Pink Celery Is The Vibrantly Beautiful Vegetable To Add To Your Summer Salads
Most of us have a singular concept of celery: the green stalks you can find in any American grocery store. But this is only one variety within a much larger group. The celery you're probably familiar with is specifically known as "stalk celery" or "Pascal celery," and it originated near the Mediterranean.
Pink celery is its own unique variety, native to China. While it enjoyed a brief boom in popularity in Europe around the 1800s, it is now quite uncommon in Western cuisines, which is something that really ought to change, as those who haven't tried it are missing out on something special. In China, it's traditionally used for its purported anti-inflammatory effects, and it's now a prized source of flavor in many Northern Chinese dishes.
The name "pink celery" tells you exactly what you'll see when you set eyes on this vegetable, and as some of you have doubtlessly thought already, yes, it does look quite a lot like rhubarb. However, rhubarb and celery are actually unrelated, and aside from general shape and color, pink celery and rhubarb have little in common. The biggest visual difference between the two is size; pink celery is somewhat smaller, and the stalks are generally thinner, as well. The color alone, though, makes them a worthy addition to summertime salads, especially if you want to serve something eye-catching to guests. But the flavor is where pink celery really stands out.
Pink celery is a feast for the eyes and mouth
If you think of celery as bland, the pink variety will surely change your perspective. It has a powerfully herbaceous scent and flavor, and you'll even catch notes of anise, a plant which happens to be a member of the same family (Apiaceae). Its texture is also different from that of stalk celery, being a bit crunchier. These qualities make pink celery a great addition to light, leafy-green dishes. Additionally, the flavor of pink celery changes considerably when you cook it, offering another unique experience. Once cooked, pink celery becomes delightfully sweet and, because it is crispier than stalk celery to begin with, it retains more toothsomeness, too.
Some people actually find that pink celery's raw flavor is too strong, and that it can overwhelm the taste of more delicate ingredients, including salad leaves. Thus, pink celery is frequently used in its cooked form, added not only to salads but also to soups, stews, and stir-fries. It is quite versatile, pairing well with meat, poultry, and fish as well as seasonings like ginger, garlic, and scallions, so feel free to get creative with it. Pink celery's uniquely savory-sweet flavor profile can also be used to lend new depth to a mirepoix, the foundation of countless dishes. If you wish to showcase the bright bubblegum hue of pink celery in its raw form but want its presence in the dish to be subtler, shredding it and using it as a garnish is a great option.
Celery may tickle you pink
Pink celery could be the answer to your celery-apathy. Despite showing up on nearly every veggie platter ever assembled, green celery has a vast group of detractors. Surveys reported on by publications in Japan and the United Kingdom alike have exposed it as the least favorite vegetable of their respective nations, and whole articles have been written with the sole purpose of brutally bashing the stuff.
The heart of this anti-celery argument centers on its lack of flavor and the stringy texture of its stalks, which are both understandable complaints. Green celery is not wholly devoid of taste, but it is exceedingly mild, and the touch of earthiness that it does provide isn't for everyone. If you fall into the anti-celery camp, pink celery could be just the thing to change your mind, with its crunchier texture and herby flavor serving as a great departure from what you're used to.
The one frustrating thing about pink celery is that it's fairly rare outside of Northern China, so you might have a hard time finding it, depending on where you live. There are some farms in the United States that grow pink celery, as well, and some in a number of European nations, too. You can also order seeds online and grow it yourself, and for avid home gardeners, this is a vegetable highly deserving of your consideration. It will make your garden pop with color, and the flavorful rewards will be unlike anything you've tried before.