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.

4.34 from 3 votes

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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

What is the best cooking technique for celery? ›

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.

How long to boil celery until soft? ›

Place the celery in a pot. Add just enough water to cover the celery. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat and cook the celery until it is just tender, about 5 minutes. Drain away the water and add butter and cream of milk with salt and pepper to taste.

How long does celery take to soften in soup? ›

Saute for about ten minutes or until the onions and celery soften a touch and expel some water. Stir in the garlic and add the stock. Bring to a simmer and let cook for another 10 minutes or until the celery, carrot and potatoes are just cooked through - resist the urge to over cook them into mush.

What can make celery taste better? ›

Use Inner Stalks and Leaves

The most tender and mild-tasting parts of celery are the inner stalks and leaves. The outer stalks and base tend to be tougher and more bitter. For a sweeter flavor, juice the inner 4-5 stalks and leaves of bunched celery. You can also add a slice of the base if desired for more juice yield.

What is the best way to eat celery for health benefits? ›

One of the best ways to enjoy the dietary celery benefits is to steam the leafy green for a few minutes and retain all the nutrition.

What does cooked celery taste like? ›

It has a very mildly bitter taste and a texture that's both crisp and succulent and is eaten either raw or cooked.

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.

What is a vintage celery dish? ›

For awhile, the vases coexisted peacefully with their counterpart the celery dish, a long, narrow, boat-shaped bowl somewhat resembling an inverted butter dish—more effective for serving cooked celery that was too flaccid to stand upright in a vase.

Do you wash celery before cooking? ›

You can wash celery whenever you like—whether that's right before serving or as soon as you bring it home from the grocery store. Unlike berries, which can grow moldy in the presence of excess water, celery does fine when moist, as it naturally grows in wet soil.

Is celery good for sperm? ›

An animal study also found that supplementing with celery leaf extract increased sperm production. Besides, celery also helps reduce blood pressure, supports the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. However, more research in humans is needed to determine the specific benefits of celery for male fertility.

Is celery soup a laxative? ›

It's good for constipation, bloating, puffiness and water retention, acting as a gentle, mild, natural laxative and diuretic. 7. Celery fights infection. Research shows that compounds found in celery contain powerful antimicrobial properties that fight infections and naturally boost immunity.

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.

How do you cook celery so it's soft? ›

Bring a pot of water to a boil, then add celery and simmer for 10-15 minutes. In a frying pan, cover bite-size pieces of celery with water, cover the pan with a lid, and let steam on medium heat for 5-10 minutes. Saute celery in cooking oil over medium heat for 3-5 minutes.

Is it better to steam or boil celery? ›

You can boil chopped celery if you enjoy tender celery, or steam it quickly if you want to preserve more of the nutrients. Stir-frying or sautéing is also a great option, especially if you like your celery slightly crisp rather than soft and tender.

Why do you soak celery in water? ›

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.

Does celery taste different when cooked? ›

Obviously, water has no flavor. In classical cookery you'll learn to add celery (as in a mirepoix) last lest it's water slow down the cooking of the onions and carrots. By cooking you're eventually removing the water, thus increasing the taste or flavor of the vegetable.

How do you get the best celery? ›

Make sure celery is planted in the lowest area of the garden, as it requires lots of water. Add compost and mulch around the plants to help retain moisture. Sometimes, celery stalks will split if they do not receive enough moisture. Some gardeners prefer to blanch their celery, which makes the stalks more tender.

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