Golden celeriac
Some weeks there seems to be a surfeit of stock; it’s the inevitable famine and feast effect of how broth bones come my way (similar to the proverbial buses – nothing for ages, then a whole bunch at once!). Suddenly, it’s all hands to the wheel: a surge of kitchen activity, making and freezing copious litres of stock for the dogs. And, inevitably, as a next step there will always be a few ingredients just waiting to be simmered slowly in the stock for a bit of extra punch, both in terms of palatability and goodness.
Today was one such day. A football-sized celeriac, litres of chicken stock and a sprinkle of turmeric. Golden celeriac.
This functional hack is simply celeriac, peeled and cubed uniformly, then cooked on a low heat in a strong, dog-friendly chicken broth, with the addition of a little turmeric. The celeriac becomes soft, hydrated and cohesive. Whether fed “as is” or puréed, it integrates easily into mixed meals to help with texture, tolerance and overall bolus quality. Any stray leftover cubes can also be frozen as bite-sized treats!
Why celeriac works
Celeriac is a high-fibre, low-carbohydrate vegetable that provides structural bulk without behaving like a grain or starchy base. Slow cooking softens the fibre matrix and improves digestibility while still maintaining body and water-holding capacity.
Although – or better yet, because – this won’t be a dominating component of a meal, it’s a useful support that can even out nutrients in small ways, such as adding fibre and whatever taste and nutrients the broth contributes. And it can certainly change smell – which for my dogs means palatability with a capital P!
Cooking celeriac in broth is key. The vegetable readily absorbs liquid and dissolved compounds, making it a practical carrier for broth-derived amino acids, collagen fragments and flavour. Used like this, it supports other ingredients rather than competing with them.
(Full ingredient profile here: https://www.doggydelly.com/celeriac/)
Turmeric
Turmeric is used here as part of the cooking process rather than a supplement. Even in small amounts, it contributes antioxidant compounds and integrates naturally with the fats present in the broth, remaining a background ingredient rather than a focal one.
Meal component
This celeriac hack provides structural and digestive support, working particularly well alongside cooked meats, cartilage-rich proteins, legume mixes, mushroom-heavy dishes and grain or pseudo-grain elements that benefit from added moisture.
Benefits and effects at glance:
- Adding hydration and cohesion to the bolus
- Moderating intake and gastric emptying slightly without adding starch
- Softening impact of fibre-dense or strongly flavoured ingredients
- Helping to balance meals containing legumes, mushrooms or connective tissue
- Improving tolerance without diluting nutrient density
Flexibility
This celeriac can be fed “as is” in cooked cubes, or puréed for later use. Preparation format is a matter of practicality and pairing, not physiology – its contribution remains the same.Frozen cubes can also be used as a simple, low-impact flavourful frozen treat.
Minimum effort, maximum return
This is a way of adding hydrated fibre, bulk and broth-derived nutrients to a meal without introducing grains or starches. In practice, it can also help to bring together components like proteins, legumes, mushrooms, grains or purées, to create a meal without confusing the nutritional picture.
Hence the hack!
Important Considerations:
- Always consult your veterinarian before making any significant dietary changes, particularly where there are pre-existing health conditions or dietary restrictions.
- If you are feeding commercial food, check the label for ingredients before giving more. Excessive intake of any foods can have adverse effects.
- Ensure (where possible) that you use high-quality, organic products specifically formulated for pets (or better still, human grade ingredients) to avoid any potential adverse effects.
- Introduce new foods gradually to avoid adverse effects such as gastrointestinal upset or diarrhoea.
- I provide nutritional information purely as a helpful guide. Nutritional information on ingredients is obtained from the US Department of Agriculture’s FoodData Central site (https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/index.html) and any nutritional information provided in recipes is based on an online calculator: calories and other information will vary based on brands, ingredients and other factors.
- Check nutrient levels and recommendations for your dog’s weight, age and activity. For example this nutritional guideline produced by FEDIAF.
- I am not a professional canine nutritionist but supporting research is cited.
- The recipes shared were created by me and tested in my kitchen – and tasted and approved by our doggy friends!