Celery Shrub Recipes

CELERY SHRUB

Steps:

• Wash celery stalks and, if necessary, scrub with a vegetable brush to remove dirt. Cut the stalks into 1-inch pieces.
• Add celery to blender and cover with about ½ cup water.
• Start the blender on low, and as the celery starts to get chopped up, turn the speed up to purée. If, after about 30 seconds, the mixture is still very thick and chunky, add a little more water.
• Place a fine-mesh strainer over a bowl. Line with a piece of cheesecloth if desired. Pour the celery mixture through the strainer. Press or squeeze the celery puree to express the juice into the bowl.
• Pour celery juice into a sanitized jar. Add sugar and cider vinegar. Cap the jar and shake to combine. Refrigerate, shaking well every other day or so to dissolve sugar.

CELERY SOUP

Steps:

• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat. Add onion, carrots, and leek; cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add garlic; cook for 1 minute. Transfer to a soup pot.
• Heat remaining olive oil in the same frying. Saute celery to release some of the moisture, about 10 minutes.
• Transfer celery to the soup pot. Add chicken broth and potatoes. Cut parsley into the pot using kitchen scissors. Season soup with thyme, seasoning blend, salt, and pepper. Increase heat to medium-high and bring to a rolling simmer.
• Reduce heat and simmer until carrots, celery, and potatoes are soft enough to easily puree, about 30 minutes. Avoid cooking vegetables until mushy. Remove from heat and cool for about 20 minutes.
• Puree soup with an immersion blender. Simmer over low heat until heated through, 10 to 15 minutes. Serve immediately or let flavors meld overnight and serve the next day.

SUMMER FRUIT SHRUB

Steps:

• Mix fruit and sugar in a glass or other nonplastic bowl, breaking apart or mashing the fruit to bring out its juices. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 24 hours.
• Stir the mixture well, add vinegar and chill. The shrub can be strained and used at this point, but it will take on more of the characteristics of the fruit if it sits for a few days. When ready to use, stir well to make sure sugar is dissolved, then strain using a fine sieve, pressing the solids to get all of the juice.
• Pour the mixture into a clean Mason jar or funnel into a glass bottle with a stopper or cork.
• To prepare a drink, add 1 part shrub to 2 or 3 parts seltzer or ginger beer and serve over ice.