Crunchy Celery Peanut Salad (Printable)

Crisp celery and roasted peanuts tossed in a zesty soy ginger dressing for a vibrant salad experience.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables

01 - 6 large celery stalks, thinly sliced on the diagonal
02 - 1 small red bell pepper, thinly sliced
03 - 2 scallions, thinly sliced
04 - 1 small carrot, julienned

→ Nuts & Seeds

05 - 1/2 cup roasted unsalted peanuts, roughly chopped
06 - 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

→ Fresh Herbs

07 - 1/4 cup fresh cilantro leaves, chopped

→ Dressing

08 - 2 tablespoons soy sauce
09 - 1 tablespoon rice vinegar
10 - 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
11 - 1 tablespoon honey or maple syrup
12 - 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely grated
13 - 1 clove garlic, minced
14 - 1 teaspoon fresh lime juice
15 - 1/2 teaspoon chili flakes

# How to Make It:

01 - In a large salad bowl, combine the celery, red bell pepper, scallions, carrot, and cilantro.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, grated ginger, garlic, lime juice, and chili flakes until well combined.
03 - Pour the dressing over the salad and toss to coat all the vegetables evenly.
04 - Add the chopped peanuts and sesame seeds, tossing lightly to distribute throughout.
05 - Serve immediately for maximum crunch, or chill for 10 minutes to allow flavors to meld.

# Expert Advice:

01 -
  • The crunch stays vibrant even after sitting, so you're not fighting a wilted salad halfway through lunch.
  • Ginger and soy together create this umami-forward dressing that makes vegetables taste like the main event, not an afterthought.
  • It comes together in fifteen minutes flat, which means you can actually make it on a Tuesday without pretending you have a cooking show budget of time.
02 -
  • Oversalted dressing is harder to fix than undersalted, so go easy on soy sauce until you taste it—you can always add more but you can't take it back.
  • The moment peanuts touch the wet dressing, they start softening, which is why timing them right before eating makes the whole dish feel intentional rather than tired.
03 -
  • Keep your ginger fine-grated so it dissolves into the dressing rather than creating fibrous bits that get stuck in your teeth.
  • Cold vegetables hold their crunch better, so chill your salad bowl for five minutes while you finish prepping if you have the foresight.
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