Can be prepared in 45 minutes or less.

Makes about 12 fritters, serving 4 as a first course.

INGREDIENTS

  • for aydz1042aïoliuixp
  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 3/4 cup mayonnaise
  • 1/4 cup sour cream
  • 1 tablespoon freshly grated lemon zest
  • 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
    for batter
  • 1 cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup beer (not dark)
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons celery salt
    a 1-pound celery root (sometimes called celeriac)
  • about 4 cups vegetable oil for frying
  • about 12 fresh small flat-leafed parsley sprigs

    DIRECTIONS

    Make aïoli:
    Mince garlic and in a bowl stir together aïoli ingredients and salt and pepper to taste. (Aïoli may be made 2 days ahead and chilled, covered.)


    Make batter:
    In a bowl whisk together batter ingredients and pepper to taste.
    With a sharp knife peel celery root and cut crosswise into 1/4-inch-thick slices.


    In a deep large heavy skillet (about 12 inches wide by 3 inches deep) heat 1 inch oil over moderately high heat until a deep-fat thermometer registers 375° F. Working in batches of 3, coat celery root slices in batter, letting excess drip off, and immediately press a parsley sprig into batter on one side of each slice. Carefully drop coated slices, parsley sides up, into oil and fry, turning them once, until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side. Transfer fritters as fried with tongs to brown paper or paper towels to drain. Return oil to 375° F before next batch.


    Serve fritters immediately with aïoli.