Celery

treehopper1987
treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
edited November 26 in Food and Nutrition
How do you make your celery not bland?

I either eat mine with ranch, peanut butter, or stick it in a soup (particularly chicken noodle). I want some other inspirations for it though.

Replies

  • MommyL2015
    MommyL2015 Posts: 1,411 Member
    Peanut butter and raisins. Ants on a log, does anyone ever remember doing that as a kid? It's actually really tasty. I use PB2, which is (in my opinion, anyway) a fantastic alternate for peanut butter.
  • DisneyDude85
    DisneyDude85 Posts: 428 Member
    Ants on a log. Makes me just as happy now as it did when I was 5 :)
  • rtp_slg52181
    rtp_slg52181 Posts: 73 Member
    It's good in potato chicken and tuna salad. It's good in stew, and if it's young I like it on its own.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    celery only belongs in soup...other than that, it's worthless.
  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    Is there a way to cook it that it tastes better, other than soup?
  • JenAndSome
    JenAndSome Posts: 1,893 Member
    Is there a particular benefit to eating celery that I missed? I buy it occasionally when I make my fresh veggie pizza because I like how it crunches. The kids sometimes will eat it with carrot sticks (pro tip always peel your celery so you don't have the stringiness) but usually I use one or two stalks and it goes bad in the bottom of my fridge.
  • rtp_slg52181
    rtp_slg52181 Posts: 73 Member
    You can add it any time you sweat onions for a dish to add a slight depth of flavor.
  • rtp_slg52181
    rtp_slg52181 Posts: 73 Member
    JenAndSome wrote: »
    Is there a particular benefit to eating celery that I missed? I buy it occasionally when I make my fresh veggie pizza because I like how it crunches. The kids sometimes will eat it with carrot sticks (pro tip always peel your celery so you don't have the stringiness) but usually I use one or two stalks and it goes bad in the bottom of my fridge.

    It has an antinflamitory (sp) property that can help with joint pain like arthritis.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    I actually really like it sauteed in soy sauce.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    Is there a way to cook it that it tastes better, other than soup?

    Celery is part of the grand base of many cuisines.

    In Creole cooking it's the Holy Trinity: Onion, celery, green pepper
    French it's the Mirepoix: Onion, carrot, celery
    German it's the Suppengrün: Carrot, celery, leek
    Italian it's sofforitto: Onion, carrot, celery

    et cetera, et cetera

    If you look up cuisine from any of these areas you will usually find something with celery. My mom makes a ragu dish from when my dad was stationed in Italy that uses the sofforitto, and my sister makes a bechemel lasagna that uses it too. You will also commonly find it in chicken caccitore.

    In Asian cuisine it's commonly added to stir fry.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    Celery soup or gratin, but I keep intending to make this Braised Celery with Onion, Pancetta and Tomatoes next time I have some leftover.
  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    JenAndSome wrote: »
    Is there a particular benefit to eating celery that I missed? I buy it occasionally when I make my fresh veggie pizza because I like how it crunches. The kids sometimes will eat it with carrot sticks (pro tip always peel your celery so you don't have the stringiness) but usually I use one or two stalks and it goes bad in the bottom of my fridge.

    It has an antinflamitory (sp) property that can help with joint pain like arthritis.

    I do not buy it for the anti-inflammatory property (nice plus to it though), but am trying to reduce waste that is taken to the landfill. My husband likes it, but only eats a stalk or two, and the rest normally goes to waste. My son (18 months) doesn't eat many green veggies, unless it's in something. So as a mother and wife who is trying to be healthy and environmentally-conscious, I'm trying to get the full benefit of what we buy.

  • treehopper1987
    treehopper1987 Posts: 505 Member
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    Is there a way to cook it that it tastes better, other than soup?

    Celery is part of the grand base of many cuisines.

    In Creole cooking it's the Holy Trinity: Onion, celery, green pepper
    French it's the Mirepoix: Onion, carrot, celery
    German it's the Suppengrün: Carrot, celery, leek
    Italian it's sofforitto: Onion, carrot, celery

    et cetera, et cetera

    If you look up cuisine from any of these areas you will usually find something with celery. My mom makes a ragu dish from when my dad was stationed in Italy that uses the sofforitto, and my sister makes a bechemel lasagna that uses it too. You will also commonly find it in chicken caccitore.

    In Asian cuisine it's commonly added to stir fry.

    Thank you for sharing this with me. I did not know it was such a staple in other culture's diets. I will have to try some of these.
  • GaleHawkins
    GaleHawkins Posts: 8,159 Member
    edited November 2015
    http://livewell.jillianmichaels.com/foods-vitamin-b17-4971.html

    This link shows celery containing some amygdalin that research does show to have an anti inflammatory property as @rtp_slg52181 noted above.

    Now that I have been off of grains and sugars for over a year that offers major pain relief now celery taste as sweet as candy. I am testing to see if amygdalin will help to clear up some slight joint inflammation in my case.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    Well, also celery has more nitrates that 400 hotdogs, so keep in mind that browning it may lead to cancer (or some such thing).
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    so, not as healthy but I like it with cream cheese. But, I like everything with cream cheese. I do eat it with lauging cow cheese wedges too.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    edited November 2015
    auddii wrote: »
    Well, also celery has more nitrates that 400 hotdogs, so keep in mind that browning it may lead to cancer (or some such thing).

    I would hope you aren't browning it. If it's browned then you have overcooked it.

    ETA: I came back to correct myself. I was thinking of when you brown an onion and it tastes bitter.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    Well, also celery has more nitrates that 400 hotdogs, so keep in mind that browning it may lead to cancer (or some such thing).

    I would hope you aren't browning it. If it's browned then you have overcooked it.

    If you eat all your vegetables without any browning, you're missing out on life.
  • Lounmoun
    Lounmoun Posts: 8,423 Member
    I use it in recipes mostly. Things like beans and rice or soups.

    Have it with hummus.
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    auddii wrote: »
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    Well, also celery has more nitrates that 400 hotdogs, so keep in mind that browning it may lead to cancer (or some such thing).

    I would hope you aren't browning it. If it's browned then you have overcooked it.

    If you eat all your vegetables without any browning, you're missing out on life.

    I came back to correct myself. I was thinking of when you brown an onion and it tastes bitter. I did Google the nitrate thing, and found articles that say it's not the same as when they are in meats. Do you have an article I can read?
  • 100df
    100df Posts: 668 Member
    I put Laughing Cow cheese on celery. I like the crunch raw celery has.
  • Queenmunchy
    Queenmunchy Posts: 3,380 Member
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    Well, also celery has more nitrates that 400 hotdogs, so keep in mind that browning it may lead to cancer (or some such thing).

    I would hope you aren't browning it. If it's browned then you have overcooked it.

    If you eat all your vegetables without any browning, you're missing out on life.

    I came back to correct myself. I was thinking of when you brown an onion and it tastes bitter. I did Google the nitrate thing, and found articles that say it's not the same as when they are in meats. Do you have an article I can read?

    You think they're more bitter when cooked? Browned/caramelized onions are sweeter to me, not more bitter. The natural sugar is released. Yum!
  • lyttlewon
    lyttlewon Posts: 1,118 Member
    edited November 2015
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    Well, also celery has more nitrates that 400 hotdogs, so keep in mind that browning it may lead to cancer (or some such thing).

    I would hope you aren't browning it. If it's browned then you have overcooked it.

    If you eat all your vegetables without any browning, you're missing out on life.

    I came back to correct myself. I was thinking of when you brown an onion and it tastes bitter. I did Google the nitrate thing, and found articles that say it's not the same as when they are in meats. Do you have an article I can read?

    You think they're more bitter when cooked? Browned/caramelized onions are sweeter to me, not more bitter. The natural sugar is released. Yum!

    Caramelizing is different than browning. Caramelizing occurs at a low heat over time, and converts the onions sugars into something sweet. Browning often occurs quickly at a high heat, which can cause it to have that almost burnt bitterness. By browning I mean the Maillard reaction.
  • Confuzzled4ever
    Confuzzled4ever Posts: 2,860 Member
    I put salt on them.
  • knelson095
    knelson095 Posts: 254 Member
    My mom's spaghetti sauce has celery in it. Make sure when you buy it that it smells sweet or neutral, not bitter...I've had bitter celery ruin a dish.
  • rhtexasgal
    rhtexasgal Posts: 572 Member
    Celery will keep a long time if you wrap the bunch in heavy duty aluminum foil and keep it in your refrigerator's crisper drawer. I just pulled out celery the other day that I have had for at least 3 weeks and it was still crisp and green.

    I like celery when I make pot roast ... also good in stir fries.
  • auddii
    auddii Posts: 15,357 Member
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    lyttlewon wrote: »
    auddii wrote: »
    Well, also celery has more nitrates that 400 hotdogs, so keep in mind that browning it may lead to cancer (or some such thing).

    I would hope you aren't browning it. If it's browned then you have overcooked it.

    If you eat all your vegetables without any browning, you're missing out on life.

    I came back to correct myself. I was thinking of when you brown an onion and it tastes bitter. I did Google the nitrate thing, and found articles that say it's not the same as when they are in meats. Do you have an article I can read?

    Natural and conventional curing processes are identical; both provide nitrates for curing the meats. "Natural" curing uses celery powder, which does still cure the meat. The WHO has recently published that cured meat increases the risk of cancer.

    My comment was rather tongue in cheek since I feel like the report is vastly overstated.

    As for sources, there aren't a ton, but here's some basic info:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ceyupxc2EMo
    http://fyi.uwex.edu/meats/files/2012/02/Nitrate-and-nitrite-in-cured-meat_10-18-2012.pdf
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