A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (2024)

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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A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (1)

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.

A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (2)

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:

A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (3)
  1. Cut celery into 1-inch slices on the diagonal.
  2. Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add celery, along with salt and pepper and cook until it starts to become tender.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.

A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (4)

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!

A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (6)

A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (7)

Julia Child’s Recipe for Simple Braised Celery

A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (8)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.

5 from 1 vote

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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A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (10)

Thank you for helping support my small business! A Girl Defloured earns revenue in a few different ways; I have occasional sponsored post andI also earn an affiliate commission on the sales of products I link to— there might be a few of those links in this post. The only items that I featureare those that I use on a regular basis and that I truly love. I earn a small commission on your purchase, but you don’t pay any more than retail price. This allows me to share my recipes with you (and keeps me well fed). THANK YOU!

A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured (2024)

FAQs

A Simple Recipe for Braised Celery - A Girl Defloured? ›

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.

What is the best cooking technique for celery? ›

Sauté or stir-fry small pieces of celery until tender. Use celery leaves and stems to flavor soups, sauces, stews, pasta, tofu, quiches, omelets, and rice. Celery stems can be boiled, braised, fried, or baked. Stir-fry diagonally sliced celery until crisp-tender.

How do you make celery taste good? ›

Pair it as raw with carrots, fresh peas or beans, smearing a stalk of celery with peanut butter or fake cheese is not calorie wise. Use celery to compliment salads, soup or stews, in its best form, appreciate what celery is and eat it as is for the best intake of the nutrients celery has to offer.

How long does it take to boil celery? ›

Wait until the water comes to a rolling boil, which should take about 5 to 10 minutes, then lower the heat to a simmer. After simmering for 10 to 15 minutes, remove the pan from the heat and use a colander to separate your celery from the water. Finally, season your celery and serve it warm!

How long does celery take to soften in soup? ›

Add 1 1/2 cups diced celery to the butter. Ladle 1/2 cup of the simmering stock from the soup pot into the saute pan. Simmer on low for 5 or 6 minutes to soften the celery.

What is the healthiest way to cook celery? ›

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.

Is cooked celery good for you? ›

Overall, is celery healthy? For most people celery makes a favourable addition to a varied, balanced diet and promotes health in a number of ways. Ideally, enjoy the vegetable in its whole form either cooked in a stir-fry or soup or raw in a salad with the occasional juice.

What pairs well with celery? ›

Herbs: Celery can be seasoned with a variety of herbs such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, and dill. Spices: Celery can be paired with spices such as black pepper, paprika, and celery seed. Nuts: Celery can be paired with nuts such as almonds, cashews, and walnuts for added texture and flavour.

What benefits do you get from eating celery? ›

These benefits include reducing inflammation and cancer risk and preventing high blood pressure and cholesterol levels associated with heart disease, as well as contributing factors to type 2 diabetes. Celery benefits may also include supporting nerve, cognitive, and respiratory health.

What to eat celery with to lose weight? ›

Celery with peanut butter is a simple and quick-to-make snack that can help fight hunger between meals. Its low carb content makes it a popular option for people who wish to lose weight, follow a ketogenic diet, or want to limit the number of carbs they eat each day.

How do you know when celery is done? ›

Celery can take up to 140 days before it is ready to harvest. Begin t harvest the celery when the lower stalks are 6 inches long, but the stalks are still close together.

Why do you soak celery in water? ›

Now, if the stalks of celery are already cut, there is a better method for storage. Once cut, the stalks will lose moisture at a faster rate, so they are best stored in the refrigerator in a sealed container, submerged in water. This keeps the stalks hydrated and crisp.

Should I saute celery before adding to stew? ›

While certain vegetables can work just fine added directly to simmering soups and stews (say, carrots and celery), other vegetables (onions, garlic, and the like) will almost always need at least a brief sweat in a fat-based liquid before adding the remaining ingredients.

Can you overcook celery in soup? ›

Do not overcook celery, as it will become unappealingly limp. Visit the related links below for recipes using celery.

Is celery good for arthritis? ›

In addition to being very nutritious, celery juice could help: Relief inflammation. An anti-inflammatory diet is an important part of fighting diseases like rheumatoid arthritis. Certain phytochemicals extracted from celery have demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties.

Why is my celery still crunchy in soup? ›

Have you ever cooked something – like, a minestrone soup or a curry with a lot of vinegar – and noticed that the vegetables stay firm and hard even after long cooking? It's not the vegetables or your cooking skills, it's the amount of acidic liquids in the cooking liquid!

How do you take the bitterness out of raw celery? ›

Blanch Them

Blanching your greens is key to getting that bitterness level down. Because glucosinolates are water-soluble compounds, a lot of them are leached out into the water, allowing for a less bitter green.

Does celery taste better cooked? ›

While some may consider celery to have a bland, uninteresting flavor, this vegetable is much more than it seems. Its taste varies from a somewhat bitter aroma when raw to almost sweet when cooked, and the texture can be both crunchy and soft, depending on how you use it.

Do you need to peel celery before cooking? ›

Celery does not need to be peeled. It naturally has a stringy, tough texture, so peeling does not make that much of a difference. However, you can certainly peel each rib if you want to remove some of the tough outer layer.

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