A little oily, with a light bitterness, salty aftertaste and strong spicy aroma - this is how celery can be described. Many people refuse to use this vegetable, not knowing how to cook it. But in vain. Celery contains a lot of vitamins, macro- and microelements, fiber. In its pure form, it is not very tasty, but in combination with other products it begins to play with new colors. We suggest learning how to make celery a part of your diet.
What is the best way to eat celery?
The product is eaten raw, stewed or added to other dishes, in particular meat, fish, meatballs, soups. Any parts of the plant are edible: leaves, stems, root.
Doctors and nutritionists believe that raw celery will bring maximum health benefits. Such a product is rich in the following substances:
- vitamin A and beta-carotene (83% and 90% of the daily norm in 100 g);
- vitamin C (42%);
- vitamin K (24%);
- potassium (17%);
- magnesium (12.5%);
- sodium (15%);
- iron (7%).
During heat treatment, especially frying, part of the vitamins is destroyed. When cooking, mineral substances pass into a decoction. Therefore, for health it is better to eat fresh celery, cut into small cubes or grated on a coarse grater. It is usually used as an ingredient for vegetable salad. Celery juice is no less useful.
However, raw food is contraindicated for some people. It is better for people with diseases of the digestive tract (gastritis, ulcer) to heat the vegetable. Fresh product enhances the secretion of gastric juice and can cause an exacerbation of the problem. Pregnant women should not eat celery in any form, because it helps to reduce the uterus and can cause miscarriage or premature birth.
What to cook from celery root?
Celery root is on the list of the best slimming foods. 100 g contains only 13-15 kcal. And since the vegetable has a lot of sodium, it can easily replace salt in salads and soups. If you intend to include root celery in your diet, check out some interesting recipes.
Celery juice
The easiest way to make celery juice is to cut the root into small pieces and pass through a juicer. If you do not have the necessary device, then grate the vegetable on a fine grater, and squeeze out the resulting mass.
Celery juice has a rather specific pungent taste. Before use, it is better to dilute it with water in a ratio of 1: 1.
Try also to prepare the "elixir of love." Mix 100 ml of celery, 50 ml of pear and 25 ml of apple juice. Dilute with water to taste. The resulting drink has the properties of an aphrodisiac: helps partners relax and relax. In men, it increases potency.
Cream soup
Celery cream soup has a low calorie content, while perfectly satisfies hunger, prevents overeating and cravings for junk food.
To prepare the soup, prepare the following ingredients:
- celery root - 1 pc.;
- potatoes - 2 pcs.;
- carrots - 1 pc.;
- garlic - 2 cloves;
- fat milk (cream) - 200 ml;
- sunflower oil.
Peel the garlic, chop, quickly fry in oil. Reduce heat, add grated carrots. Cover the pan and simmer the vegetables for 10 minutes.
Peel the celery root and potatoes, cut into small pieces. Add to the carrot with garlic. Pour some water into the pan and simmer the contents under the lid for another half hour.
Put the stewed vegetables in a blender, pour in the milk (cream) and whisk for 2-3 minutes. Pour the mixture into a saucepan, bring to a boil. At the end, you can add salt, seasonings and fresh herbs to taste. Celery cream soup is usually served with white croutons.
Fried root salad
This recipe is suitable for a festive table. The dish is tasty, but not dietary.
To make a salad, you will need the following products:
- celery root - 200 g;
- carrots - 1 pc.;
- garlic - 1 clove;
- hard cheese (it is better to take "Dutch") - 50 g;
- “Light” mayonnaise - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- sunflower oil.
Peel the root and grate it on a coarse grater. Fry in sunflower oil for 2-3 minutes.
Grate carrots and cheese in the same way. Pass the garlic through a crush. Combine all the ingredients in one bowl and season with mayonnaise. If you are embarrassed by such a sauce, you can replace it with sour cream.
Sour Spicy Salad
And this salad, on the contrary, is low in calories, speeds up metabolism and helps to lose weight. Goes well with stews and whole grain toast.
Prepare the following products:
- celery root - 200 g;
- half a lemon;
- grain mustard - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- water - 1 tbsp. the spoon;
- wine or apple vinegar - 1 tbsp. the spoon;
- unrefined olive oil - 2 tbsp. spoons.
Grate the peeled root on a grater, which is used to make Korean carrots. Sprinkle the lemon halves with juice so that it does not darken, and mix. Leave the vegetable to infuse at room temperature for half an hour.
Combine mustard, vinegar, olive oil in one bowl. Pour 1 tablespoon of boiling water and beat the ingredients with a mixer. Season the salad with the resulting sauce. Add salt, ground black pepper and fresh herbs to taste.
What to cook from celery stalks?
Stalks are eaten mainly as part of vegetable salads, with stewed vegetables and meat. We suggest you study some simple recipes.
Vitamin salad with celery and apples
This dish will strengthen your immunity, relieve hypovitaminosis and seasonal depression.
To make a vitamin salad, prepare the following foods:
- celery stalks - 2 pcs.;
- one sour apple;
- half a lemon;
- crushed walnuts - 20-30 g;
- unrefined olive oil - 2 tbsp. spoons.
Cut washed apples and celery stalks into cubes 3-4 cm long. Mix with walnuts, season with olive oil and lemon juice. Add salt, spices and fresh herbs to taste. Eat right away (vitamins begin to break down during storage).
Salad with celery and cod liver
This salad is rich in high-grade proteins, vitamins A, D and E. It is useful for vision, nervous and muscular system. Very satisfying with moderate calories.
The composition of the salad includes the following ingredients:
- celery stalks - 2 pcs.;
- canned cod liver - 300 g;
- hard-boiled chicken egg - 1 pc.;
- fresh cucumbers - 3 pcs. medium size;
- bunch of dill or parsley.
Put the fish liver on paper napkins and let the excess fat drain. Wash the celery stalks and cucumbers and chop finely. Chop greens. Gently chop the cod liver and the chicken egg. Combine all the ingredients in one bowl. Garnish with a sprig of parsley and serve.
Braised Beef with Celery
The vegetable will give beef a spicy aroma and softness. And everyone can prepare such a dish.
To get started, prepare the ingredients:
- meat - 700-800 g;
- celery stalks - 3 pieces;
- bulbs - 2 pieces;
- sunflower oil - 5–6 tbsp. spoons;
- greens (parsley, dill or cilantro) - 1 bunch.
Heat oil in a pan. Cut the meat into small pieces and fry for 3-5 minutes over high heat. Grind onions, celery and add to beef.
Pour water into the pan so that it completely covers the pieces of meat. Make the fire minimal, cover the container with a lid and simmer the beef with vegetables for 50-60 minutes.
At the end of cooking, salt and pepper the dish. Serve the beef stew to the table with fresh herbs.
Vegetable Smoothie
A suitable drink for a snack or dinner replacement. It improves the functioning of the digestive system because it contains a lot of fiber and water.
To prepare a vegetable smoothie, take the following foods:
- celery stalks - 3 pcs.;
- one sweet apple;
- one carrot;
- peppermint.
Finely chop the vegetables and apple. Beat in a blender until smooth. If you wish, you can add a spoonful of honey or a useful sweetener (for example, stevia) to the drink. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
What to cook from celery leaves?
Celery leaves look like parsley, but the greens of this vegetable are more lush and spicy in taste. It can be added to prepared meat dishes in fresh and dried form, used for the preparation of salads, sandwiches, marinades.
Toast with red fish and celery
This appetizer will decorate any holiday table and will delight guests. To prepare it, take the following ingredients:
- celery leaves;
- slightly salted salmon or trout;
- pieces of canned pineapple;
- toast bread;
- lemon.
Slices of red fish and pineapple in equal proportions. Add the chopped celery leaves to them, mix, sprinkle with lemon juice. Put the mass on toasts or tartlets. Garnish with fresh herbs on top.
Rice and Celery Salad
Rice salad is useful for people who are losing weight to fill the deficiency of vitamins and minerals in the body.
The composition of the dish includes the following components:
- brown (brown) rice - 100 g;
- celery leaves - 3 bunches;
- garlic - 2 cloves;
- unrefined olive oil - 2 tbsp. spoons;
- lemon juice - 80 ml;
- soy sauce - 60 ml;
- salt and ground chili - one pinch each.
Pour rice into boiling salted water, cook for 20–25 minutes. Grind celery leaves, garlic. Add them to boiled rice. Pour in oil, soy sauce and lemon juice, salt and pepper. Stir rice salad.
How is celery good for your health?
Celery must be included in the diet of those who try to lead a healthy lifestyle. Thanks to its rich chemical composition, a vegetable benefits almost all internal organs.
Why do people eat this product?
- Cardiovascular Disease Prevention
Celery has two important macronutrients that are good for the heart: potassium and magnesium. The first normalizes blood pressure, rhythm, relieves swelling. The second strengthens the heart muscle and has a calming effect.
Oily omega-3 fatty acids give oil to the stems and roots of plants They reduce the inflammatory processes in the body and reduce the level of "bad" cholesterol, preventing atherosclerosis.
- Digestion normalization
All parts of the plant are rich in dietary fiber. The latter serve as food for beneficial intestinal microflora, remove toxins from the body, and normalize peristalsis. Enzymes present in the product help the body digest food. With the help of celery, a person can easily get rid of constipation and dysbiosis.
- Treatment of diseases of the genitourinary system
Celery has a diuretic and anti-inflammatory effect. Therefore, in medicine it has long been used to treat cystitis, urolithiasis, pyelonephritis.
So, celery goes well with almost any product. It enhances their natural taste, gives spicy notes, increases nutritional value. Ideal for people who want to lose weight without resorting to strict diets. Eat a spicy vegetable every week to maintain your health and youth for a long time.