The Only Way To Eat Celery

Another one of those vegetables that garners a love/hate relationship (in my opinion) is Celery (Apium graveolens).  I’m not a fan of fresh celery – the taste, the consistency, the stringiness, just the way it feels when you bite into it bleech.   But, I do like to add celery powder to soups, stews, chili, steamed veggies, and it is a nice addition to sprinkle on cuts of meat, fish and poultry.  I make a “dusting grind” using garlic and onion powders, pink himalayan sea salt and fresh, ground peppercorns, and celery powder, mixed together in a large Ziplock® baggie.  I add my cuts of meat and shake, shake, shake to make a yummy “coating” before grilling.

 If you’ve ever read the labels on commercial herbs and spices, the fillers, msg, glutens and other assorted chemicals that I can’t even pronounce are enough to make me steer clear of store-bought brands.  All the more reason it makes sense to grind and blend your own.   If you’re growing your own organic / heirloom veggies or frequenting local organic farmers’ markets, you have a wide variety of fresh, “clean” vegetables from which to choose.  You’ll start looking at vegetables differently when you realize what can be dehydrated and turned into powders – tomatoes, garlic, onions, mushrooms – you’re only limited by your imagination.

 Celery Powder 

·        2 – 3 bunches of homegrown/heirloom/organic celery
(2-3  bunches will generally make approx. 4-6  oz of celery powder)

·        Dehydrator

·        Spice grinder, blender, mini food processor or a simple mortar and pestle

·        Canning or spice jar with a tight lid     

      (a tight lid is the key is to keep moisture out of the powder)

 

Directions

1.      Thoroughly wash and completely dry all of the celery. 

2.    Slice celery into small, even, uniform pieces so that it dries consistently during the same time frame.  Only slice the green sections.  Avoid the ends of the celery, which is almost white, as it is bitter and will distort the flavor of your powder.

3.    Arrange the celery slices in a single layer on the dehydrator trays.

4.    Set the dehydrator to the vegetable setting and/or to  135° degrees F

5.     Let the process run for approx.  8–9 hours to fully dehydrate the celery.  Please note: the pieces will shrink greatly during the process.  Test a piece by crushing it under a spoon.  If it crushes easily and turns to powder, the celery is ready to grind.

6.    Grind small amounts of celery at a time for best results.  Do not open your grinder until the powder has had time to settle.   Make sure to not breathe in the powder.

7.     Add the powder to your jars and store in a cool dry cabinet or pantry.

8.    Try mixing your celery powder with other herbs and spices for your own creative, tasty blends (like my meat dusting concoction).

Electric Spice Grinder
(w/Stainless Steel Blades)

Stainless Steel Mortar & Pestle

It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn. B. C. Forbes
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It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn. B. C. Forbes Spring, Gardening,
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/b_c_forbes.html

It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn. B. C. Forbes Spring, Gardening
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/b_c_forbes.html

It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn. B. C. Forbes Spring, Gardening
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/b/b_c_forbes.html

It is only the farmer who faithfully plants seeds in the Spring, who reaps a harvest in the Autumn. B. C. Forbes
Read more at: https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/b/bcforbes173246.html?src=t_gardening

To A Life Of Simplicity™

Happy Homesteading!

~ Susan & Rick

Celtic Acres Farm

If you have a question or comment, you can leave it below, and I will do my best to respond.  Please keep your comments civil and clean.  I reserve the right to delete inappropriate comments. 

About the Author:

Susan along with her husband, Rick, are the owners of Celtic Acres Farm, an organic, self-sufficient, off-grid farm where they raise chickens, ducks, goats and a pig, rescue dogs and cats, grow their own heirloom, non-gmo produce, create handmade crafts and home décor items, and strive to live a self-sustaining lifestyle while attempting to carve out that little piece of paradise where they can live free, breathe free and commune with nature.

Celtic Acres Farms is committed to healthy animals, a greener planet, recycling-reusing-repurposing, while maintaining our rural heritage and sharing it with others. We believe that we must all lead the way to a more sustainable future while never forgetting the things of the past. 

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