This braised celery really is such a simple side dish. The recipe has just 5 ingredients, including salt and pepper; turning an underused vegetable into a delicious savory side.
The celery mellows as it cooks, yielding to a knife but still with enough crunch to keep it interesting.
Perfect to pair with meat for a low carb dinner. Or add it to your Thanksgiving or holiday table for something a little different!
Do you ever buy a head of celery, use one stalk and then forget about the rest in the bottom of the refrigerator? A week later you are left with a sad floppy celery head?
I mean there is only so much celery and cream cheese you can eat!
Which is why this recipe is such a great one. You can use up those leftover celery hearts, make a low carb side and feel better about the world because no one likes food wastage. Oh and did I mention that braised celery tastes amazing!
Imagine the beautiful mellow flavor of celery from your favorite chicken noodle soup or chicken stew. That savory deliciousness, soft and yielding and so delicious. Well now you can have it as a side!
You'll want to save this recipe for years to come so pin it now 😀
WHAT??? Can you cook celery as a side dish?
I know right, we cook with it for our soups and stews but it rarely gets seen as a vegetable worthy of it's own serving dish! I think we forget about it, we just use it as a flavor base.
Much like onions, which I heroed in my Sweet Onion Casserole, I want to hero the celery and say no more do you have to go floppy at the bottom of the crisper drawer!
How to braise celery
You want the celery to still have some shape and texture, so this dish takes under 15 minutes to cook.
The celery is first sauteed in a little butter, then cooked over a low heat with some vegetable stock (or chicken stock).
A final seasoning of salt and pepper and you have your braised celery side dish done. How easy!!!
Plus you don't need any herb garnish because you can add a couple of the celery leaves!
Enjoy x
For more amazing Thanksgiving Side dishes check out this list of over 20 delicious ideas
Braised Celery - A Simple Side Dish
Ingredients
- 12 stalks of celery
- 2 tablespoon butter
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ¾ cup vegetable stock
Instructions
- Wash the celery then top and tail it, reserving any leaves for later.
- Cut the celery, on the diagonal, into 1 inch chunks.
- Melt the butter in a heavy based skillet or pan (one that has a lid)
- Add the celery, salt and pepper, then sauté gently for 5 minutes until it has started to soften.
- Add the stock and bring to a simmer.
- Cover the pan and cook for 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid and cook for a further 5 minutes so the liquid can evaporate.
- Serve garnished with any reserved leaves.
Jill Ruschli says
Can I warm the leftovers in the oven?
Claire McEwen says
I haven't tried it Jill, but I would have thought they could be 🙂
Hope that helps
Cx
Suzy Pike says
I used your recipe as a base, added an onion and ground turkey. Used Celery Salt and White Pepper and a touch of dill instead of plain salt and pepper. Served over garlic croutons. Called it Skillet Thanksgiving. Wish I could post a picture.
Claire McEwen says
Oh your additions sound delicious 🙂
Cx
Grace says
Simple and tasty! I took other commenters' suggestions to add minced garlic & sliced onions, and it all turned out well. Thanks!
Rosanne says
So easy to make, and a great way to eat more celery!!!
Teri says
This was SO good! I have been looking for more veggie side dishes, especially ones that don't require me to dump a bunch of cheese on them. I never thought I could pull off a celery dish without major complaints from my husband, but even he liked it! I also love that it's super low in calories and fat. Thank you for the recipe!
Heather Van Den Broek says
Oh my word this was SOOOOO simple and delicious! Highly recommend!!
Claire McEwen says
Thank you Heather 🙂 Cx
Celery Stalk says
Have you ever been cooking dinner in a hurry only to realize you’ve forgotten to think of a vegetable for a side and it’s too late to go to the grocery store? Have you looked into your fridge and found a solitary head of celery there in the crisper?
Have you ever wanted to get a quick recipe for celery of the interment because the only thing that comes to mind is sautéing it with a little butter and broth and surely there must be something else that can be done?
Have you ever googled for celery recipes only to find an inviting list of results? Have you ever had to read through a long and superfluous back story to get to the actual flipping recipe? I mean pages of back story. A back story that would make Michener proud.
Which reminds me, my aunt Bessie’s Turkey stuffing featured celery. She must have had leftover celery after that and I wonder what she did with it or wether it would take several minutes of interesting, yet not interesting when you just want the damn recipe, narrative to find it? Well she’s gone to her maker so no telling... except maybe if I hold a séance and use a Ouija Board to spell out the recipe using the guiding spirit of dear aunt Bessie from the other side. That might be faster. Oh, and I’m gonna try this tonight.
Conni says
This is a very good recipe. It was so simple to make and tasty too. I add garlic to everything and this was no exception. I added a clove diced to a half recipe. My finiky BF really liked it too. I also love that this is a great way to use celery that otherwise could go bad.
Claire McEwen says
Garlic sounds like a great addition.
So pleased you liked the recipe 😄
Cx
laura says
love this recipe, thank you
Lin says
Claire I was so pleased to find this recipe and never would have guessed celery could taste so good! Now I don't end up throwing it away when I have excess. Also I love your stories! Thank you for this wonderful post and recipe!
Linda C says
I needed a simple veggie side to go along with Chicken Adobo & rice. This is perfect. I like to use low sodium chicken broth instead of veg broth (haven't found a brand I like). Great little recipe. Thanks!!
Claire McEwen says
Oh I am so pleased you enjoyed the recipe Linda 🙂
Cx
Lisa L. says
Wow, this was shockingly delicious! It stole the show! We had it with pork tenderloin, ginger carrots and couscous. The braising liquid was so yummy over the couscous!
Felix says
Perfect recipe for eating whole clean foods. I actually braided for mush longer than the recipe called because I needed the celery very soft for my elderly dinner guests.
It’s a recipes and wows in its simplicity. I bet most people wouldn’t even imagine celery being the star side dish!
Tanya says
I loooooove this side dish. It is such a comfort food with rice. I know I need protein, but when you have one of those days where you are craving comfort food, braised celery in butter with rice is perfection.
Claire McEwen says
Oh I cannot wait to try it with rice! I am LOVING the sound of that!!
I know exactly what you mean though, for me this dish reminds me of the soft delicious celery in a chicken noodle soup or a slow cooked chicken stew. So it makes perfect sense that it would have comfort when eaten 🙂
So pleased it brings you joy
Cx
Linda gale says
I cooked two stocks of celery cut, with one half Spanish onion chopped. I added one cup of water with a beef boullion cube. I put teaspoon of butter n the sauté pan to begin. Salt and pepper to taste. It was a veg.side dish for dinner. My husband loved it. It’s my adaptation from the braised celery recipe above.
Claire McEwen says
I am loving your adaptions Linda 🙂
Thank you
Cx
Doug says
I wouldn't really call this modern Australian since I was eating this side 45 years ago in America, it was a regular in my grandmother's side dish rotation.
Also its pretty much the same recipe Alton Brown lists.
That aside, Ive always loved this under rated side dish
Lisa says
Thanks so much for this simple and delicious recipe. The celery came out perfect! Who knew celary could taste so yummy!
Claire McEwen says
Hi Lisa!
Thank you, cooked celery is a revelation isn't it!
I am so pleased you enjoyed it
Cx
Avril Blackwood says
Looking forward to making this recipe tomorrow for our Sunday meal.
Thanks for sharing!
Carolannstreavel says
I have 6 celery stalks. Saw the recipe for the celery dish. Going to make it soon. Going to make celery soup also. Thank you.
Claire McEwen says
I hope you enjoy it Carol 🙂
Cx
Christine says
Celery is one of my favorite vegetables and this recipe is just perfect as a side to anything!!!! I’ve even had it with rice as a simple, quick meal. Some fresh mint and lemon when you serve is great too!
Claire McEwen says
Mine too!!!!
So pleased you enjoyed it Christine. I am loving the rice idea...definitely going to try that!
Cx
Sherry says
I love celery, so was really happy to find this recipe. It is easy, easy, easy and celery has never tasted better! I did cut one minute out of each step, just to absolutely ensure that the celery would retain some of its crunch. It worked out perfectly.
Claire McEwen says
I love celery too 😀
So pleased you enjoyed it and were able to adapt it to your tastes.
Thank you for coming back to comment.
Cx
Bill says
Cooked celery using your recipe for my wife and daughter. Easy. They liked it. Will now be “my go to” for celery. Thanks
Claire McEwen says
Oh I am so pleased the family enjoyed the cooked celery Bill.
Thank you for coming back to comment 😀
Joan Livsey says
Tried it what I was looking for very happy
Claire McEwen says
I am so pleased you enjoyed it Joan 😀
Grom says
Less talk more recipe haha cool story an all but... Just want to cook! Thank you tho ?
Claire McEwen says
Too much talk about celery??? But I love celery 😉
Each recipe does have a circular button at the top/side. It is purple with a steaming pot on it. That will jump you straight to the recipe.....although then you miss my wonderful stories! 😉
samantha says
I like the stories!
Claire McEwen says
Me too! The stories are my favorite parts of blogs. I love knowing how family food traditions and peoples favorite dishes came about. Sadly that isn't where the rest of the world wants blogs to be 🙁
But thank you for being a story lover Cx