Roasted Celery Root Salad with Apple & Pecans

This delicious maple roasted celery root salad is full of flavour and goodness.  The combination of sweet maple celery root, sour apple and crunchy pecans makes for a tasty, light and refreshing dish perfect to serve on its own or along chicken or turkey dishes.

Roasted celery root salad with apple and pecans owes its existence to a knobbly, grey and sad looking vegetable not many people buy or attempts to cook with.  Celery root (or celeriac)!  I like a challenge so I bought it.  As it turns out, this underdog of the vegetable world (currently in season) has more flavour than we’d expect. ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’ springs to mind.  It’s a delicious ingredient for autumnal salad.

How to make roasted celery root salad

Start with preparing the celery root.  Peel the celery root and cut into matchsticks.  Combine the maple syrup with 1 tablespoon of the oil and pour over the celery root.  Season and spread on top of a baking tray lined with parchment paper in a single layer.  Roast for 20 minutes.

Roasting brings loads of flavour out of this unremarkable vegetable and I’ve used this method in celery root dip as well as root vegetable nests (this latter recipe is also spiralized).

Whilst the celeriac is in the oven prepare the remaining ingredients.

Toast the pecans and combine the rest of the oil with the lemon juice.  Spread the arugula on top of a large plate, add the roasted celery root (warm or cold), apple wedges and pecans.  Drizzle over the simple dressing, season to taste and enjoy!

Top tips

I recommend using a sour rather than sweet tasting apple in order to tone down the sweetness of the celery root.

Cut the apple just before assembling the salad as it is prone to discoloration.  You can also sprinkle the apple with a little lemon juice to prevent it getting brown.

The roasted celery root can be added into the salad either warm or cold.  If you decide to serve it cold you can prepare the celery root ahead and once cooled refrigerate, covered, for up to a day.

What to serve with simple celery root salad

This salad is perfect on its own but I think it’s also delicious served with crispy cornflake chicken nuggets and Moroccan spiced crispy chicken leg quarters.

KEEP IN TOUCH!

If you’ve made this maple roasted celery root salad I’d love to know how it turned out for you.  Let me know in the comments below, thanks!

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Check out also this collection of 15+ easy vegan salads for even more salad inspiration!

Print Recipe

Roasted Celery Root Salad with Apple & Pecans

This sweet and nutty maple roasted celery root salad with apple and pecans is full of flavour, healthy and super to make.

Prep Time25 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time45 mins

Course: Lunch, Salad

Cuisine: International

Keyword: celery root recipe

Servings: 2 -3 portions

Author: Monika Dabrowski

Ingredients

• ½ large celery root celeriac
• 1 granny smith apple or another sour variety
• ½ cup pecans lightly toasted
• 2 handfuls arugula leaves
• 2 tablespoons maple syrup
• 1 tablespoon olive/vegetable oil plus 2 more for the dressing
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• Sea salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

• Preheat the oven to 450 F/ 230 C/ gas mark 8. You will need a medium baking tray.
• Peel the celery root and cut into matchsticks. In a large bowl combine the maple syrup with 1 tablespoon of oil, add the celery root and season. Stir thoroughly until all the pieces are evenly coated in the maple mixture. Tip onto the baking tray lined with parchment paper and spread evenly in a single layer. Bake for 20 minutes.
• Whilst the celery root is roasting prepare the other salad ingredients. Combine the remaining oil with the lemon juice and set aside. Core the apple and cut into thin wedges (or cubes).
• To assemble the salad place the arugula, apple pieces, pecans and roasted celery root (hot or cold) in a bowl or on top of a large plate, season to taste, drizzle over the oil/lemon juice mixture and serve.

Notes

I recommend using a sour rather than sweet tasting apple in order to tone down the sweetness of the celery root.

Cut the apple just before assembling the salad as it is prone to discoloration.  You can also sprinkle the apple with a little lemon juice to prevent it getting brown.

The roasted celery root can be added into the salad either warm or cold.  If you decide to serve it cold you can prepare the celery root ahead and once cooled refrigerate, covered, for up to a day.

Preparation time includes the time needed to roast the celery root.

RECIPE LINK PARTIES

I am bringing this roasted celeriac salad recipe to Tasty Tuesdays, Meat Free Mondays, Recipe of the Week.  Also sharing with #CookBlogShare.