Crunchy Celery Parmesan Lemon (Printable Version)

A crisp salad with celery, lemon zest, and shaved Parmesan cheese for a refreshing bite.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 6 large celery stalks, thinly sliced on the bias
02 - 1 small apple, cored and thinly sliced
03 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

→ Cheese

04 - 1/3 cup shaved Parmesan cheese

→ Dressing

05 - 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
06 - Zest of 1 lemon
07 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
08 - 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
09 - 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

→ Garnish

10 - 2 tablespoons toasted walnuts or almonds, roughly chopped

# Steps to Follow:

01 - In a large bowl, combine the sliced celery, apple, and chopped parsley
02 - In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper until well emulsified
03 - Pour the dressing over the celery mixture and toss gently to coat evenly
04 - Add the shaved Parmesan and toss lightly to combine
05 - Transfer to a serving platter or bowl and sprinkle with toasted nuts if desired
06 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch and freshness

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • It takes fifteen minutes and tastes like you spent actual effort in the kitchen.
  • The texture stays impossibly crisp, even when dressed, because lemon juice won't wilt celery the way vinegar might.
  • It's naturally gluten-free and can be made vegan with one small swap, so it fits almost any table.
02 -
  • Don't dress this salad more than ten minutes before serving, or the celery will start to soften and lose its signature crunch.
  • Whisking the dressing properly matters—the olive oil and lemon juice need to emulsify slightly, which means the dressing clings to the vegetables instead of pooling at the bottom of the bowl.
03 -
  • Buy celery with its leaves still attached and wash them well—they're tender and flavorful, and too many people throw them away without thinking.
  • If you don't have a vegetable peeler for shaving Parmesan, a sharp chef's knife works beautifully; just make thin, angled cuts and the cheese will shatter into delicate shards.
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