When we talk about celery, do you think of the cut-up sticks on a raw veggie platter or that “vintage” celery topped with orange cheese spread? This veg is so much more than a bland snack! On its own, it can give some serious personality to a recipe, with more or less subtlety. Here are some ways to cook celery and think outside the box. 

1. As a crunchy filling

In a hot dish, add finely minced or diced celery to create an interesting contrast of textures and temperatures. Served in gremolata with grilled chicken, it instantly brings a dose of freshness to the recipe, and does the same in a warm salad covering a plate of cubed Indian beef.

2. As an aromatic

The bitterness of celery and its slight saline taste make it a pleasant addition to so many classic recipes. Add it to your soups or spaghetti sauce for a flavour boost, but it’s also indispensable for putting together a soul-warming homemade chicken broth by combining it with carrots, onions and herbs. 

3. For its tasty leaves

Don’t throw out the leaves at the end of your celery branches! The celery leaves are tender and fresh and have a sweet bitterness. Use them like you would any fresh herbs. They are a perfect complement to a salad or an egg and shrimp sandwich.

4. In a cocktail

It’s impossible to not mention our infamous Bloody Caesar when talking about celery. This uniquely Canadian cocktail, invented in Calgary in the late 1960s, gives pride of place to celery since the edge of the glass is rimmed with celery salt and a stalk of celery is placed in the cocktail. A drink and a snack? The best of both worlds! Have fun pairing celery with other toppings in a luxury bloody Caesar or serve it in a Bloody Mary or salty cocktail.

Did you know that...

Celery salt is made from powdered dehydrated celery. You can use it in small quantities to salt your different dishes.

5. In juice

To fill up on vitamins, nothing is better than a good freshly blended juice. Since celery is full of water, it’s perfect for being reduced to liquid form in a juicer. Combine it with green fruits like Granny Smith apples, pears, kiwis and limes to create a brightly coloured juice.

6. In a meal bowl

We naturally think of salads as a way to use raw celery, which is why it naturally goes so well with a meal-bowl. Feel free to generously season celery with spices to enhance its flavour. It is accompanied by legumes, such as chickpeas or beans, tofu and vegetables before being drizzled with vinaigrette.

7. In a cold soup

Play with the freshness of celery by serving it as a cold soup for hot summer days. Prepare the soup the same way you would a traditional version, but cool it completely before leaving it in the refrigerator for a few hours before serving.