3 Creative Ways to Make Celery into Interesting Dishes!

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch from Pexels

Celery is a vegetable that is used for an array of dishes as it's inexpensive and healthy at the same time! Celery is a good source of Vitamin A and C which helps to improve a person's vision, immune system, and reproduction. It also helps to combat various diseases such as inflammation and cancer, reduces blood pressure and hyperlipidaemia. However, many people dislike celery as it has a grassy taste and rubbery texture. Today, I would like to show you how you can elevate the texture of your dishes by adding the crunchiness of celery and make it flavourful. Here are 4 creative ways to incorporate celery into your meals!

Braised Celery

Photo by Alison, A Girl Defloured

If you're new to cooking, you probably would not have tried the braising method before. Braising is a cooking method that combines wet and dry heat. The food will usually be cooked using the sauté or searing method at high heat, then placed in a lower heat pot with liquid in it to simmer. This recipe from A Girl Defloured uses this method. To start, add butter into a large skillet with medium heat, then add celery and season it with salt and pepper. Afterward, add the broth and reduce the heat to low, cover and allow it to simmer for 5 minutes. Then, uncover and cook it for 5 more minutes and you're done! This recipe balances the taste of grassy celery with some seasoning so if you’re not a fan of celery but don’t entirely hate it, give this a try!

For the more detailed version of this recipe, do check it out here!

https://www.agirldefloured.com/2011/12/10/braised-celery/

Creamy Celery with Savory Pecan-Granola Crumble

Photo by Melissa d'Arabian, EVERYDAY HEALTH

If you want celery to be the focus of this dish, this recipe from EVERYDAY HEALTH can help you to do so! This creamy and savoury celery recipe is something you would not want to miss. The celery is cooked till it’s tender before it is baked with the creamy béchamel sauce. To top it off, sprinkle pecan granola on the dish to get that crunchy and buttery texture.

For the more detailed version of this recipe, do check it out here!

https://www.everydayhealth.com/news/melissa-darabian-creamy-celery-pecan-granola-crumble-recipe/

Celery Almond Pesto

Photo by Leela, She Shimmers

Bored of using the same spread for your sandwiches? You should try this recipe from She Shimmers! It turns celery into a creamy and delicious paste that can be used for sandwiches, pasta, and even as dipping sauce. To start, add 4 cups of fresh celery leaves, 1/3 cup raw blanched almonds, 3/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, 2 large garlic cloves (peeled), 1/3 cup grated Parmigiano-Reggiano, and 1 teaspoon salt. Then, place the concoction into a blender and you'll have a celery almond pesto that can be used for almost anything!

For the more detailed version of this recipe, do check it out here!

http://shesimmers.com/2010/04/celery-almond-pesto.html

In conclusion, celery is a versatile ingredient that can be used in an array of dishes. Whether you want to make it into the main star of a dish or a complementary paste, you can do so easily! Aside from being versatile, it's also healthy and nutritious for you. The next time you find any celery in your kitchen, you can give some of these recipes a try!

Thumbnail: Photo by Daria Shevtsova from Pexels