A cool and crisp salad featuring crunchy thin slices of celery root, celery and apples in a lemon-mustard vinaigrette.
I would venture to guess that most of you have been eating celery all your life. Along with carrots it’s the raw vegetable of choice for dips and nut butters and has probably been in every child’s lunchbox at one point or another. This celery salad however is not that celery.
Yes, it too makes an appearance along with the tender leaves you find at the tops of the long crunchy stalks, but the star of the this particular salad is celery root.
Somehow this knobby, slightly rough around the edges root vegetable has been overlooked and under-appreciated by many. Perhaps it’s not-so-handsome exterior is intimidating, making it seem unapproachably difficult to navigate, but its crisp and delicate taste is worth the venture. The tan colored exterior houses a crisp and creamy white flesh with a flavor reminiscent of celery stalks but milder and with a slight nutty quality.
The mild root appears quite frequently in French cuisine julienned and drenched in a mayonnaise-based dressing under the name céleri rémoulade. It’s a classic there and can be found virtually everywhere but I have to admit it’s never been the most inviting of salads to me. The thick dressing clings to the strands of celery root creating what’s often a soupy salad that becomes soft and soggy.
My celery root salad is a lighter take on the French classic. I’ve swapped out the mayonnaise for a vibrant mustard vinaigrette and paired the celery root with thin slices of crunchy fresh tart apples and crisp celery stalks for a light salad with a clean crunch. Sliced up paper thin and layered with specks of green parsley and a fistful of toasty walnuts it’s fresh and light with a zippy tang and a wonderful accompaniment to those heavier cool-weather meals.
Have you ever had celery root?
Celery Root and Apple Salad
A vibrant mustard vinaigrette is paired with celery root and thin slices of crunchy fresh tart apples and crisp celery stalks then topped with buttery walnuts for a light salad with a clean crunch.
Ingredients
For the Mustard Vinaigrette:
- 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
- 2 Tablespoon apple cider or white wine vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil and 2 Tablespoons walnut oil
- Sea salt and freshly ground pepper to taste
For the Shaved Celery Root Salad:
- 1 medium celery root
- 1 medium tart apple (like granny smith or fuji)
- 4 medium celery stalks
- 2 Tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice (about ½ a large lemon)
- 2 Tablespoons, fresh celery leaves, finely chopped
- ¼ cup fresh flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
- ¼ cup/ 28g walnuts, toasted
Instructions
- Combine the mustard and vinegar and whisk together. Add the oil in a slow, steady stream, whisking constantly, until combined. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Set aside.
- Peel and quarter the celery root and julienne on a mandoline or with a sharp knife. Toss with one Tablespoon of the lemon juice in a large serving bowl and set aside.
- Core and cut the apple into quarters and julienne on a mandoline or with a sharp knife . Toss the apple with shaved celery root and the remaining Tablespoon of lemon juice and set aside.
- Thinly slice the celery stalks on a mandoline or with a sharp knife and toss with the celery root and apples.
- Toss with the finely chopped celery leaves, parsley leaves and mustard vinaigrette until well combined.
- Top with the toasted walnuts and an additional sprinkle of sea salt if desired before serving.
Notes
Gluten-Free, Grain-Free, Vegetarian, Vegan, Paleo
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 215Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 8mgSodium: 164mgCarbohydrates: 19gFiber: 3gSugar: 11gProtein: 2g
Nutritional information for recipes contained on this website, such as calories, fat, carbs, etc. are only estimates and are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Sylvie Shirazi is the recipe developer and food photographer behind Gourmande in the Kitchen. For the last 10 years she's been making eating more healthfully easy and accessible with gluten-free, grain-free, paleo and vegan recipes that are free from processed ingredients.
Pris says
Reading some of the comments I wanted to say that celeriac, otherwise known as celery root, is NOT the root of a stalk of celery; two completely separate things. I just got some in my CSA box this week and can't wait to try this recipe, thanks. I make a similar salad with julienned green apples and fennel, then tossed with honey and apple cider vinegar. Yummy.
najwa kronfel says
Beautiful salad, and I love that you made a mustard vinaigrette instead of mayo.
Carolyn says
This looks so fresh and good, Sylvie. I love celery but I still have never tried doing anything with the roots!
Sommer @ ASpicyPerspective says
What a cool, refreshing salad!
Jamie says
Aha that must be the French in you coming out! My husband adores celery but although I find these knobbly heads at the market all the time I never buy them. But I love your sweet and savory and very fresh salad. He'll love it!
Brian @ A Thought For Food says
I adore light salads like this as we transition to cooler months. So much of our food is so heavy this time of year, it's refreshing to have a slaw to brighten things up a bit.
easyfoodsmith says
Wonderfully crisp and beautifully dressed salad. Thanks for sharing info about celery...it was indeed helpful. 🙂
Adri says
This sounds wonderful. I adore celery root. And you are right - it is overlooked and underappreciated. I bet your salad has wonderful texture. It certainly looks beautiful. What lovely photographs.
Each Christmas Eve our family starts our feast with a bowl of Cream of Celery Root Soup, and everyone always enjoys it.
Kulsum says
I really enjoy celery root but it's been a while I had it! It's just the right time and the salad sounds crisp and refreshing (just like everything you make!)
anna @ annamayeveryday says
I love celeriac (as we call celery root) and made a soup out of it this week. I also like celeriac remoulade but agree with you not drenched in mayo, I like a lighter zingier take on the original. Your salad looks fabulous, crunchy healthy and delicious!