4 Celery Alternatives That Will Rescue Any Meal Plan

Celery may not steal the spotlight often, but it plays a crucial role in adding depth to flavors. Much like onions and carrots, it forms the backbone of many dishes. From the classic French mirepoix to the Creole holy trinity, it's a key ingredient in stocks and soups, working behind the scenes to elevate the taste in ways we often don't realize.

Why Consider a Celery Swap?

Celery isn't always the most attention-grabbing ingredient, and its low profile makes it easy to overlook at the store. It's often just sitting there in the crisper, so it might slip your mind when you're making your shopping list. And if your grocery store happens to be out of stock, who wants to go back for just one item?

Sometimes, you're all set for a meal except for one key ingredient—celery. Whether it's a last-minute craving or you're missing it from your favorite soup recipe, don’t worry. There are several simple substitutions to keep your dinner plans on track.

Top Celery Replacements

Fennel

When a recipe calls for raw celery, particularly in celery salads, fennel bulb is an excellent substitute. The texture and crunch of fennel closely mimic that of celery, and when thinly sliced, it holds up just as well in raw dishes. While fennel has a subtle licorice flavor, it offers a similar taste, though it has less water content than celery.

For raw dishes like salads, replace celery with an equal amount of raw fennel. Fennel can also be used in cooked recipes like soups and stews, with the same substitution ratio as raw celery.

Leeks

When cooked, leeks and celery have a similar fibrous yet tender texture. While leeks add a mild onion flavor that celery lacks, they can also be a bit stringy. This swap is especially effective in soups or dishes like stuffing, where the onion-like taste complements the celery.

Leeks make an excellent substitute for celery if you enjoy its texture but prefer a different flavor. For this swap, use one large leek for every two celery stalks. Be sure to cut the amount of onion in the recipe by half to balance the added flavor from the leeks.

Check out the recipe: Bread and Celery Stuffing

Onion and Celery Seed

Diced cooked onions and celery have a remarkably similar texture. To mimic this texture while adding a touch of celery flavor, pair onions with celery seed. This combo works wonderfully in pureed soups like butternut squash or hearty potato soup, where the celery and onion flavors complement bolder ingredients. For each two stalks of celery, use half an onion and a teaspoon of whole celery seed (or half a teaspoon of ground celery seed).

Celeriac

Celeriac, also known as celery root, is a root vegetable that tastes just like celery. While it might sound unusual, its potato-like texture makes it perfect for roasting alongside other root vegetables, serving as a great substitute for celery. It's also a wonderful replacement in recipes like celery and potato soup, or anywhere you crave the taste of celery.

This trick is especially useful for reducing dairy in recipes. When cooked, celeriac blends into a creamy texture, making it a great alternative to milk or cream in creamy soups or vegan dishes like scalloped potatoes, while still giving that signature celery flavor. Whether roasting or blending, swap three stalks of celery for half a large celeriac bulb.

The key thing to remember when swapping out celery is that there isn't a perfect replacement. The final dish may taste a bit different, and that's perfectly fine. In fact, you might discover that you prefer the new version. Experimenting with different flavors in familiar recipes can enhance them, especially when you're introducing new ingredients.