Easy way To prepare Celery Salad With Apples and Blue Cheese

 Celery Salad With Apples and Blue Cheese

Time: 20 minutes 

Celery is likely at its best in salad: its flavor is at its most vibrant, and its crunch is unapologetic. Celery root compliments the chopped stalks, apples lend sweetness, and blue cheese, celery's traditional companion, adds a punch. This salad is flavorful enough to stand on its own, but not so much that it clashes with other dishes. The crisp salad ingredients are tough enough to keep stable if refrigerated overnight, making celery salad a pleasant addition to the Thanksgiving meal.

INGREDIENTS

Yield:

8 servings

5tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

¼cup finely chopped shallot

4teaspoons coarse mustard

1teaspoon finely grated fresh lemon zest, plus 4 teaspoons lemon juice (from 1 lemon)

1teaspoon granulated sugar

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1head celery, trimmed, stalks peeled and thinly sliced on the diagonal, leaves reserved

2tart red apples, such as Pink Lady

1small celery root (about 12 ounces)

1packed cup fresh parsley leaves, plus more for garnish

½cup coarsely chopped roasted, salted almonds

1cup crumbled bold, creamy but firm blue cheese (4 to 5 ounces)

PREPARATION

Step 1

Prepare the vinaigrette: In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, shallot, mustard, lemon zest and juice, and sugar; season to taste with salt and pepper. Add the sliced celery and toss to coat.

Step 2

Core the apples, then slice them lengthwise into very thin wedges using a knife or mandoline. Add to the sliced celery and toss to coat. Peel or slice off the outer skin and layers of the celery root until no brown skin remains. Cut the celery root in half lengthwise, then slice into very thin half-moons using a knife or a mandoline. Add to the celery and apple mixture and toss to coat. (The salad will hold up fairly well refrigerated for 1 to 2 hours — or even overnight — from this point.)

Step 3

Just before serving, add the parsley, almonds and half the cheese, and toss to combine; season to taste with salt and pepper.

Step 4

Transfer to a shallow serving bowl or platter; top with the remaining cheese, the reserved celery leaves and fresh parsley leaves. Serve immediately.