Apparently, Madame du Barry served celery root soup to King Louis XV every night before they went to bed. Madame du Barry thought the soup was an aphrodisiac, but according to Jackie French, the king’s mistress got it wrong. Celery is well known for its anti-inflammatory properties, and is often recommended for people with arthritis or rheumatism.
Growing celery (Apium graveolens var. dolce)
Celery grows best in mild to cool areas, but can also be grown in warmer areas in late summer and autumn. Prepare the beds by adding plenty of compost or manure. Fertilise the plants regularly so that they grow quickly and don’t become tough and stringy. Varieties such as Crisp Salad are stringless. When harvesting celery to make celery root soup (see recipe below), avoid plants that are going to seed, as they have stringy roots.
Recipe
- 2 celery roots or 6 celery stems
- 500ml chicken stock
Method
- Wash the celery roots or stems well.
- Simmer roots or stems in chicken stock until they are tender.
- Puree in a blender, then serve.
