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Crisp Celery Salad with Apples, Dates, and Parmesan: Your New Favorite Refreshing Side Dish

Close-up of a bowl containing fresh celery salad, topped with grated cheese, raisins, and croutons.
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You need this Crisp Celery Salad! It combines the satisfying crunch of celery with sweet dates, tart apples, salty Parmesan, and toasted pecans, all tossed in a zesty lemon vinaigrette. This easy side dish is perfect for a light lunch or to brighten up any dinner table.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 large bunch celery, thinly sliced on a diagonal
  • 2 crisp apples (like Honeycrisp or Granny Smith), cored and diced
  • 1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates, roughly chopped
  • 1/2 cup toasted pecans or walnuts
  • 1/2 cup shaved or grated Parmesan cheese
  • 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • For the Zesty Lemon Vinaigrette:
  • 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
  • 1/2 cup olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • 1 teaspoon maple syrup or honey
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

  1. Prepare the vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt, and pepper until well combined and emulsified. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the salad components: In a large bowl, combine the sliced celery, diced apples, chopped dates, toasted pecans, and fresh parsley.
  3. Dress the salad: Pour about three-quarters of the vinaigrette over the celery mixture. Toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly. Add more dressing if needed, but avoid making it soggy.
  4. Add cheese: Gently fold in the shaved Parmesan cheese just before serving.
  5. Serve immediately for maximum crunch. If you must prepare ahead, keep the dressing separate and toss just before serving.

Notes

  • Toasting the nuts brings out their flavor; spread them on a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, watching closely.
  • This salad is excellent for potlucks because it holds its crunch well.
  • For a Mediterranean salad ideas twist, substitute feta cheese for Parmesan.
  • If you are looking for quick healthy salads, this recipe takes under 20 minutes total.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://kitchenuser.net/celery-salad-crisp-apples-dates-parmesan/