Oven-Braised Celery

Discover a delightful way to transform celery into a tender and mild delicacy with this Oven-Braised Celery recipe. While most vegetables benefit from the basic braise-and-glaze method, celery’s fibrous nature calls for slightly longer cooking in a bit more liquid. The result is a tender and flavorful celery dish that pairs wonderfully with various main courses. This method can also be adapted for fennel and celeriac, providing a versatile cooking technique for these vegetables too. Enjoy the simplicity and wholesome taste of Oven-Braised Celery, and explore variations with tomato, olives, capers, or buttered almonds for additional flavor dimensions.

MAKES: 4 servings

TIME: 30 minutes

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 1/2 pounds celery, more or less, trimmed
• 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter
• Salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 1 cup any stock or water
• Chopped fresh parsley or dill leaves for garnish

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Cut the celery into pieces approximately 2 inches long.
2. In a large, deep ovenproof skillet or flameproof gratin dish, heat the olive oil or melt the butter over medium heat. Add the celery and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 2 minutes.
3. Season the celery with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Pour in the stock (or water) and bring it to a boil.
4. Transfer the skillet or dish to the preheated oven and braise the celery until it becomes very tender, which should take about 15 minutes. If there is still considerable liquid remaining, cook the celery for a bit longer (if, by chance, it dries out before becoming tender, add a little more liquid). The goal is to achieve a tender and flavorful result.
5. Once the celery is cooked to perfection, garnish it with chopped fresh parsley or dill leaves.
6. Serve the Oven-Braised Celery hot or warm as a delightful side dish that complements various main courses.

VARIATIONS:

Braised Celery with Tomato, Olives, and Capers:

• In Step 1, add 2 tablespoons of minced onion or shallot along with the celery.
• During the last 5 minutes of cooking, stir in 1 tablespoon of drained capers, 1/2 cup of pitted and chopped black olives, and 1 cup of seeded and chopped tomato (canned and drained are fine).
• Garnish the dish with the herb and serve.

Braised Celery with Buttered Almonds:

• Use butter instead of olive oil for the celery.
• While the celery is cooking, lightly brown 1/2 cup of blanched, slivered almonds in an additional 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Once the celery is done, toss it with the buttered almonds and serve.

Enjoy the tender and flavorful goodness of Oven-Braised Celery, and explore the variations to create unique and delightful dishes with tomato, olives, capers, or buttered almonds. This recipe offers a delightful way to appreciate the natural taste of celery while enhancing it with exciting flavors.