Crunchy Celery Peanut Salad (Print View)

A crisp celery and peanut salad with zesty soy ginger dressing for a light, refreshing dish.

# What You’ll 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 and 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 lime juice
15 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

# Directions:

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, 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 allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The celery stays impossibly crisp even after dressing touches it, giving you that satisfying snap with every bite.
  • It comes together in the time it takes to brew a cup of tea, making weeknight dinners feel less like a chore.
  • The dressing tastes like a restaurant secret but asks for ingredients you probably already have hiding in your kitchen.
02 -
  • If you prepare this more than 15 minutes ahead, the celery will start to soften—the dressing draws out its moisture, which is actually lovely if you prefer a wilted salad, but not great if you're after pure crunch.
  • The quality of your sesame oil matters enormously; cheap versions taste rancid and will ruin the whole thing, so invest in a small bottle of a good one.
03 -
  • If you can find fresh young ginger with thin skin, you won't need to peel it—just grate the whole thing directly into your dressing for maximum flavor.
  • Warming the sesame oil slightly in your palm before measuring helps it release more of its aromatic oils, which sounds fussy but genuinely improves the final taste.
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