CREAM OF CELERIAC SOUP WITH CRISPY PANCETTA AND CROûTONS

Steps:

• For the soup.
• heat a wide, deep sauté pan or large saucepan until medium hot,.
• add 25g/1oz of the butter, the onion and bacon and fry for a couple of minutes to just soften.
• Add the garlic, leek, celery and thyme sprigs and fry for another minute; then add the chopped celeriac.
• Pour in the stock and bring to the boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer and cook for 10-15 minutes, or until the celeriac is just tender.
• Place into a food blender, in batches if necessary, and blend to a fine purée. Return to the heat in a clean pan.
• Add the cream and whisk in the remaining 50g/2oz of butter. Season with salt and white pepper.
• For the garnish.
• preheat the oven to 200C/400F/Gas 6.
• Place the pancetta onto a flat baking tray and cover with a second tray of the same size.
• Place in the oven and cook for 10 minutes until browned and cooked through.
• Remove from the oven and cool for five minutes until crispy.
• Heat a frying pan until hot, add half of the butter and the olive oil and heat until foaming.
• Add the celeriac and stir fry for 1-2 minutes, or until just softened, then remove from the pan and drain on kitchen paper.
• Add the rest of the butter and the bread to the pan and cook until golden-brown and crispy, tossing to cook on each side.
• Drain on a plate lined with kitchen paper and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
• To serve.
• pile the julienned celeriac into the centre of each of four soup plates.
• Ladle the soup around.
• Crumble the crispy bacon over the top and then scatter over the croutons.
• Finish with swirls of extra virgin olive oil and cream, and top with coriander cress.