Some days are indisputable soup days. The antidote to a wintry cold and gray day is a steaming bowl of creamy soup. Now, before you fret that a creamy soup may interfere with any New Year’s diet resolutions, it’s important to note that there is no cream in this so-called creamy soup. Rather, it’s a smooth puree of starchy root vegetables and stock, with a splash of milk, which yields a rich and velvety soup, leaving anyone to guess that it’s laden with cream.
Celery root (also known as celeriac) is the starring root in this soup. It’s a gnarly vegetable that looks like a horror show, with wizened roots wrapped around its earthen bulbous exterior. Don’t be dissuaded. Once peeled, the root reveals a milky white flesh, slightly nutty and mildly fragrant with celery. Its co-star is the sturdy parsnip, another winter root, which adds its sweet earthiness to the pot. Thyme and garlic round out the flavors of this soothing bowl, which will surely warm and comfort you on a chilly, drizzly day.
