I have made it a point to do my best to limit the number of pre made, bottled and boxed products in my fridge and panty. Well, I really needed another salad dressing recipe-I was in a rut. In my effort to de-stress myself at the end of my day I turned on the Food Network and there was Ina Garten; The Barefoot Contessa inspiring me and saving me from another gloomy salad. She not only provided a salad dressing recipe but a wonderful salad of CELERY! What?! In all my life I have never had a Celery Salad? Have you? Have I been missing something? Has this been a super secret gourmet treat that I have never heard of? I just knew I had to try it.
The salad dressing is very easy and only requires one item that you probably don’t have in your pantry, but then again you might; Anchovy Paste. I had to buy some of that stuff and it was in the tuna fish aisle! Word to the wise; don’t skimp on this it makes all the difference in the dressing.
Here is Ina’s original recipe; Celery and Parmesan Salad on the Food Network. I ended up adding Chopped Fennel and 1 chopped granny smith apple. I thought these two items would add to the crunchiness and would go well with the salad dressing too, I think I was right, but look forward to your opinion too!
Make sure you marinate this salad for at least 2 hours or overnight-that way all the flavors soak in!
I think I am going to make this salad and dressing many more times!
Celery Vinaigrette
1/2 cup of Olive oil
1/4 cup plus 2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp of Lemon Zest
2 Tbsp of chopped onions or shallots
1 tsp of Anchovy paste
1/2 tsp celery salt
1 tsp celery seed
Kosher salt to taste
Black pepper to taste
Mix all ingredients in a jar and shake to combine.
Crunchy Celery Salad with Fennel and Green Apples
1 bunch of celery coarsely chopped
1 Fennel Bulb, cored and coarsely chopped
1 Granny Smith Apple (leave peel on) chopped
Chop all into relatively the same size pieces-toss with vinaigrette and let marinate for at least two hours or overnight.
Serve like Ina does with shaved parmesan on top.
This would be great for picnics or carry-ins as it all stays crunchy and fresh.
