$Golden brown celeriac fries piled high on a vibrant circular plate, highlighted with splashes of electric green salsa. Topped with a sprinkling of scarlet red chili flakes, and a sprinkling of grated cheese, the plate is a palette of autumn hues, teasing of the riot of flavor within.$

Tex-Mex Celeriac Fries with Jalapeno Salsa

Name: Tex-Mex Celeriac Fries with Jalapeno Salsa
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 4
Cuisine: Tex-Mex
Ingredients: celeriac, 1 large peeled and cut into fries; olive oil, 3 tbsp; smoked paprika, 1 tsp; ground cumin, 1 tsp; dried oregano, 1 tsp; salt, to taste; black pepper, to taste; fresh jalapenos, 2 deseeded and chopped; garlic cloves, 2 peeled; fresh cilantro, 1 small bunch; lime, from 1 lime juiced; red wine vinegar, 1 tsp; cheese, for topping grated

Category Side Dish

Prep 15 minutes

Cook 30 minutes

Style Tex-Mex

Technique Baking

Diet Friendly Gluten-Free

Daily Recipe: November 10, 2023

An elegant twist to Tex-Mex cuisine featuring the unique earthy flavor of celeriac topped with fiery jalapeno salsa, this side dish is perfect for those crisp autumn days. The sweet nuttiness of celeriac, or celery root, is beautifully complemented by the spicy tang of the salsa, a sublime collision of flavor and texture.

Ingredients (for 4)

Celeriac - 1 large - peeled and cut into fries
Olive oil - 3 tbsp
Smoked paprika - 1 tsp
Ground cumin - 1 tsp
Dried oregano - 1 tsp
Salt - to taste
Black pepper - to taste
Fresh jalapenos - 2 - deseeded and chopped
Garlic cloves - 2 - peeled
Fresh cilantro - 1 small bunch
Lime - from 1 lime - juiced
Red wine vinegar - 1 tsp
Cheese - for topping - grated

Preparation

Step 1 - 🔥🌡️⏲️

Set your oven to preheat at 425°F or 220°C.
Step 2 - 🍟🌶️🥣

In a bowl, coat the celeriac fries evenly with olive oil, smoked paprika, cumin, oregano, salt, and pepper.
Step 3 - 🍟🥄🔪

Spread the fries on a baking sheet. Keep them in a single layer to ensure they bake evenly.
Step 4 - 🥔⏱️🔥

Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven. Bake the fries for 25-30 minutes, until they turn golden and crispy. Flip the fries once midway through baking.
Step 5 - 🌶️🍋🔪

While the fries are baking, make the salsa. Put the jalapenos, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and red wine vinegar in a blender. Blend until the salsa has a smooth consistency.
Step 6 - 🍟🧀✨

As soon as you pull the hot fries out of the oven, sprinkle grated cheese over them.
Step 7 - 🍟🌶️🍽️

Serve the cheesy celeriac fries hot, with a generous dollop of your homemade jalapeno salsa on the side.

Additional

This dish is a fantastic way to introduce celeriac, an often overlooked root vegetable to your culinary rotation. Its flavorful flesh lends beautifully to the Tex-Mex flavors in this dish. Kids can help with peeling and cutting the celeriac under supervision.