Crunchy Celery Peanut Salad (Printable view)

Vibrant mix of celery, peanuts, and tangy soy ginger dressing for a refreshing light dish.

# What You Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 6 large celery stalks, thinly sliced on the diagonal
02 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
03 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small carrot, julienned

→ Nuts & Seeds

05 - 1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Fresh Herbs

07 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

→ Dressing

08 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely grated
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
15 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes or 1 small red chili, finely chopped

# How To Make:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the celery, red bell pepper, scallions, carrot, and cilantro.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey or maple syrup, grated ginger, garlic, lime juice, and chili flakes until well combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat all the vegetables evenly.
04 - Add the chopped peanuts and sesame seeds, tossing lightly to distribute throughout.
05 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch, or chill for 10 minutes to let flavors meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • It's ready faster than deciding what to eat, yet tastes like you planned ahead.
  • The crunch stays crunchy even hours later, making it perfect for meal prep without the soggy regret.
  • A drizzle of sesame oil and fresh ginger transforms humble vegetables into something that feels like a small celebration.
02 -
  • Don't dress the salad more than an hour ahead, or the celery starts surrendering its crunch to the liquid; timing is everything here.
  • Toast your sesame seeds in a dry pan for just enough time to smell them—they go from humble to incredible in under a minute, then burnt if you blink.
03 -
  • Slice everything right before serving and dress at the last moment—this single habit will transform your salad from good to craveable.
  • Taste the dressing before adding it to the vegetables so you can adjust the balance of salt, acid, and sweetness to your preference.
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