Celery Root-Parsnip Latkes Recipe (2024)

Recipe from Noah and Rae Bernamoff

Adapted by Melissa Clark

Celery Root-Parsnip Latkes Recipe (1)

Total Time
30 minutes
Rating
5(325)
Notes
Read community notes

Noah Bernamoff serves his classic latkes at Mile End Deli in Brooklyn all year long. At Hanukkah, he breaks out the variations. Celery root and parsnip replace potato in this version, the sweetness of the parsnips tempered by the grassiness of the celery root. Mr. Bernamoff suggests topping these with horseradish cream. —Melissa Clark

Featured in: Hanukkah’s New Tastes, Still Rooted in Tradition

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Ingredients

Yield:About 4 dozen latkes

  • 1pound celery root, peeled and grated
  • 1pound parsnips, peeled and grated
  • 1medium onion, peeled and grated
  • cups matzo meal
  • ¾cup chopped Italian parsley
  • 5large eggs
  • 1tablespoon kosher salt, more for serving
  • ¾teaspoon cracked black pepper
  • Safflower oil

Ingredient Substitution Guide

Nutritional analysis per serving (48 servings)

29 calories; 1 gram fat; 0 grams saturated fat; 0 grams trans fat; 0 grams monounsaturated fat; 0 grams polyunsaturated fat; 4 grams carbohydrates; 1 gram dietary fiber; 1 gram sugars; 1 gram protein; 68 milligrams sodium

Note: The information shown is Edamam’s estimate based on available ingredients and preparation. It should not be considered a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.

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Celery Root-Parsnip Latkes Recipe (2)

Preparation

  1. Step

    1

    Place grated celery root, parsnips and onion in a large bowl. Sprinkle in matzo meal and toss mixture together with your hands. Add parsley, eggs, salt and pepper and combine again using your hands until ingredients are incorporated.

  2. Step

    2

    Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a large sauté pan over medium-high. Take a heaping tablespoon of the mixture and flatten between your palms. Fry latkes, without moving them, for 4 to 5 minutes, checking that they don’t over-brown. (You should be able to fry them in batches of 11 to 12, depending on pan size.) Flip latkes, turn heat down to medium-low and fry another 4 minutes, or until well browned and tender. Transfer to a baking sheet lined with paper towels. Sprinkle with additional salt. Serve warm.

Ratings

5

out of 5

325

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Private Notes

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Cooking Notes

Tish

I've made these for a few years and they have become my favorite latkes: the vegetables make them more tasty and less starchy than the potato version. I cut the amount of matzo meal to about 3/4 cup, but found recipe was correct, that amount of salt really is needed. These freeze beautifully, uncooked, which makes them much easier to handle when cooking--and the kitchen is clean when you start frying.

Steph

These were a hit. No laborious straining, blotting, or messy squeezing of excess liquid as you do with regular potato latkes. They held together wonderfully and had a great flavor. Though I must admit (shhh...) that I opted to fry them in chicken fat rather than the safflower oil.

Hannah

Made these for Hannukah dinner (half the recipe, though) and used a sweet and savory rice cracker brand instead of matzo meal. They came out perfectly and were eaten up in one night. Now I'm rooting through the trash, looking for the packaging the rice crackers were in so I can make the same exact recipe next year. Some fancy-pants brand, I think...

Michelle in Denmark

Really yummy and a great way to use up those root veggies from the farm box. We used carrots instead of parsnips with no ill effect, and substituted some of the parsley with minced green onion tips. Hubby thinks these taste better than potato latkes, and I agree. Be aware this makes an army-size portion of latkes!

Michelle

That's because you used potatoes! Potatoes give off a lot of liquid. If you had followed the recipe, you wouldn't have had the problem!

Kim

Absolutely delicious. I played with the recipie a bit and combined celery root with russets, and pulsed it twice through the food processor to get the pancakes finer. I also used flour and two eggs as a binder. For cooking I used ghee as its healthier than most other oils.

Edna

Rutabaga (from CSA)Parsnip (from CSA)Panko instead of matzo meal

Alicia H.

Wow! Only thing I would do differently next time is a bit more black pepper in the mix. Very tasty.

Karen

1 C matzo meal, make small so they fry quickly. Make 4 dozen!!! Freeze before frying.

Jennie

These were delicious! We couldn't find matzo meal, so we we used water crackers ground in the food processor.

how it worked

Wonderful flavor! Ground up a box of Glutino "original" crackers in lieu of the matzo meal to make these gluten-free; seemed to work fine

Paul

Just delicious, followed the recipe except I did have regular onions so I substituted with green onions.One suggestion, cook them on medium-low so the vegetables soften while browning. My hat to the chef

Lisa

This recipe is amazing and so healthy! It’s my new go-to latke recipe. Thank you for introducing me to celery root / celeriac!

Ruth

Should I defrost them before frying, if I freeze some? Pleasantly surprised and great way to use CSA veggies. Made 2/5 of the recipe like another commenter to use 2 eggs: ~13oz celery root + parsnip + rutabaga, 1 very small onion, 1/2 cup matzo meal, 1/3 cup parsley, 3/4 tsp Morton kosher salt. Used an ice cream scoop to measure. Cooked ~10 and froze ~10 for another day.

David B.

Excellent alternative to traditional potato latkes. Everyone loved them and was surprised when I said they were potato-free!

Linda

I met 2/5 of the recipe in order to use 2 eggs. Still made about 16 silver dollar sized latkes. Definite cohesion problem but still tasty even the crispy shreds.

christina

Just wow. So delicious. I also mixed and matched veggies (1 celery root, 1 lb turnips, and 1 straggler parsnip). They were packed with flavor.

Anne

We tried this last night and are disappointed. All the measurements are off: 2 pounds of shredded root vegetables yields enough latkes to serve 8-10 people. Far more eggs are needed to moisten the mix, and it needs quite a bit of salt, pepper, and even a bit of cayenne pepper to engage the senses. These soak up a lot of oil (we used olive oil), and are prone to burning, Serve with yogurt or sour cream or labne… tasty, but the recipe needs improvement.

Kat Hughes

What can I use as substitute for matzo meal?

terry94705

Forgot to halve this and ended up with a huge batch of batter. So the next day I pulled out my underused appliance and WAFFLED IT for lunch. Worked very nicely. About 8 minutes in my proctor silex Belgian waffle maker.

Barbara

Best ever. Never another potato latke in this kitchen! Followed recipe to the dot. Having no matzo, made my own. So easy, much nuttier fresh taste than purchased. Forget draining on paper towels: these were so greaseless that we tossed them back as they came off griddle - just a bit of sour cream or yogurt. Such a mass of veggies: for easier mixing, combine eggs, salt, pepper and parsley before adding to veggies. Leftovers? Duck fat fried latkes for dinner. Thanks, Steph, for schmaltz tip.

Edna

Rutabaga (from CSA)Parsnip (from CSA)Panko instead of matzo meal

foodie

I made these today exactly as written with one exception: I had no matzoh meal on hand so subbed one-for-one with panko bread crumbs. Really delicious! The family loved these. They didn’t need as much oil to fry them up as the potato variety. A great twist benefit of more fiber. These will be my new go-to when I’m craving latkes but would rather avoid the starchier potato variety - thank you, Melissa!

saintsavory

Better than potato! And kids loved them.

trish

Made these tonight subbing plain bread crumbs for matzo meal. They were delicious. This is a recipe I will return to.

McMarie

I made this dish with some intentional and accidental substitutions: rutabaga instead of celery root, rice cracker meal instead of matzah, cilantro instead of parsley, This was my first time making latkes. They were outstandingly delicious! I did freeze a lot (uncooked) so I can look forward to more tomorrow! Thanks for the recipe!

Sarah

These were both easier and faster than traditional potato latkes. My husband and even some potato-loving friends agreed. I think these will become my staple.

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Celery Root-Parsnip Latkes Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Can I use celery root instead of celery? ›

While their appearances are wildly different, celery and celery root are very closely related botanically. Does this mean they can be used interchangeably in cooking? The short answer is no.

Is celery root the same as celeriac? ›

Celeriac, also known as celery root, is the bulb of a celery plant – but a different variety than the celery we're used to, with its bright, crispy stalks so necessary for soups, stocks, and salads.

What is celeriac called in america? ›

Celeriac (Apium graveolens var. rapaceum), also called celery root, knob celery, and turnip-rooted celery (although it is not a close relative of the turnip), is a variety of celery cultivated for its edible stem or hypocotyl, and shoots.

Is celery root a good substitute for potatoes? ›

Unlike other root vegetables, celery root has a mild flavor and is relatively low in calories and carbohydrates. The high levels of nutrients and waist-friendly calorie content make celery root a great substitute for potatoes — now that's delicious!

How do you use celery root in cooking? ›

Boil it, steam it, roast it, mash it—anything you can do with a potato or sweet potato, you can also do with celery root. In fact, you can use celeriac to replace some or all of the potatoes called for in most recipes. Celeriac is also an ideal option for oil-free roasting.

Does celery root need to be peeled? ›

Use sharp knife and slice down to remove peel; doing this in small pieces makes the job faster and easier. Once celery root is peeled, cut in half and then in wedges. Use paring knife to remove any soft cottony flesh in center of each wedge. That's it – celery root is ready to use.

Can you eat the skin of celery root? ›

Contrary to popular belief, the skin is also edible, so long as it's cleaned, and it roasts and boils well.

Is the skin of celeriac edible? ›

Most recipes for celeriac instruct you to peel the skin. While this may be a good choice for raw or quickly cooked celeriac, the skin is indeed edible and delicious, and I'll take any opportunity to skip peeling a vegetable.

What is the closest vegetable to celeriac? ›

Kohlrabi is high in calcium and magnesium, making it a healthy substitute for celeriac. It is similar in texture and appearance to celery root, whether cooked or raw. Kohlrabi has a flavor similar to cabbage and can be slightly peppery.

Why do chefs love celeriac? ›

But this knobbly, long-lasting veg has been embraced by chefs, who love its versatility, unique flavour and unctuous texture.

Is celeriac healthier than potato? ›

Celeriac can also serve as an alternative to potatoes for people who are trying to reduce their calorie or carbohydrate intake. According to the USDA, one cup of boiled celeriac pieces contains 42 calories and 9.14 g of carbohydrate. The same amount of boiled potatoes provides 134 calories and 31.2 g of carbohydrate.

Is celeriac good or bad for you? ›

Celeriac is a source of potassium, which helps keep our blood pressure healthy. It's also a source of folate, which we need to make the red blood cells that transport oxygen around our body.

What are the side effects of celery root? ›

Celery root might slow blood clotting. Taking celery root along with medications that also slow blood clotting might increase the risk of bruising and bleeding.

What does cooked celery root taste like? ›

So, What Does Celery Root Taste Like? Flavor is mild and, being a cousin of traditional celery, it kind-of, sort-of tastes like celery: slightly sweet and slightly nutty with no bitterness. Some people mention that they can detect a trace of parsley flavor. As it's cooked, it can gain a mellow sweetness.

Is celeriac high carb? ›

Celeriac is a naturally low-carb food, but there are some carbohydrates to be found. As such, if you are on a diet that bans every form of carb, you may want to avoid celeriac. Celery root can provide you with measurable amount of your recommended daily value of several nutrients including: vitamin K.

What can I use if I don't have celery for a recipe? ›

15 SIMPLE SUBSTITUTES FOR CELERY
  1. Fennel. Fennel bulbs are a perfect substitute for celery! ...
  2. Jicama. Jicama definitely has the crunch factor and, like celery and it has a mild flavor. ...
  3. Radish. ...
  4. Cucumber. ...
  5. Water Chestnuts. ...
  6. Celery Seeds. ...
  7. Apples. ...
  8. Carrots.
Aug 4, 2021

Is there anything I can substitute for celery? ›

Carrots, fennel and bok choy all work well as substitutes for celery in soup. Celery seed can also be used to flavor soup, and offers a slightly bitter taste.

Can I use celeriac instead of celery in soup? ›

Celery root–which by the way is also known as celeriac, is the perfect veg to blend into a soup for a number of reasons. Reason one – it's big and substantial. If you get a nice big one, you can get a whole pot of soup out of just one celery root.

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