I love a simple veg-froward salad and this Celery Salad is just that. It’s a no-fuss recipe that let’s celery shine by leaning on a simple vinaigrette, tons of fresh chives, and toasted pecans for a buttery, toasty contrasting crunch.

sliced celery salad with nuts and cheese on a large white oval plate

Why I Love This Celery Salad Recipe

Like I said earlier, I love a simple veggie salad and this 3-Ingredient Fennel Salad is a great example. Similarly, this celery salad is all about, well, the celery. A simple vinaigrette made with evoo, sherry vinegar, Dijon and honey is all that dresses the crunchy slices of stalk. 

For a contrasting crunch I toss in toasted pecans (which are optional but totally change the vibe of the salad). To compliment the nutty pecan flavor I add a few shaves of Gruyère cheese and finally, for even more brightness, I add tons of chives and celery leaves (try to find celery with them still intact). 

Ingredients In this Simple Salad

  • extra-virgin olive oil, the extra-virgin part is important. Since the salad is so simple, a flavorful olive oil is very important.
  • sherry vinegar, it just pairs so well with celery. If you don’t have sherry vin, you can sub with white wine vin or apple cider vin.
  • Dijon mustard, essential for adding depth of flavor and emulsifying the vinaigrette.
  • Honey balances out the salty flavors!
  • Celery stalks, preferably with leaves still intact! 
  • Pecans, especially when toasted, add a beautiful texture and flavor. To toast pecans (and most nuts) arrange them in an even layer on a baking sheet. Toast in a 350ºF (177ºC) oven until fragrant and golden brown, about 8 minutes. 
  • Chives, I cut the chives into 1-inch pieces which ensures they stick to the celery and every bite has at least one piece.  
  • Gruyère cheese, though Parmesan would also be fantastic.
  • Red pepper flakes add a nice kick! If you’re looking for something a bit more bild and floral, opt for cracked black pepper. 
sliced celery salad with cheese and chives on a large white oval plate

Make Ahead Tip

Celery is pretty good at holding it’s crunch, so this salad can sit for a bit and retain it’s lovely texture. However, I don’t recommend making this too far in advance. If you’re looking to get most of it prepped ahead of time you can slice the celery, toast and chop the pecans, and make the vinaigrette. Just toss everything together before serving.

Test Kitchen Tips

Variations on This Celery Salad

  • Swap the olive oil out for walnut oil or infused olive oil (lemon or basil would be great). 
  • For a more summer-y salad, swap the pecans for toasted slivered almond and add some torn fresh basil. Swap the vinegar out for fresh lemon juice and add a bit of minced fresh lemon zest.
  • To keep it dairy free, skip the cheese.
  • To make this vegan, skip the cheese and use sugar or maple syrup in place of the honey.
  • Give it a Mexican twist by swapping the vinegar out for fresh lime juice, using cilantro instead of chives, and Manchego instead of Gruyère. A few thin slices of red onion would also be delicious.
  • Toss some thin slices of apple into the salad.
sliced celery salad with nuts and cheese on a large white oval plate

Serve This Side Dish With…

Simple Celery Salad with Chives & Pecans

4.50 from 2 votes
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 15 minutes
Yield 5 cups (6 servings)
Category Side Dish
Cuisine American
Author Lauren Grant

Description

A light, fresh and super simple crunchy celery salad! Enjoy as a lunch or serve alongside something savory for a perfectly balanced meal.

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons sherry vinegar
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 2 teaspoons honey
  • kosher salt
  • red pepper flakes
  • 1 bunch celery, 10 large stalks, preferably with leaves intact
  • ½ cup toasted and chopped pecans
  • cup chives, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 2 ounces Gruyère cheese, shaved

Instructions

  • In a large bowl whisk together oil, vinegar, Dijon, and honey; season with salt and red pepper flakes.
  • Wash and trim celery (reserve celery leaves). Thinly slice celery on the bias. Chop celery leaves.
  • Add celery, half the pecans, half the chives, and half the Gruyère to the bowl with vinaigrette. Toss to combine, season with salt to taste, then transfer to a serving plate.
  • Top salad with remaining pecans, chives, and Gruyère. Sprinkle celery leaves and additional red pepper flakes over top. Serve immediately.

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Notes

Dairy-free: skip the cheese.
Vegan: skip the cheese and use maple syrup instead of honey.
Nut-free: use pumpkin seeds or sunflower seeds instead of pecans.

Nutrition

Calories: 159kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 4gFat: 15gSaturated Fat: 3gCholesterol: 10mgSodium: 74mgFiber: 2gSugar: 2.5g
Like this? Leave a comment below!I love hearing from you and I want to hear how it went with this recipe! Leave a comment and rating below, then share on social media @zestfulkitchen and #zestfulkitchen!
sliced celery salad with nuts and cheese on a large white oval plate

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About The Author

Lauren Grant is a professional culinary food scientist, food writer, recipe developer, and food photographer. Lauren is a previous magazine editor and test kitchen developer and has had work published in major national publications including Diabetic Living Magazine, Midwest Living Magazine, Cuisine at Home Magazine, EatingWell.com, AmericasTestKitchen.com, and more.

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4.50 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)

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Comments

  1. 4 stars
    I liked this. It was something different and a nice fresh, crisp contrast to our panko fried tofu. But my husband thought it was “just OK”. Will have to try it on some others, perhaps with the variations.