Celery salad is crunchy, hearty antidote to winter
Warm roasted mushrooms make this celery salad hearty and appealing on a cold day. Goat cheese, blue cheese or Parmigiano-Reggiano would all be good swaps for the feta.
Make ahead: The celery mixture needs to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes and up to 1 hour. The salad can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. (The mushrooms aren’t the same cold or at room temperature, but they are still good.)
CELERY SALAD
FOR MARINATED CELERY:
2 tablespoons minced shallot
2 tablespoons Champagne or other white wine vinegar 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
½ teaspoon salt
¾ teaspoon sugar
¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
8 ribs celery (leafy stalks from the heart preferred), sliced very thin on the diagonal
1 cup cooked or canned white beans (rinsed and drained if canned)
FOR ROASTED MUSHROOMS:
12 ounces cremini mushrooms, each cut into quarters 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
¼ teaspoon salt
FOR ASSEMBLY:
¼ cup chopped parsley
¼ cup chopped fresh mint
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill
3 ounces crumbled feta cheese
1. For the marinated celery: Whisk together the shallot, vinegar, oil, salt, sugar and black pepper in a large salad bowl until the sugar has dissolved. Add the celery and white beans, toss, and let marinate in the refrigerator for 30 minutes to 1 hour.
2. While the celery marinates, make the roasted mushrooms: Preheat the oven to 375 F. Arrange the mushrooms on a rimmed baking sheet, then drizzle with oil, season with salt and toss to coat. Roast (middle rack) for 30 to 40 minutes, until the mushrooms have browned and are tender.
3. Reserve 2 tablespoons of the mixed herbs to garnish the salad.
To assemble just before serving, toss the rest of the herbs with the celery and white bean mixture. Arrange on a platter. Top with the roasted mushrooms, crumbled feta and reserved herbs. Serve right away.
Nutritional information based on 6 servings: Calories: 190; Total Fat: 13 g; Saturated Fat: 4 g; Cholesterol: 15 mg; Sodium: 480 mg; Carbohydrates: 13 g; Dietary Fiber: 4 g; Sugars: 4 g; Protein: 7 g.