creamy celeriac soup with chestnuts recipe

This soup is very rich and creamy, yet it contains no cream, with almond milk used instead. If the celeriac is organic, remove the minimal amount of peel as the nutrients lie just beneath the skin. Top this soup with chestnuts, which are low in fat and calories compared to all other nuts, but still packed with protein and they are filling too.

for 2-3 as a main course, 4 as a starter, 10 as a canapé

• 2 tablespoons cold-pressed rapeseed oil or 1 teaspoon set coconut oil
• 1 celeriac (about 1.2kg), diced into 2cm cubes
• 2 shallots, finely chopped
• 1 garlic clove, crushed
• Sprig of rosemary, leaves finely chopped
• 700ml good-quality chicken stock
• 500ml almond milk
• Juice of ½ lemon
• Sea salt and black pepper

to serve

• Finely chopped rosemary or parsley
• 100g vacuum-packed chestnuts, sliced
• Black pepper

Heat the oil in a heavy-based saucepan. Add the celeriac and cook on a medium heat for 5 minutes, stirring constantly. Add the shallots and cook for a further 5 minutes until both have softened but have not coloured. Stir in the garlic and rosemary. Cook for 2 minutes, then add the stock and simmer for 20 minutes. Pour in the almond milk and bring the soup back to a simmer. Blend the soup in a food processor until really smooth.

Pour back into a clean pan and reheat gently. Squeeze in the lemon juice and add plenty of black pepper and some salt if necessary. Sprinkle over the rosemary or parsley, the chestnuts and a grind of black pepper.