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How to Cook with Sweet Potatoes,How to Cook with Sweet Potatoes

Celery is a crunchy, refreshing vegetable often used as a base in soups, stews, and salads. While it's commonly used in cooking, celery can also be enjoyed raw in snacks and salads, or even as a refreshing addition to juices. Whether you're incorporating it into a dish or enjoying it on its own, celery's crisp texture and subtle flavour make it a versatile ingredient.

Selecting celery:

  • Look for firm, crisp stalks that are vibrant green. Avoid celery with wilted, limp, or discoloured stalks.
  • Celery hearts: The inner, tender stalks are referred to as "hearts" and are milder and more delicate than the outer stalks.

Preparing celery:

  • Raw: Simply rinse celery stalks well, then trim off the base and top. Slice into sticks or chop as needed.
  • Cooked: Celery can be used whole, chopped, or sliced, depending on the recipe. To cook it, sauté, braise, or add to soups and stews.
Recipes

A refreshing salad with the crunch of celery and the sweetness of apple.

Ingredients:

  • 2 celery stalks, thinly sliced
  • 1 apple, cored and thinly sliced
  • 1/4 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta cheese
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
  • 1 tsp honey
  • Salt and pepper to taste

Method:

  1. In a large bowl, combine the sliced celery, apple, and walnuts.
  2. In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, salt, and pepper.
  3. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss gently to combine.
  4. Top with crumbled feta cheese and serve chilled.

A quick and easy stir-fry with lean chicken, crunchy celery, and a sweet soy sauce.

Ingredients:

  • 2 chicken breasts, sliced thinly
  • 2 celery stalks, sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, sliced
  • 1 onion, sliced
  • 2 garlic cloves, minced
  • 2 tbsp soy sauce
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1 tbsp rice vinegar
  • 1 tsp sesame oil
  • 1 tbsp vegetable oil
  • Cooked rice for serving

Method:

  1. Heat vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat. Add the sliced chicken and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
  2. Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.
  3. In the same pan, add sesame oil, garlic, onion, red bell pepper, and celery. Stir-fry for about 3-5 minutes until the vegetables are tender but still crisp.
  4. Return the chicken to the pan and stir in the soy sauce, honey, and rice vinegar. Cook for another 2-3 minutes, allowing the sauce to coat the chicken and vegetables.
  5. Serve the stir-fry over cooked rice.

A healthy, protein-packed salad with a creamy dressing, perfect for lunch or a light dinner.

Ingredients:

  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 1 can tuna in olive oil, drained
  • 1/4 cup mayonnaise (or Greek yogurt)
  • 1 tbsp Dijon mustard
  • 1 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1/2 red onion, diced
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • Mixed salad greens

Method:

  1. In a bowl, combine the celery, tuna, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon juice, and red onion.
  2. Season with salt and pepper to taste, and stir until well combined.
  3. Serve the tuna mixture over a bed of mixed greens for a light and satisfying meal.

Tips for cooking with celery:

  • Balancing flavour: Celery has a naturally mild, slightly peppery flavour, which pairs well with ingredients like onions, garlic, carrots, potatoes, and herbs like thyme, rosemary, and bay leaves.
  • Cooking methods: Celery is versatile when it comes to cooking methods. You can sauté it, add it to soups, stews, or stir-fries, or roast it to bring out a deeper, sweeter flavour.
  • Flavour enhancements: Pair celery with strong flavours like anchovies, olives, or cheese to enhance its taste.
  • Raw celery: For snacking or adding to salads, serve celery sticks with dips like hummus, cream cheese, or peanut butter.

Storing celery:

  • In the fridge: Celery is best stored in the refrigerator, preferably in the crisper drawer to maintain its freshness.
    • You can wrap celery stalks in aluminium foil (instead of plastic) to help retain moisture and keep them crisp for a longer period. They will stay fresh for about 1-2 weeks.
    • In a container of water: If you prefer, place celery stalks in a container with cold water, ensuring that the stalks are submerged (cut ends down). Change the water every 2-3 days. This method can help celery last longer, up to 2-3 weeks.
  • Celery hearts: If you have leftover hearts of celery (the inner, tender stalks), you can store them in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. These are perfect for raw applications like salads or snacking.
  • Freezing celery: Celery can be frozen for later use in soups, stews, and stir-fries. First, chop the celery into pieces, blanch them in boiling water for 2-3 minutes, then plunge them into ice water. Once cooled, pat them dry, and store them in an airtight container or freezer bag. Frozen celery is best used in cooked dishes, as freezing changes the texture.