Celery and apple salad with walnuts and gorgonzola

August 20, 2015 Published by Dina

Is celery a seasonal vegetables? I wonder. It’s one of those vegetables that sits in the background, always available. Celery seldom gets to play a major role in recipes and we usually treat it as an aromatic, one of the vegetables that create the flavour base for soups, stews and sauces. True, it is known as a low calorie veggie, good for the snacks category for its crisp crunch, low calorie and high fiber content but not much more than that. And unjustly so.

In this salad the celery is prominent, providing the main texture and crunch. The slightly bitter endive and radicchio, sweet apple and creamy gorgonzola create a vibrant and intricate flavour profile balanced by the acidity from the lemon and sweetness form the honey.

I made this salad for dinner yesterday. We have been enjoying lovely late summer weather with dinners on the patio as often as possible. This salad was part of a three course casual dinner that we lingered over at the table in the outdoor kitchen. You know when the stars are aligned, it was one of those nights. Perfect weather, perfect setting, good fresh food and good company. Dinner was very simple, this salad, pasta with tomato sauce and a lemon basil cake. You see, it doesn’t take that much to please me. I am always satisfied with the best:).

Don’t get hung up on exact quantities in this salad. The quantities are approximate.

serves 4


 

Ingredients:


 

Inner stalks of a celery, sliced, about 3 cups

1 apples, chopped

1 Belgian endive, sliced horizontally

1/3 small radicchio, sliced into ribbons

1/2 cup chopped walnuts, regular or candied

1 cup gorgonzola or another blue cheese, cut in pieces

1 tablespoon olive oil

Juice of one lemon

1 tablespoon honey

2 tablespoon chopped flate leaf parsley


 

Directions:


 

Slice the celery into thin slices and place in a bowl.

Add the Belgian endive, radicchio and apple and toss to combine.

Drizzle olive oil over and mix, then add the lemon juice and drizzle the honey over. Mix again.

Add the nuts, cheese and parsley and mix them in gently.

Spoon the salad into serving bowl and serve immediately.


Summer dinner, lemon basil cake for dessert

Summer dinner, lemon basil cake for dessert



 

1 Comment

  • Colleen says:

    Thanks Dina, I now have a fresh look at celery, and look forward to trying this. This looks like a delicious salad, and your simple dinner is just what I love in the summer here. Cheers