celery seasoning: a simple blend of seeds and salt

Celery seasoning is a simple blend made of celery seeds and salt. The seasoning is light brown or greenish brown, bringing a slight pepper flavor with grassy and bitter notes. It is a popular store-bought or homemade spice. Celery seasoning goes in salad dressings, potato salads, and bloody marys.

What is celery seasoning?

Celery seasoning is commonly known as celery salt, a spice blend made of ground celery seeds and salt. The celery seeds come from the wild celery plant. Sometimes, the salt is combined with dried celery or ground celery stalk and leaves.

This seasoned salt is a popular staple in many kitchens. The taste of celery compliments dishes that include other vegetables, especially dishes with carrots and onions.

Origin

Celery seed is native to eastern and southern Europe and the Mediterranean. It is cultivated in India, France, Britain, Japan, China, Hungary, and the United States.

The Romans were the first to use it as a seasoning, which eventually became a delicacy in Italian and French cooking. North Americans began using celery seeds in the 19th century, mainly for pickling.

Appearance

Celery seasoning can also refer to:

• Celery seeds, tiny, dark brown. When ground, they are dark green-brown.
• Celery salt, which contains tiny, light brown flakes.
• Celery powder, that appears as tiny, light green-brown celery flakes since it contains celery stalks and leaves instead of celery seeds.

Flavor profile

The dominant flavor in celery seasoning is salt. The celery flavor becomes more prominent after the initial taste. The celery seeds in celery salt bring a peppery, bitter, and earthy taste to the seasoning. Sometimes, its flavor profile can be overpowering, so you should combine it with other spices to balance it out.

Nutritional Benefits of celery seasoning

Celery seasoning may support bone health, boost red blood cell production, lower blood sugar and cholesterol levels, and fight harmful bacteria. Celery salt is high in polysaccharides and other antioxidants and polysaccharides that have anti-inflammatory properties. Celery salt has lower sodium content than regular salt.

What spices go well with celery?

Celery goes well with various spices, such as black pepper and paprika. It also goes great with many herbs, including parsley, thyme, rosemary, and dill weed. Celery salt combines well with garlic powder, ginger, and onion powder.

How do you use celery seasoning?

You can substitute celery seasoning for table salt in almost any savory dish. It is commonly sprinkled into cold salads such as potato salads, egg salads, tuna salads, and coleslaw. It adds a unique flavor beyond simple salt and pepper.

Celery seasoning is also popularly used as a rim for bloody marys. Dust celery salt along the rim of the glass when making the cocktail, and finish the cocktail with a celery stalk garnish.

Include celery seasoning in a breading mixture for fried chicken breasts or onion rings.

It can be used as a garnish, too. Sprinkle it over warm garlic bread, corn on the cob, popcorn, and deviled eggs for extra flavor and aroma.

Top 3 recipes that call for celery seasoning

Classic Chicken Noodle Soup: Celery seasoning adds great flavor to chicken noodle soup. Sprinkle celery salt or stalks into the broth as it boils.

Easy Vegan Coleslaw: Add a little bit of celery seed or celery seasoning to your coleslaw mixture to make a classic vegan coleslaw.

Dry Rub for Ribs: Celery seasoning also works well in a dry rub for meats. Combine celery salt, chili powder, paprika, brown sugar, dry mustard, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, and onion powder to make a dry rub. Sprinkle this rub on a pork butt or ribs and let them sit overnight.

What is the best way to make celery seasoning?

You can make your own celery seasoning by combining ground celery seeds and table salt to produce a mixture similar to those at grocery stores. Here’s how:

1. Combine 2 tablespoons of ground celery seed with 4 tablespoons of salt.
2. If the celery seeds are whole, put them in a spice grinder or food processor and grind them into a fine powder. Use a mortar and pestle to grind the celery seeds.
3. You could also grind fresh celery leaves from a celery stalk that has been dried.
4. Then combine the celery grounds with salt.
5. Use a ratio of 1 part ground celery leaves to 2 parts fine sea salt or table salt.
6. Once you make your seasoning, pour the blend into an airtight container or spice jar, which will keep for up to 1 year.

Optional: create a unique seasoning blend by adding other spices to your mixture, like onion or garlic powder.