Spice up your plate: 5 creative celery dishes to try
What's the story
Celery tends to get a bad rep for being bland, but it can be made into exciting dishes that surprise the palate.
This versatile vegetable is not just low on calories but also rich in nutrients.
By including celery in different recipes, you can enhance its flavor and relish its crunchy texture in fun new ways.
Here are five dishes that highlight celery's potential beyond the regular snack tray.
Stir-fry
Celery and peanut stir-fry
Celery gets a delightful twist when you stir-fry it with peanuts. The combination of crunchy celery with roasted peanuts makes for a satisfying contrast in textures.
Toss in some soy sauce, ginger, and garlic for extra flavor.
This dish is quick to put together and serves as a nutritious meal or side dish that showcases celery's natural crispness.
Soup
Creamy celery soup
Transform celery into a comforting soup by blending it with potatoes and onions for added creaminess.
A touch of cream or milk can make this soup rich without overpowering the delicate taste of celery.
Season with salt, pepper, and herbs like thyme or parsley, to bring out its subtle flavors.
Salad
Celery salad with apples and walnuts
A refreshing salad with celery, apples, and walnuts brings in the perfect balance of sweet, tart, and nutty flavors.
Thinly slice the stalks of celery for a crunchy bite and add apple slices for sweetness.
Toss the lot together with lemon juice or vinaigrette dressing to have an invigorating salad ready for you to enjoy on any occasion.
Braised dish
Braised celery stalks
Braised celery stalks can bring an unexpected depth of flavor when cooked slowly in vegetable broth until tender.
Add carrots or leeks while cooking to complement the mild taste of braised celery beautifully, while enhancing its nutritional value even more through this simple yet elegant preparation method.
Pesto pasta
Celery pesto pasta
You can also get creative with celery leaves by turning them into pesto sauce blended with basil leaves, a few nuts (such as almonds or pine nuts), and olive oil for a vibrant green topping for your pasta.
It is full-bodied enough, yet light enough, not overpowering other ingredients within your chosen pasta dish itself.