Tangy Celery Seed Vinaigrette for Salad Enhancement
Whip up a tangy dressing that'll knock your socks off! This recipe is brimming with flavor, thanks to the principal ingredient - celery seeds, which lend a pleasing bitterness. Here's what you'll need:
- Yield: Around 1 1/2 cups
- Total Time: Less than 5 minutes
- Active Time: Less than 5 minutes
Gear up for the ingredients list:
- 1 small sweet or white onion
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 2 teaspoons celery seeds
- 2 teaspoons dried mustard
- 1 cup grapeseed oil or other neutral oil
Now, let's roll up our sleeves and get to work!
- Grate the 1 small sweet or white onion. Whisk it in a small bowl with 1/4 cup sugar, 6 tablespoons apple cider vinegar, 2 teaspoons celery seeds, and 2 teaspoons dried mustard.
- Beat in 1 cup grapeseed oil (or another mild oil) and season with salt and black pepper to taste.
That's it! Your celery seed dressing is ready to spruce up your spinach salad, grated carrot salad, or potato salad. Here's a bit more insight into the humble celery seed, just for fun:
Celery Seeds: A Brief History & Health Benefits
Celery, including its seeds, hails from the Mediterranean and Middle East. The Greeks, Romans, and Chinese have all invested in the versatile root, employing it as a flavoring agent, currency, and medicine.
Celery seeds boast antioxidant properties and are rich in volatile oils like apiole and limonene, where the medicinal value lies. These antioxidants help neutralize free radicals, potentially reducing inflammation and improving overall health.
Furthermore, celery seeds have been traditionally used to aid digestion and alleviate bloating. The oils in celery seeds exhibit anti-inflammatory properties, which may benefit conditions like arthritis by reducing inflammation and discomfort.
For salad enthusiasts, incorporating celery seeds into salad dressings can elevate the flavor while contributing to the health benefits of each salad:
- Spinach Salad: Enhancing the flavor of spinach salads with celery seeds can also provide antioxidant benefits that complement the nutrients found in spinach.
- Carrot Salad: In carrot salads, celery seeds add depth to the dressing, offering anti-inflammatory effects that complement the beta-carotene benefits of carrots.
- Potato Salad: Celery seeds contribute a savory flavor to potato salads, potentially supporting digestive health, given the starch content of potatoes.
Curious to experiment with celery seeds in your salad dressings? Give the following simple recipe a go:
Simple Celery Seed Vinaigrette Recipe
Ingredients:- 2 teaspoons celery seeds- 1 cup olive oil- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar- 2 cloves garlic, minced- Salt and pepper to taste- Optional: Honey or mustard for added flavor
Instructions:1. Slightly crush the celery seeds to release their flavor.2. Combine the crushed celery seeds, olive oil, apple cider vinegar, garlic, salt, and pepper in a blender.3. Blend until smooth.4. Taste and adjust the dressing by adding honey for sweetness or mustard for tanginess.5. Use this vinaigrette in your spinach, carrot, or potato salads for added flavor and health benefits.
Happy salading!
- In the celery seed dressing recipe, the small sweet or white onion is to be grated and whisked with sugar, apple cider vinegar, celery seeds, and dried mustard.
- The recipe also requires 1 cup of grapeseed oil (or another mild oil) to be beaten into the mixture and seasoned with salt and black pepper to taste.
- This tangy dressing, rich in celery seeds, can enhance the flavors of various uncategorized salads, such as spinach, grated carrot, or potato salads.
- Celery seeds, with their antioxidant properties and anti-inflammatory effects, can contribute to the nutrition and health benefits of these salads when used in salad dressings.
