Celery Victor Food

CELERY VICTOR

Steps:

• Wash and chop celery; set aside.
• Heat chicken stock to boiling; add celery and boil until soft.
• Turn off heat and let celery cool in the pot.
• Once cool, remove celery and gently squeeze the liquid out, by hand (use stock for soup).
• Season celery with salt and pepper and sprinkle with fresh chervil.
• Combine vinegar and oil; pour over celery and serve.

CELERY VICTOR SALAD

Steps:

• Prepare the stock for the braised celery and scallions: In a large pot, heat 2 tablespoons olive oil over medium-low. Add the carrots and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the stock and bring to a boil over high. Once it comes to a boil, reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer until the carrots are soft and impart their sweetness, about 30 minutes. Strain liquid, discarding solids, and return to the pot.
• While the stock simmers, make the pickled mustard seeds: In a small pot, combine the vinegar, mustard seeds, sugar, shallot and salt. Stir to combine, then cook over low heat, bubbling very gently, until mustard seeds are plump, about 15 minutes. Let cool until room temperature, then refrigerate until chilled. (Makes 1/2 cup; see Tip.)
• As the stock continues to simmer, make the anchovy-garlic paste: Finely chop the anchovies and capers, occasionally smashing and spreading them using the flat side of your knife, until they start to form a paste. In a small bowl, stir together the anchovies and capers with the garlic, red-pepper flakes and olive oil until combined. (Makes 1/4 cup.) Refrigerate until serving.
• Continue preparing the braised celery and scallions: Once the carrot stock has been cooked and strained, squeeze the lemon quarters over the carrot stock, then plop the squeezed pieces into the stock. Add the thyme, garlic, black peppercorns, bay leaves and salt. Bring to a simmer over medium.
• Once it simmers, cook the celery: Add the celery in two batches, one layer at time, simmering until tender, about 10 minutes per batch. (Cooked celery should bend a little, when lifted with tongs, without going totally limp.) Using tongs, transfer celery to a wide, shallow dish that can hold the celery, scallions and braising liquid.
• Cook the scallions in the stock: Add the firmer scallion whites and cook 2 minutes, then add the more tender scallion greens, and cook another 2 minutes, until all scallion pieces are tender. Add scallions to the cooked celery. Strain the stock over the scallions and celery, discarding the solids, and let the mixture cool at room temperature, about 30 minutes. Cover and refrigerate until chilled, at least 1 hour or, ideally, overnight. (The braised vegetables will continue to absorb flavor but retain texture; they'll keep, refrigerated, up to one week.)
• To serve, strain the braised vegetables. (Reserve the liquid to use as a stock; poach fish in it, add to soups, stews or pasta, or dip bread in it.) Slice the celery and scallions on a sharp angle into 1 1/2-inch-long segments, then add them to a very large bowl. Add the spigarello, Parmesan, parsley and reserved celery leaves, plus the anchovy paste and the sherry vinegar mixed with olive oil; toss to coat. The salad should have the right balance of salt, acid and heat, with no ingredient overshadowing the other. Season with extra vinegar or olive oil, if needed.
• Plate the salad, mounding in the center of the plate. Dot with 2 to 3 very small spoonfuls of mustard seeds, to taste, and serve immediately.

CELERY VICTOR

Steps:

• Remove outer celery stalks from each bunch, leaving about 6 inner stalks attached. Trim each celery heart to 6-inch length (reserve outer stalks and trimmings for another use). Bring large pot of salted water to boil. Add lemon juice, then celery hearts and boil until celery is tender, about 15 minutes. Drain well. Cover and chill until cold, about 2 hours
• Whisk vinegar and mustard in small bowl. Gradually whisk in oil. Season with salt and pepper. Arrange lettuce leaves on 4 plates. Top with celery. Arrange 4 anchovies over each celery heart. Spoon dressing over. Top with parsley.

CELERY VICTOR

Steps:

• Arrange celery ribs in 1 layer in a 12-inch heavy skillet and add just enough chicken broth to cover. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently, covered, until celery is tender, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer celery and broth to a bowl and chill, uncovered, until cold, 2 to 3 hours.
• Whisk together mustard, sugar, and 3 tablespoons celery cooking broth. Whisk in oil and season with salt and pepper. Stir in chives, then chill vinaigrette, covered, until ready to serve.
• Transfer celery ribs with a slotted spoon to 6 plates. Drizzle with vinaigrette and scatter celery leaves on top.

CELERY VICTOR

Steps:

• Wash and cut celery hearts in half lengthwise.
• Cook in lightly salted water 7 minutes until tender crisp.
• Add vinegar, water, lemon juice, parsley, oregano, thyme, bay leaf, salt, pepper and cayenne.
• Simmer 4 minutes longer.
• Allow to cook in liquid, drain well, place each piece on a lettuce leaf.
• Sprinkle each serving with capers and pimento and black olives, if using.