Braised Hearts Of Celery Vinaigrette Recipes

BRAISED CELERY

Steps:

• Neatly trim the bottom of each bunch of celery, making it clean and smooth. Cut off the celery bunches about 4 inches from the bottom. Save the leafy portion for other uses.
• Using a swivel-bladed vegetable knife, scrape the outside stalks, rinse well and drain.
• Boil enough water in a pan to cover the celery bases when they are added. Add the celery and simmer 5 minutes. Drain.
• Heat the butter in a skillet large enough to hold the celery bunches compactly in one layer. Sprinkle with onion and add the celery. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and add the broth. Bring to a boil and cover tightly. Simmer until tender, about 15 to 20 minutes.

BRAISED CELERY HEARTS WITH TOMATO AND OLIVES

Steps:

• Leaving root ends intact, strip off outer branches, leaving about 2 pounds tender, leafy inner stalks. Cut into 8-inch lengths . Quarter lengthwise, place in large mixing bowl, toss with salt, set aside.
• Put oven racks in top position, preheat broiler. Place tomatoes in pie plate, drizzle with one tablespoon oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil, stirring occasionally, until surface moisture evaporates and tomatoes are charred, about 10 minutes. Set aside.
• Warm 2 tablespoons olive oil in large skillet over medium heat. Add onions, saute until soft and golden, stirring frequently, about 7 mintues. Transfer onions to shallow 3-quart gratin dish. Warm 3 tablespoons olive oil in same skillet over medium heat. Place celery flat side down in a singer layer, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and sear without moving, until celery is golden brown on one side, about 4 minutes. Turn hearts with tongs and brown second side. Transfer celery to dish with onions, arrange snugly. Add 3 tablespoons more olive oil to skillet, brown remaining celery. Arrange in gratin dish. (Celery should be in a single layer.) Slide tomatoes over celery and onions. Add wine and stock to gratin dish, drizzle vegetables with remaining oil. Shake dish gently to settle vegetables. Position black olives in low spots so they don't dry out.
• Adjust oven racks to middle position and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Set gratin dish over low flame and bring to a simmer. Taste liquid and season with salt, if necessary, or a pinch of sugar if acidic. Shake pan to distribute. Cover with foil, transfer to oven and bake until celery is tender, 30 to 40 minutes. Remove foil, increase oven temperature to 475 degrees, bake until tips of vegetables are brown, 5 to 10 minutes. Garnish with julienned anchovy fillets and toasted breadcrumbs, if desired.

BRAISED CELERY WITH THYME AND WHITE WINE

Steps:

• Bring a large pot of heavily salted water to a boil over high, and heat the oven to 400 degrees.
• Prepare the celery: Separate the stalks, and reserve some celery leaves for garnish. Gently peel the outer layer of the thicker stalks to remove any tough strings. Cutting at a sharp angle, trim and discard the tips of the stalks, then cut stalks on an angle into 3-inch pieces. Add the celery segments to the boiling water, and cook just until slightly softened, 1 to 2 minutes. Using a slotted spoon or tongs, transfer the blanched celery to a large 9-by-13-inch glass baking dish, and arrange in an even layer.
• Top with the stock, wine and olive oil. Add the shallots, bay leaves, thyme sprigs and garlic, tucking them between the celery layers, then sprinkle with the peppercorns, herbes de Provence and 1 teaspoon salt. Dot with the butter, then cover tightly with aluminum foil.
• Transfer to the oven and bake until celery is tender and yielding, about 45 minutes, if you want it to retain slight bite, or 1 hour or more, if you prefer it extra-tender.
• Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the braised celery to a serving platter or shallow bowl and cover. Transfer the remaining liquid to a medium saucepan and boil over medium-high until reduced by half, about 15 minutes. Pour the reduced sauce over the celery, straining, if desired, and sprinkle with fresh celery leaves and parsley. Serve warm.

BRAISED CELERY HEARTS

Steps:

• Keeping celery ribs attached at base, peel outer ribs of celery hearts with a vegetable peeler, then trim ends and halve hearts lengthwise.
• Melt butter in a 12-inch heavy skillet over moderate heat. Add celery and cook, turning with tongs occasionally, until pale golden on all sides, about 8 minutes. Add remaining ingredients and cook, covered, until liquid is evaporated and celery is tender and golden, about 20 minutes. Serve warm.