Ingredients
1 clove garlic, smashed
1 sprig fresh sage
1 sprig fresh thyme
1 1/2 pounds peeled celery root (about 2 medium) cut into 1-inch pieces
4 cups milk
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
3 tablespoons sliced fresh chives
Coarse salt and freshly ground black pepper
Preparation
Place garlic, sage, and thyme in a piece of cheesecloth; tie with kitchen twine to enclose. Place in a medium saucepan along with celery root and enough milk to cover (you may not need to use all the milk). Bring to a simmer over medium heat; continue simmering until celery root is tender, 20 to 30 minutes. Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve set over a medium bowl, reserving 1/2 cup of milk and discarding cheesecloth bundle.
In a small saucepan, melt butter over medium-high heat until nut-brown in color, about 8 minutes. Remove pan from heat and pour butter into a bowl, leaving any burned sediment behind.
Transfer one-third of the celery root, reserved milk, and browned butter to the jar of a blender; blend until smooth. Slightly mash remaining celery root with a wooden spoon or a potato masher. Stir in pureed celery root mixture and chives; season with salt and pepper. Serve immediately.
