Leaf celery (also called Chinese celery, cutting celery, or herb celery) is a flavorful, leafy variety of celery grown mainly for its leaves and thin stalks rather than the thick ribs of regular celery. It’s stronger, herbier, and much more aromatic.
Here’s everything you need to know + ways to use it:
🌿 What Leaf Celery Is
- A celery variety with slender stems and lots of fragrant leaves.
- Taste: more intense and peppery than regular celery.
- Used like an herb rather than a vegetable.
- Common in Asian, Mediterranean, and European cooking.
🍽️ How to Use Leaf Celery
1. As a fresh herb
Use it like parsley:
- Sprinkle on soups
- Add to salads
- Mix into potato or tuna salads
- Use as a garnish on roasted meats or veggies
2. In soups and stews
Leaf celery shines in broth-based dishes:
- Chicken soup
- Beef stew
- Lentil soup
- Vegetable broth
- Pho or ramen toppings
3. For sautéing and stir-fries
Its thin stems and leaves cook quickly, adding an herby, peppery flavor:
- With garlic and onions
- In fried rice
- In vegetable stir-fries
- With mushrooms or tofu
4. In sauces and dips
Chop finely and mix into:
- Pesto
- Chimichurri
- Green goddess dressing
- Tzatziki
- Salsa verde
5. As a seasoning base
Use it in place of or alongside celery stalks:
- Mirepoix (celery, carrot, onion)
- Sofrito
- Bouquets garnis / soup bundles
🥗 Simple Leaf Celery Recipe: Garlic Leaf Celery Stir-Fry
Ingredients
- 1–2 cups chopped leaf celery (leaves + tender stems)
- 2 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 tbsp oil
- Pinch of salt
- Optional: a splash of soy sauce or lemon juice
Instructions
- Heat oil in a pan over medium-high heat.
- Add garlic; cook 20–30 seconds.
- Add chopped leaf celery; stir-fry 1–2 minutes.
- Season with salt and optional soy sauce or lemon.
- Serve with rice or noodles.
🧊 How to Store Leaf Celery
- Wrap in a damp paper towel and place in a bag in the fridge.
- Lasts: 5–7 days.
- You can also freeze chopped leaves for soup use.