This Celeriac, Bacon and Barley Soup is a winter staple at my house. It’s rich in bacon, celery root, rosemary and comfort. I serve the soup with crispy bacon bits and a dab of crème fraîche. Add a grating of fresh nutmeg for that final chef’s kiss.
Many home cooks are comfortable with celery but are intimidated by less familiar celeriac, also known as celery root. So here are a few helpful tips on how to prep celeriac for cooking. Before you start, scrub the celeriac well. Next, trim both the top and base off. Then, use a peeler to remove the brown peel. Remove the bits of roots and hard-to-reach areas with a sharp knife. Alternatively, stand the celery upright on a flat side and cut off all the knobby skin in sections, allowing your knife to glide along the root and leaving only the white flesh. Now, slice the root crosswise into rounds about ½-inch thick. Finally, cut each round into cubes and follow the recipe.
To make the Celeriac, Bacon and Barley Soup, you will need the following ingredients:
In a Dutch oven over medium heat, melt 1 tablespoon butter and add the sliced bacon and the leaves from 1 rosemary sprig. Cook, stirring, until crisp, about 8-10 minutes. Set aside a few tablespoons of bacon and rosemary for garnish.
Add in 2 finely chopped onions and chopped celeriac and reduce the heat. Cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 12 minutes.
Finely chop the remaining rosemary leaves and add to the Dutch oven. Cook for another 2 minutes.
Stir in ⅔ cup pearl barley and 7 ½ cups vegetable stock and bring to a boil.
Season with salt and black pepper to taste, then simmer until the barley is soft and the soup is thick, about 40 minutes. Taste and adjust for seasoning if needed.
To serve, ladle the soup among bowls, add crème fraîche, and grate nutmeg over. Garnish with the reserved bacon and rosemary.
This hearty Celeriac, Bacon and Barley Soup is the ultimate cold weather meal. It’s easy, economical, and uniquely delicious. Did you make it? Try it out soon and please come back and leave a comment below with your thoughts.
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