Celery is so underrated! Besides smearing it with peanut butter and a sprinkling of raisins, I’ve been using in in my green juice and the other day decided to try it braised. Julia Child was a big fan of braised celery…and now so am I. Braising mellows this stalky vegetable and brings out a rich, savory flavor. The cooking broth reduces to a shiny glaze and while the celery tenderly yields to the tines of the fork, it still has a bit of crunch left (nobody wants to eat mush). Serve it alongside a roast this holiday season for a truly lovely and simple dish.
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Post updated with a new FAQ and recipe descriptions on 2/7/24. Web story and new Pinterest Pin added 2/21/24.
Celery — A Healthy & Delicious Veggie
Celery is chock-full of many vitamins and minerals including Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Folate, Vitamin K, and Niacin (or Vitamin B3). The celery that comes in my CSA basket is nothing like its anemic, floppy counterpart that one can purchase in the supermarket. It is deep green, and assertive, both in posture and flavor.
Julia Child’s Recipe for Simple Braised Celery: A Journey of Flavorful Transformation
If you’re wondering what to do when you have a lots of celery, look no further. This easy celery recipe is simple, earthy and still crisp, and accentuates everything that is fantastic about this vegetable!
Braising is a cooking technique that involves slow-cooking food in a small amount of liquid, resulting in a dish that’s tender, flavorful, and often infused with the aromatic essence of the cooking liquid. It’s like giving celery a spa day, turning it from basic to bougie with minimal effort. Suddenly, that celery isn’t just crunchy water anymore; it’s a taste bud awakening. Total game-changer. Here’s how to make it:
- Cut celery into 1-inch slices on the diagonal.
- Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery, along with salt and pepper and cook until it starts to become tender.
- Add broth, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Uncover and cook for 5 minutes longer, allowing the broth to reduce caramelize a bit.
- Taste for seasoning and serve immediately, garnished with reserved chopped leaves.
This recipe would make a fantastic side dish at Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other holiday meal.
FAQ About Cooking with Celery
Q. What is the best cooking technique for celery?
A. How you cook celery totally depends on what you’re whipping up. Want it crunchy and fresh? Chop it raw into salads. Looking to add some flavor to your soups or stews? Give it a quick sauté first. If you’re aiming for super tender celery that melds right in with other ingredients, braising or stewing is the way to go. Basically, celery’s like your culinary chameleon – it can pretty much adapt to whatever dish you’re making.
Q. What is the healthiest way to cook celery?
A. The healthiest way to cook celery is to steam it. (Though it’s certainly not the most interesting, IMO). Steaming preserves the maximum amount of nutrients compared to other cooking methods, such as boiling or frying, which can lead to nutrient loss. Steaming celery until it’s just tender ensures it retains its crunch and the bulk of its vitamins and minerals, making it a nutritious addition to your diet.
Q. What is a French dish with celery?
A. Besides this braised celery recipe, another classic French dish that prominently features celery is “Céleri Rémoulade.” This is a cold salad made from julienne-cut celery root (celeriac), mixed with a mustardy mayonnaise-based dressing. The dish combines the crisp, distinct flavor of celery root with a creamy, tangy sauce, making it a refreshing appetizer or side dish in French cuisine.
Q. What is the best way to eat celery?
A. How you munch on celery really just boils down to what you’re into and what you’re aiming for, diet-wise. Crunchy celery sticks are great for a quick, healthy snack, especially when you dive them into peanut butter or hummus for extra yum. If you’re not about that raw life, cooking it down in soups, stews, or just sautéing softens it up and tones down the taste. Or hey, juice it if you’re looking for a fresh, healthy sip. Raw or cooked, celery’s a champ at flexing into your meals.
10 Delicious Celery Recipes to Try
Celery. It’s that humble, green, and often overlooked vegetable that sits quietly in the crisper drawer of your refrigerator, waiting for its moment to shine. Well, folks, it’s time to give celery the standing ovation it deserves! This unassuming veggie isn’t just for ants on a log or a sidekick for buffalo wings; it’s a versatile superstar that can elevate your culinary game in numerous ways. Let’s dive into the crunchy world of celery recipes and explore its multifaceted role in a variety of delicious dishes!
Get the easy celery recipes >>>
Rediscover Celery: A Hidden Gem Unveiled
Look, braised celery isn’t just some side dish you push around your plate; it’s like a culinary magic trick turning what some might consider to be the most boring veg into a showstopper. It’s all about taking something as plain as celery and making it into something that’ll make your taste buds do a double-take. So next time you’re eyeing that celery at the store, think bigger. You’re not just picking up veggies; you’re about to whip up a flavor bomb that’ll jazz up dinner. Time to get creative and let that celery shine!
Love Celery? Here are a few more recipes to try!
- Easy + Delicious Gluten Free Cream of Celery Soup
- The Perfect Gin co*cktail for Summer
- The Best Celery Slaw Recipe
- Kale, Sausage and Vegetable Soup
- Tuscan Style Dressing with Sausage, Fennel, and Hazelnuts
Still looking for even more delicious celery recipes? Check out these insanely delicious recipes for celery from my friends at California Grown.
If you make this celery recipe, or any of my other gluten-free recipes be sure to tag me onInstagram, and use the hashtags #agirldefloured #deflouredrecipes!
Julia Child’s Recipe for Simple Braised Celery
Alison Needham
I’ve always loved celery-there’s something wonderful about its crisp, fresh flavor, especially when it’s smeared with peanut butter. But it wasn’t until recently that I tried cooked celery and I was surprised at how delicious it was. Simple, earthy and still crisp, this recipe accentuates everything that is fantastic about this vegetable.
4.50 from 2 votes
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Prep Time 5 minutes mins
Cook Time 10 minutes mins
Total Time 15 minutes mins
Course Side Dish
Cuisine French
Servings 4 servings
Calories 28 kcal
Equipment
Skillet
Ingredients
- 8 stalks of celery scrubbed and ends trimmed (chop and reserve leaves)
- 1 tablespoon butter
- Pinch of salt and freshly ground black pepper
- ½ cup vegetable stock
Instructions
Cut celery into 1-inch slices on the diagonal.
Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery, along with salt and pepper and cook until it starts to become tender.
Add broth, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer for 5 minutes. Uncover and cook for 5 minutes longer, allowing the broth to reduce caramelize a bit.
Taste for seasoning and serve immediately, garnished with reserved chopped leaves.
Nutrition
Serving: 1portionCalories: 28kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 1gFat: 3gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 1gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 146mgPotassium: 22mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 186IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 4mgIron: 1mg
Keyword Braised Celery, Braised Celery Recipe, Julia Child Recipe
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