Celery isn’t the most exciting vegetable on its own. However, it can be used in many surprisingly exciting ways. On top of being a great alternative to crackers when enjoying a cheeseboard, celery can work well with many foods by helping to add a fragrant earthy flavor and crunchy/soft texture (depending on whether it’s raw or cooked). Below are just a few vegan gourmet recipes to try to help use up some of that spare celery in the fridge.

Spicy carrot and celery soup

Celery has a mild spicy zing to it, which makes it perfect for pairing with onions, coriander and garlic. These ingredients can all work really well together when mixed with carrots into a soup. The best time to eat spicy carrot and celery soup is in the winter. It’s got a hearty taste to it, and could be a great appetizer to have before a Thanksgiving or Xmas meal. The ingredients are often blended and you can use cream to thicken it up if you desire. You can find an easy guide here on how to make spicy carrot and celery soup.

Thanksgiving stuffing

Talking of Thanksgiving, why not add some celery into some homemade stuffing? While it’s become more popular in recent years to experiment with nuts and fruit, celery can make a much more subtle and savoury stuffing ingredient that is also more traditional. This is typically combined with bread, onions, butter, broth, eggs and a variety of herbs (such as parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme). Homemade stuffing is easier to make than many people realize. Check out this recipe on how to make Thanksgiving stuffing.

Wardorf salad

There are lots of salads that use celery. Wardorf Salad is an American classic that incorporates lettuce, apple, grapes, celery, walnuts and mayonnaise. The mayo is often seasoned with salt, pepper and lemon juice. The crunchy texture of all the ingredients is what makes this salad work so well and it’s got a satisfying sweetness to it. This dish is suitable for vegetarians and can be made vegan-friendly by swapping mayo for vegan yoghurt. It’s great as a lunchtime meal, or it can be enjoyed as a tasty side. Exciting salads with little time to prepare them and being definitely within the spectrum of vegan gourmet recipes.

Caponata

Caponata is a Sicilian dish which is a bit similar to ratatouille. Its main ingredient is chopped fried eggplant. This is mixed in with chopped celery, olives, capers, olive oil, tomato sauce and agrodolce sauce. The main ingredients for the sauce are sugar and balsamic vinegar, plus caramelized onions. Some people like to add in other ingredients like pine nuts, potatoes or carrots – it generally doesn’t matter so long as the core ingredients are there. It is typically a vegan dish that is eaten by itself, although it can be eaten as a side dish to grilled meat. You can even serve it on toast as a tasty brunch meal.

Scallops in celery puree

Celery can be blended into a tasty puree that can go well with various foods. One sophisticated option is scallops and celery puree. To make the puree, you’re best off using celery root. Blend this with a small amount of cream, garlic, salt and pepper (boil the celery first and cook the garlic). All you have to do then is sear the scallops in a pan with some butter and the dish is complete. This is best eaten as an appetizer, although you can make it an entree by serving it up with some asparagus.

Chicken noodle soup

Asian cuisine typically uses celery to help add moisture and fragrance. A great example of where to use celery is chicken noodle soup. This soup is great as an appetiser or as a main dish and can be customized with various ingredients. You’ll ideally need about 4 celery stalks. Other ingredients to gather include shredded chicken, onion, carrots, garlic, parsley and egg noodles. This chicken noodle soup recipe offers a simple step-by-step guide on how to make this dish for those that are interested. Those feeling ambitious can even make their own egg noodles from scratch.

Celery gin cocktail

Celery juice is often consumed as a health drink. But it can also make a surprisingly tasty mixer to have with gin for when you fancy something a little less healthy. Add in some lemon and sugar to bring some extra flavour and you’ve got yourself the perfect cool and refreshing cocktail for a hot summer’s day. You can buy pre-made celery juice or simply make your own by putting celery in a blender/juicer.

We hope you have enjoyed these great vegan gourmet recipes!

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