How to eat root celery?

Root celery is probably familiar to people who stick to a proper diet or at least once in their lives tried to lose weight. It is a vitamin and low-calorie vegetable, which, in addition to being an excellent satiety, is also very healthy. It is also good for cooking a number of dishes. The celery root is boiled, fried, baked and consumed raw. Proponents of folk medicine also prepare from it special potions that are very effective for certain diseases.

What is celery root

Celery, also known as fragrant celery or fragrant celery, is a biennial plant that belongs to the Umbrella family. In its natural environment, it is widely distributed in the Mediterranean region. In our country celery is grown as an agricultural vegetable crop.

Celery consists of a ground part in the form of thick stems and leaves on them, and a fairly large round-shaped root. All parts of the plant are consumed as food, including even the seeds. However, it is the root that deserves the most attention. After picking it from the vegetable garden, it can be stored all winter. That is why this product is so popular in our country. During the cold season, celery root makes up for vitamin and micronutrient deficiencies and thus helps to avoid avitaminosis and get sick less often.

Composition and calories

Celery root has a rather hard but at the same time juicy flesh of white color. It is easily recognized by the characteristic strong aroma, which the vegetable gives the essential oils in its composition. In addition to essential oils, there are also many other useful substances. If we talk about vitamins, it is primarily vitamin K, C, A, B vitamins. Among the micro- and macronutrients, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, calcium and iron are worth mentioning.

The caloric value of celery root is quite low - 32 kcal per 100 g of product. The nutritional value is primarily a large amount of fiber and 6.5 g of carbohydrates. Protein in the celery root is a little over 1 g, and there are almost no fats.

How is celery root useful?

Celery root is one of the most favorite products of dietitian practitioners. This is not surprising, because it has a rich composition, brings a lot of health benefits and at the same time does not contribute to gaining excess weight. However, in some cases celery is not only undesirable, but can even cause significant harm to our body. Therefore, before piling on this vegetable, it is important to clarify exactly what properties it has.

Benefits

The benefits of using celery root is that it:

1. Strengthens the immune system, resulting in significantly reduced susceptibility to viral diseases.
2. Due to the large amount of plant fibers cleanses the blood and intestines from toxins and waste.
3. Helps the body recover from physical fatigue or nervous exhaustion.
4. Reduces the level of "bad" cholesterol and thus prevents the emergence of atherosclerosis.
5. Stimulates appetite and improves digestion.
6. Stabilizes water-salt metabolism.
7. Has a mild diuretic effect, so it is useful for swelling.
8. Protects against diseases of the cardiovascular system, stabilizes blood pressure.
9. Reduces the risk of Alzheimer's disease.
10. Has anti-tumor effects.
11. Improves the digestibility of protein, so it is recommended to eat with meat.

The harm

Because celery root contains a lot of fiber and essential oils, it has an irritating effect on the stomach and other organs of the gastrointestinal tract. In the presence of inflammatory processes it can be detrimental. Therefore, with an exacerbation of gastritis and pancreatitis, it is better not to use this product. Especially if it is a fresh root vegetable. The same applies to stomach and duodenal ulcers.

Celery root is also contraindicated in some other pathologies, in particular with urolithiasis, varicose veins, epilepsy. It is recommended with caution to use the vegetable for pregnant and lactating women. It is believed that it increases the tone of the uterus and thus can provoke a miscarriage. Although there is evidence that you need to eat a lot of celery root for such an effect.

How to consume celery root correctly

Celery can be eaten in a variety of forms, either raw, boiled or fried. It all depends on your personal taste preferences. But for this vegetable to be well assimilated by the body and not to harm it, it must be cooked properly. In addition, it is very important not to overeat, otherwise you risk experiencing diarrhea, bloating and other unpleasant symptoms.

How to peel.

The celery root has a rather thick skin, which it is recommended to remove. Before doing this, the root vegetable should be thoroughly washed with a brush. Then cut off with a sharp knife the so-called "butt" in the place where the stems are attached. After that, take a special vegetable peeler and remove the skin evenly over the entire surface. If there is any damage to the pulp or its darkening, additionally remove these areas with a regular knife.

Sometimes there are very large varieties of celery. In this case, it is better to cut the root vegetable into two parts before peeling. This will allow you to greatly facilitate and accelerate the procedure described above.

How much you can eat a day

Children under one year of age can be given celery root in very small amounts. The recommended dose at this age is a maximum of 30 g. After one year, you can gradually increase this amount to 50-100 grams. Adults can use much more of this root vegetable. However, experts still advise stopping at 300-350 grams per day. Especially if in addition to celery, in your diet there are also other vegetables. The fact is that they all contain a lot of fiber. If it is in excess, bloating and diarrhea are possible. This is especially important for people with a sensitive digestive system.

Is it possible to eat at night and on an empty stomach?

Celery promotes the secretion of gastric juice, which in turn has a positive effect on digestion. That is why it can be eaten even on an empty stomach, but with one condition - your breakfast must be quite dense. In addition, the root vegetable can be eaten in the evening. It is not just low-calorie, but also has a calming effect on the nervous system, helps get rid of increased anxiety and sleep problems.

Celery root in medicine

A large number of vitamins, essential oils and other useful substances in the composition of celery root made it an ideal plant for the preparation of various medicines. This product is highly valued in folk medicine, as it has a pronounced therapeutic effect in many diseases. First of all, these are diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, bladder, arthritis, gout. In addition, celery root is useful and as an external remedy. In particular, it is used to relieve swelling and faster healing of wounds. A useful medicine based on celery root can be prepared independently at home. To your attention are several effective recipes.

From allergies

You need to peel the root and finely chop the pulp. Take 2 tablespoons of the root and pour a glass of water over them. The remedy should be insisted at room temperature for 8 hours. It is recommended to use the tincture three times a day before meals. The optimal dose for an adult is 1/3 cup.

To reduce blood sugar levels

Take 20 grams of chopped celery root, pour it with a glass of boiling water and boil on low heat for a quarter of an hour. After that, cool the decoction and strain it. Use it three times a day, three tablespoons at a time.

Wound healing ointment

This remedy helps tissue regeneration, so it can be used for any damage to the integrity of the skin, including burns. The ointment is very simple. You need to grind on a meat grinder peeled celery root and some pork fat, and mix both ingredients. The prepared ointment is stored in the refrigerator and applied to the affected areas several times a day. Use it until complete recovery.

How to prepare celery root for weight loss

Celery is often called a product with negative calories. This means that for its digestion, the body spends a little more energy than it gets from the vegetable itself. This rule also applies to celery root. It is the ideal food for those who dream of a trim figure and a slender body. In taste, the root vegetable resembles a potato, so it will be an excellent substitute for the traditional side dish. On a diet it is especially useful to combine celery root with other vegetables, as well as with lean meat or fish. A great dish would be, for example, a salad made of this root vegetable. Grate celery root, add carrots, blue cabbage, onions and apples, and dress everything with lemon juice and vegetable oil. This salad is not only tasty, vitamin and low-calorie, but also can be stored in the refrigerator for several days.

For weight loss you can also bake celery root in the oven. All you need is to wrap the peeled root vegetable in foil and place it on a baking tray. If desired, you can marinate the celery root in olive oil and spices for 15-20 minutes before baking.

How to choose and store celery root

When buying a celery root, tap it. If the sound is muffled, then you can take the vegetable. But when you feel a ringing sound when tapping, it may be a sign that there are hollow areas filled with air inside.

Ideally, the celery root has an even white-gray color without dark spots or any damage. Be sure to feel the vegetable. It should be firm and resilient.

The best way to store celery root is in the cellar. For this purpose, it is placed in a container with sand, where it can lie until the spring. In the apartment, it is recommended to keep the root vegetable in the refrigerator. Here celery can be stored for a month.

What can be cooked from celery root: recipes

Celery root is an excellent base for second and first dishes, as well as for salads. It is very fragrant and at the same time has a delicate neutral taste, so it goes well with other products. Raw celery root has the most powerful flavor, especially if it is cut into small pieces or grated. It is quite hard and this should be taken into account when cooking. But the cooked root vegetable does not smell as strong, but it becomes quite soft if it is baked or stewed.

Celery cream soup

From the root of celery you can make a delicious, hearty and, most importantly, low-calorie soup. For this purpose, you will need the following components:

• one celery root;
• medium sized potatoes - 2 pcs;
• one carrot;
• one small onion;
• spices - to taste;
• vegetable oil - to taste;
• milk (can be replaced with water or broth) - about 200 ml.

Boil broth or milk. In the meantime, prepare the vegetables: peel and grate them on a coarse grater. In a pan with heated vegetable oil, put the carrot, fry a little, then add the onion and celery. When all vegetables have fried to a slight golden crust, add water to the pan and stew them for about 10 minutes more. Then, we put the resulting mass into a saucepan and start gradually pouring milk or broth into it, at the same time whipping the soup with a blender. After finishing this process, we put the dish on the stove and bring it to the boil. Be sure to add spices and herbs. Serve the celery root cream soup best with crispy white croutons.

Celery root draniki

Traditional potato pancakes are a very high-calorie and hearty dish, which doctors do not recommend abusing. Especially if you are prone to obesity. That's why we suggest adding some celery root to the potatoes. As a result, the dreniki turn out not only more healthy, but also no less tasty and flavorful.

To prepare the dish, peel 200 g of potatoes and 300 g of celery. After that, grate the vegetables, add one chicken egg, about 30 grams of flour, a couple of teaspoons of sour cream, as well as salt and pepper to taste.

Heat refined sunflower oil in a frying pan and use a spoon to lay the future doughnuts on it. The flatbread should be well fried on both sides until golden brown. It is recommended to serve celery dumplings with sour cream.

Salad with celery root and kiwi

This salad is a wonderful alternative to the "heavy" and unhealthy mayonnaise salads that we usually make at the feast. It contains a lot of vitamins, is easy to digest and does not cause health problems. In addition, this salad is also very simple to prepare. You only need to peel the celery root and cut it into julienne. Do the same with the kiwi. Both mentioned ingredients are combined in a deep bowl and proceed to prepare the dressing. For this purpose, we take about 50 ml of low-fat sour cream and add a teaspoon of cognac and soy sauce. Add the dressing to the bowl with the kiwi and celery root and mix thoroughly.

Interesting facts about celery

1. The ancient Egyptians grew celery exclusively as a medicinal plant and used it to prepare various decoctions and ointments.
2. In ancient Hellas, as well as in ancient Rome, celery found a rather unusual use. The leaves were used to crown warriors who won a battle.
3. In ancient times, celery was considered a plant that brought good luck and happiness. It was for this reason that it, along with garlic and onions, could be seen as an ornament in homes.
4. Celery is quite popular in the United States. Here it began to be actively cultivated in the 19th century. The American capital of celery is considered the city of Arvada, which is located in Colorado.
5. To preserve all the useful properties of celery root, it is recommended to steam cook it for 10 minutes. Using other cooking methods or too much heat reduces the vitamin content significantly.
6. Celery is a plant that perfectly adapts to different weather conditions and grows in any climate. Today you can see it on every continent except Antarctica.
7. Celery is considered one of the most popular aphrodisiacs. It is especially good for men, as it increases their potency and makes them more stamina in bed. One of the most famous admirers of this vegetable was Casanova himself, who made sure that celery dishes were necessarily present in his diet every day. Also celery was given much attention by Madame de Pompadour, who treated her lovers to it.
8. Celery, including its leaves, stalks and root, is a very popular dish in French cuisine. Here it is often combined with carrots and onions and added to almost all dishes.