Vegan Celeriac Carpaccio, Apple, Hazelnut and Truffle

— Starter by Head Chef Ian Howard, The Athenaeum Hotel & Residences Preparation time: 2 hours Cooking time: 1 hour

INGREDIENTS

Makes 5 portions

Celeriac

1 celeriac

100ml rapeseed oil 100ml vegetable oil 5 sprigs of thyme 5 crushed black peppercorns 5g Maldon sea salt

5 juniper berries 8g caster sugar 40ml balsamic vinegar

25ml sherry vinegar

Dressing

75g shallots, finely chopped

1 bay leaf

5 sprigs thyme 50ml vegetable oil 50ml olive oil 40ml white wine vinegar

75g toasted hazelnuts

25ml 25-year-old balsamic

25ml truffle oil 10g fresh black truffle, grated

Apples

4 Braeburn apples

30g caster sugar

Garnish

Fresh apple slices and batons baby micro cress

METHOD

1. Using a pastry cutter, peel and cut the celeriac into cylinder shapes of the desired size. Place the celeriac shapes into a vacuum pack bag with the rapeseed oil, vegetable oil, thyme, crushed peppercorns, salt, juniper berries, caster sugar, balsamic vinegar and sherry vinegar.

2. Cook in a steamer at 100°C for 1 hour or till tender.

3. Remove from the steamer and allow to cool, then drain from the cooking liquid. Char the outside with a blowtorch till black and place in the fridge. Set aside, to serve.

4, To make the dressing, sweat down the chopped shallots, bay leaf and thyme in a little of the vegetable oil, then add the remaining vegetable oil, and olive oil, vinegar, chopped toasted hazelnuts and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat and allow to cool.

5. Once cool, add the balsamic, truffle oil and grated fresh truffle.

6. Preheat the oven to 200°C.

7. Place the Braeburn apples on a baking sheet and dust with caster sugar, place in the oven and cook till blackened.

8. Remove the apples and place into a bar blender and puree till smooth. Place into a piping bag or squeeze bottle and set aside, to serve.

TO SERVE

1. Thinly slice the celeriac discs and arrange onto a plate, drizzle with the dressing.

2. Place spots of the black apple puree around. Garnish with fresh apple slices and batons, and baby micro cress.