Salad Days #2: Celery, Carrot and Five-Seed Salad
Poor old celery, so rarely made the star of the show. It’s either chucked in as an afterthought or worse still, left to fester in the vegetable crisper until someone finds the heart to throw it out and end the misery. In recent years I’ve really grown to love this underrated vegetable – it’s crispy freshness and delicate flavour.
Far too little use is made of the leaves too – I always look for specimens proudly sporting a bush of yellow-green leaves – it even brings it’s own salad – how thoughtful. I’ve mixed the celery with some carrot strands for sweetness and finely sliced fennel for a surprising aniseed crunch every so often.
I used a mix of pumpkin, sunflower, sesame, hemp and linseeds for crunch and a super health boost, then coated everything in my favourite fruity orange-raspberry vinegar dressing. Don’t you feel healthy just looking at it?
Celery, Carrot and 5-Seed Salad
25g mixed seeds (I used sunflower, pumpkin, linseed, hemp and sesame – they came ready-mixed)
2 medium carrots, cut into julienne strips (I have a special peeler that does this but you could use a mandolin or a regular peeler or even chop by hand if you have skill and patience in equal measures)
1 small fennel bulb, finely shredded (add any fronds that look healthy too)
2 large sticks celery, sliced (use the yellow leaves too if you have any)
Find the dressing recipe here
- It couldn’t be simpler, mix everything together. You’re done.
Category: Blogiversary!, Gluten-free, Healthy, Lunchbox, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegan, Vegetables 15 comments »
July 6th, 2008 at 12:53 pm
I admit that raw celery doesn’t hold any appeal to me whatsoever. But I’m forgiving enough to try it like this. The ingredients scream”crunch!” Helen. Loving this whole salad series…can’t wait for the next installment.
July 6th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
A most colourful salad and flavours to match it. Let us praise the celery!
July 6th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
I am eating a lot more salads just recently, albeit winter salads as it is cold here. I have them for lunch. This looks so very good, and I love the seeds in it.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:31 pm
I agree that celery leaves are underutilized. I like to add celery to chili when I make it, and if the celery I’m using has leaves, they definitely go into the pot.
July 6th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I just love seeds in salads! Such a great component!
July 6th, 2008 at 5:55 pm
I love celery too! The schlerenchyma (stringy bits) doesn’t even bother me. I especially love the white inner stems. Yum.
July 6th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
I love celery of with any color leaves:) Your salad sounds so healthy! I love the combination of ingredients you used. A must try!
July 6th, 2008 at 10:28 pm
That looks delicious! I love potato salad and this looks better than any I have ever tried! I want some
July 6th, 2008 at 10:30 pm
Oh and happy blog birthday for Tuesday!
July 7th, 2008 at 12:57 am
Just my thinking. Celery really IS a star.
I make a soup with the leaves – several in fact – and I must say that they are much underused.
I DO feel healthy justlooking at it! Beautiful recipe.
July 7th, 2008 at 5:14 am
I love seeds on a salad but raw fennel hasn’t gone down well in our house (although have been cooking with it and it is lovely cooked)
July 7th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
You’re right about celery – I know I certainly don’t think about using it. My husband would really like this salad, and while I’m not a huge carrot fan I’d try it just to see how it worked with the celery!
July 8th, 2008 at 12:31 am
That salad looks good! I am always on the lookout for new recipes that use celery.
July 9th, 2008 at 3:37 pm
I’m not mad for celery, but the salad does look good!
July 10th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Guilty as charged — I usually don’t even have celery in the house unless i HAVE to put it in a recipe, but you really do wonders for this veg! I would love to try this.