pancetta, the remaining thyme leaves and a drizzle of olive oil.

CREAM OF CELERIAC SOUP WITH CRISPY PANCETTA AND CROûTONS

Steps:

• For the soup.
• heat a wide, deep sauté pan or large saucepan until medium hot,.
• add 25g/1oz of the butter, the onion and bacon and fry for a couple of minutes to just soften.
• Add the garlic, leek, celery and thyme sprigs and fry for another minute; then add the chopped celeriac.
• Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the celeriac is just tender.
• Place into a food blender, in batches if necessary, and blend to a fine purée. Return to the heat in a clean pan.
• Add the cream and whisk in the remaining 50g/2oz of butter. Season with salt and white pepper.
• For the garnish.
• preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• Place the pancetta onto a flat baking tray and cover with a second tray of the same size.
• Place in the oven and cook for 10 minutes until browned and cooked through.
• Remove from the oven and cool for five minutes until crispy.
• Heat a frying pan until hot, add half of the butter and the olive oil and heat until foaming.
• Add the celeriac and stir fry for 1-2 minutes, or until just softened, then remove from the pan and drain on kitchen paper.
• Add the rest of the butter and the bread to the pan and cook until golden-brown and crispy, tossing to cook on each side.
• Drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• To serve.
• pile the julienned celeriac into the centre of each of four soup plates.
• Ladle the soup around.
• Crumble the crispy bacon over the top and then scatter over the croutons.
• Finish with swirls of extra virgin olive oil and cream, and top with coriander cress.

CREAMY CELERIAC SOUP

Steps:

• For the soup, heat a large frying pan or saucepan until medium hot, add 25g/1oz of the butter, the onion and bacon and fry for a couple of minutes to just soften. Add the garlic, leek, celery and thyme sprigs and fry for another minute; then add the chopped celeriac. Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the celeriac is just tender.
• Blend the soup to a fine purée using a stick blender or a blender. Return to the heat in a pan. Add the cream and whisk in the remaining 50g/2oz of butter.
• Season with salt and white pepper. Serve the hot soup in bowls, or keep it warm in the pan if making the garnish.
• For the optional garnish, fry the pancetta until crisp then set aside. Return the frying pan to the heat, add half the butter and the olive oil and heat until foaming. Add the celeriac and stir fry for 1-2 minutes, or until just softened, then remove from the pan and drain on kitchen paper. Add the rest of the butter and the bread to the pan and cook until golden-brown and crisp, tossing to cook on each side. Drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. To serve, pile the julienned celeriac into the centre of each of four soup plates. Ladle the soup around. Crumble the crispy bacon over the top and then scatter over the croutons. Finish with swirls of extra virgin olive oil and cream.

CREAM OF CELERIAC SOUP

Steps:

• In a large saucepan, melt butter over low hear; cook leeks, covered in this for 5 minutes.
• Add celeriac and cook, covered for 5 minutes.
• Stir in stock and bring to a boil.
• Reduce heat to low; cook, covered for about 35 minutes, or until celeriac is very tender.
• Transfer to a blender or food processor and puree in batches.
• Pass through a food mill or sieve for an even smoother soup.
• Return to saucepan, stir in cream and maple syrup.
• Season to taste with salt and pepper.
• Gently heat through.
• Serve in warmed soup bowls.
• Garnish with chives or spring onions.

PENNE PASTA WITH CHICKEN & CRISPY PANCETTA

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with cold water, add a pinch of salt and a tablespoon of olive oil; bring to a boil.
• Wash chicken and pat dry with paper towels; season with salt and pepper.
• Heat a medium-sized, heavy-bottomed skillet over medium heat; add 2 tablespoons of oil and sauté chicken until no longer pink. Transfer to a plate lined with paper towels (keep warm).
• Sauté pancetta in a small skillet on low heat until crispy; drain on a plate lined with paper towels (keep warm).
• To a large-sized, heavy bottomed skillet add 3 tablespoons of oil; heat through. Add the garlic and sauté until slightly browned about 1 minute.
• Add the tomatoes, season with salt and black pepper. Sprinkle the basil and oregano over the tomatoes; sauté for 3 minutes or until tomatoes are warmed through and skins slightly blistered.
• Cook pasta as directed, drain and add to the large skillet. Gently toss with the tomato mixture. Add the the cheese and parsley; give another toss. Top with the chicken and pancetta just before serving.

CEYLON CINNAMON CELERIAC SOUP

Steps:

• Melt butter with the oil in a large texas skillet over medium heat.
• Add the celery root, shallots, celery, celery salt, cayenne, black pepper, and ceylon cinnamon. Stir and then turn the heat down to low.
• Cover and cook the vegetables on low, stirring occasionally; until tender, about 30 minutes.
• After the 30 minutes, stir and then add the garlic and cook 2 more minutes on low.
• Add the cognac and turn the heat up to medium. Stir and cook, uncovered, for about 3 more minutes until the liquid evaporates.
• Add the stock and bring up to a boil then reduce the heat to a simmer and simmer until the vegetables are very tender, about 15-20 minutes.
• Put the soup in the food processor in two batches (never go past the fill line with liquid in the processor or it will run out and overflow with a mess). Puree the soup until smooth.
• Add the puree back to the skillet and add the cream. Stir until blended and creamy then heat through on low to medium low heat.
• Serve with celery stalks and leaves as garnish. (optional).

ROAST CARROT SOUP WITH PANCETTA CROUTONS

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the carrots, half the oil, the garlic and thyme in a roasting tin. Season and toss everything together. Pop in the oven and roast for 45-50 mins, or until tender and beginning to turn golden.
• Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil and butter in a large saucepan. Tip in the onions and cook over a low heat for 10 mins until soft. When the carrots are done, remove from the oven. Squeeze the soft roasted garlic cloves out of their skins and pop in the saucepan. Tip in the carrots and discard any woody thyme stalks. Pour over the stock, bring to the boil, then simmer for 10 mins.
• To make the croutons, wrap the pancetta around the soldiers, leaving the ends of the bread exposed. Put on a baking tray, drizzle with a little oil and grind over some black pepper. Bake for 10 mins until the pancetta and bread edges are crisp. Drain on kitchen paper.
• While the croutons are cooking, blitz the soup with a hand blender, then sieve into a clean saucepan, pressing to get as much liquid through as possible. Add 5 tbsp of the cream, heat through and season. Adjust the thickness with a little water, if you like. You can chill the soup for up to 1 day at this point, or freeze for 2 months. Reheat before serving. Serve drizzled with the remaining cream and garnished with thyme, with the croutons.