Celery Soup

Celery is often relegated to a supporting role in cooking—the background component in soups and stocks or a vehicle for dips. This soup turns that dynamic on its head, showcasing celery as the primary flavor in a velvety, satisfying dish that might just change how you think about this underappreciated vegetable.

The Recipe

What makes this soup special isn’t some complex technique or rare ingredient—it’s the counterintuitive approach of treating celery as worthy of being showcased rather than hidden.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 large onion, roughly chopped
• 2 heads of celery, trimmed and chopped (leaves included!)
• 2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced
• 1 quart vegetable stock
• 1/2 cup cream (optional, but recommended)
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• A squeeze of lemon juice
• Celery leaves for garnish

Method

1. Melt the butter with the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion and a pinch of salt, then sauté until soft and translucent, about 5-7 minutes.

2. Toss in the chopped celery (including the leaves—that’s where so much flavor hides!) and potatoes. Stir to coat everything in the buttery goodness, then let cook for another 5 minutes until the celery starts to soften.

3. Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook for about 20-25 minutes, or until the vegetables are completely tender.

4. Remove from heat and let cool slightly before blending. Use an immersion blender right in the pot (fewer dishes) or transfer to a blender in batches.

5. Return the soup to the pot if you used a regular blender. If you’re going for the creamy version (recommended), stir in the cream now. Season generously with salt and pepper.

6. Just before serving, add a squeeze of fresh lemon juice. This brightens everything up and makes the celery flavor truly sing.

7. Serve hot with a swirl of olive oil, more black pepper, and a few reserved celery leaves.

Tasting Notes

The finished soup is velvety, complex, and somehow both delicate and deeply satisfying. The celery’s signature flavor takes on an almost herbal quality when given the spotlight. It’s grassy and fresh but also surprisingly rich.

This soup works wonderfully as a light dinner with crusty bread or as a starter for a more substantial meal. If you make it, let me know what you think of this unexpected celery showcase.