Creamy Celery Root Bisque (Printable Version)

Elegant, velvety French soup with celery root, potato, and cream. Perfect for special occasions.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 1 large celery root (about 1.5 lb), peeled and diced
02 - 1 medium Yukon Gold potato, peeled and diced
03 - 1 medium leek, white and light green parts only, sliced
04 - 1 small yellow onion, chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced

→ Liquids

06 - 4 cups vegetable broth
07 - 1 cup whole milk or unsweetened plant-based milk
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream or non-dairy cream

→ Fats and Seasonings

09 - 2 tablespoons unsalted butter or olive oil
10 - 1 bay leaf
11 - 1/4 teaspoon ground white pepper
12 - Salt to taste

→ Garnish

13 - Chopped fresh chives or parsley
14 - Drizzle of cream (optional)

# Directions:

01 - In a large soup pot, melt butter over medium heat. Add leek, onion, and garlic. Sauté until soft but not browned, approximately 5 minutes.
02 - Add diced celery root and potato to the pot. Sauté for an additional 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
03 - Pour vegetable broth into pot and add bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer covered for 25 minutes until vegetables are very tender.
04 - Remove and discard bay leaf. Using an immersion blender, purée soup until completely smooth. Alternatively, transfer in batches to a countertop blender and process until velvety.
05 - Stir milk and cream into the puréed soup. Heat gently over low heat without boiling. Season with salt and white pepper to taste.
06 - Ladle into warm bowls. Top with chopped chives, parsley, and optional cream drizzle before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The subtle earthiness of celery root makes you feel sophisticated without any fussy technique involved.
  • It's naturally creamy from just blending vegetables, so it feels indulgent but genuinely light.
  • Ready in under an hour, which means you can pull off an impressive dinner without the stress.
02 -
  • Don't skip peeling the celery root properly—that knobby skin is thick and bitter, and leaving it on changes everything about the final soup.
  • If you blend while the soup is still boiling hot, especially in a countertop blender, it can splatter with surprising force, so let it cool just slightly first or work in smaller batches with the lid only partially covered.
03 -
  • Make this soup a day ahead and reheat it gently—the flavors actually deepen overnight and you'll appreciate the make-ahead convenience.
  • If your finished soup seems too thick, you can always whisk in a little extra broth or milk rather than feeling stuck with what you have.
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