Some of the best foods out there come with crunch — and, in a lot of cases,
you have celery to thank for that. Nothing beats taking a textureless meal like tuna salad and
kicking it up a notch. But what should you do if you realize you're out of celery? We have a fix.
While it might not deliver as rich or strong a flavor as more superstar vegetables like peppers
or ripe tomatoes, there are still few things more satisfying than breaking into a crisp,
crunchy stalk of fresh celery. And yes, we admit it — those strings might be a turn-off for some,
but that's easily fixed with the help of some knife skills.
It's the crunch that makes it an essential ingredient for dishes like tuna salad,
which are enhanced by the added texture — not to mention that it's an easy way to slip some extra
veggies into your diet and enjoy all those additional health benefits. Most standard
tuna salad recipes include chopped-up slices of celery as a main ingredient,
along with mayonnaise, red onion, lemon, and, of course, canned tuna.
But it's not just tuna salad that can benefit from the satisfying snap of sliced celery.
Just about any type of salad sandwich can be livened up with a little bit of extra
texture — even vegan ones. Many tasty chickpea salad sandwiches, which deliver a punch of
plant-based protein with mashed chickpeas and substitute vegan mayo for extra creaminess,
still include celery slices in the recipe for its satisfying crunch.
But what happens when you're out of celery, or if you're just not a fan?
If that's the case, you're not alone. Despite its many benefits, some people simply don't enjoy
the taste. But that doesn't mean your tuna salad sandwiches have to suffer. For those who are truly
opposed to celery, or simply don't want to have to buy a whole stalk of celery for just one recipe,
there are plenty of other ways to deliver that tasty crunch to your homemade tuna salad.
In fact, just about any other fresh,
crisp vegetable will do. You can definitely add slices of carrots,
chopped cucumber, or bell peppers to achieve that crunch, along with an extra punch of flavor.
And even if you don't want to replace the celery entirely, there are plenty of ways
to take your tuna salad recipe up a notch while still including the classic ingredient.
For an extra crunchy tuna salad, a combination of celery,
carrots, onions, and minced fennel can add a little something special.
Tuna salad has the potential to be kind of boring, and sometimes, you are just not looking
to make your grandmother's tuna salad yet again. The good news is, there's plenty of options:
edamame, avocado, and even bacon can add some unexpected flavor. Delicious,
right? It might even help convince some tuna salad naysayers to change their mind.
And if you are really looking to spice up your tuna salad,
cilantro, lime juice, minced red peppers, and minced jalapeño peppers — or really,
any hot pepper you're brave enough to add — deliver a tasty kick of both texture and heat.
"Spicy."
However, if the only thing holding you back from adding the celery to your tuna salad
is the worry that whatever you don't use will go to waste,
there are plenty of other yummy ways to utilize celery in other dishes.
It can also be chopped and sprinkled atop a salad — maybe even with some tuna! It can
also be incorporated into a hearty vegetable stew, braised and served as the main course,
or even blended and used as a base ingredient in your new favorite cocktail.
For an easy and healthy snack on the go, celery also makes a great juice or smoothie ingredient.
And, of course, a stalk of celery can also make a great, nutritious snack just on its own,
or with a side of hummus or your favorite dressing for a little extra flavor.
Ultimately, these are just a few of the best celery substitutes,
but there is no shortage of ways to use up that whole stalk of fresh,
healthy celery if you have some left over after preparing your tuna salad.
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