Spicy Cold Celery Food

CELERY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat the oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat, tip in the celery, garlic and potatoes and coat in the oil. Add a splash of water and a big pinch of salt and cook, stirring regularly for 15 mins, adding a little more water if the veg begins to stick.
• Pour in the vegetable stock and bring to the boil, then turn the heat down and simmer for 20 mins further, until the potatoes are falling apart and the celery is soft. Use a stick blender to purée the soup, then pour in the milk and blitz again. Season to taste. Serve with crusty bread.

SPICY COLD BRAISED CELERY

Steps:

• Boil the celery in lightly salted water for 1 minute. Drain, cool under cold running water and set aside.
• Melt the butter in a large nonstick skillet and saute the scallions for 2 minutes, stirring frequently. Add the broth, coriander seeds, celery seeds and chili-pepper flakes and simmer for 15 minutes. Add the celery and lemon juice. Cover, reduce heat to very low and simmer until the celery is tender, 10 to 12 minutes. If more than 1 cup of broth remains, remove the celery and continue cooking until the broth has reduced. Recombine celery and broth in a flat container, add the salt and refrigerate, covered with tinfoil, for 1 hour.
• Chop 1/2 of the cilantro leaves with the celery leaves and add to the celery. Sprinkle the remaining cilantro on top and serve.

SPICY COLD CELERY

Steps:

• Cut the celery into 2-inch lengths. Mix with the salt and sugar and set aside for 10 minutes while you whisk together the remaining ingredients.
• Rinse, drain, and pat dry the celery, then toss with the dressing. Let stand in the refrigerator for at least three hours, and up to a day.
• Serve chilled.

SPICY FRIED CELERY

Steps:

• Cut the celery sticks into 4cm lengths, then finely shred these vertically.
• Slice the chilli thinly.
• Heat the oil in a fry pan, and add the celery, chilli and sugar.
• Stir-fry over a moderate heat for 1 minute, then add the soy sauce and continue stir frying for a further minute or two and until all the liquid has evaporated.
• To keep the celery crisp, evaporate the liquid quickly.

SPICY COLD CELERY

Steps:

• Cut the celery into 2-inch lengths. Mix with the salt and 1 teaspoon of the sugar and set aside for 10 minutes while you whisk together the remaining ingredients.
• Rinse, drain, and pat dry the celery, then toss with the dressing. Let stand in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours and up to a day. Serve chilled.