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You can do a surprising number of useful things with celery leaves, and tossing them in the trash is honestly one of the biggest kitchen mistakes you can make.
Celery leaves are edible, flavorful, and packed with just as much nutrition as the stalks you’re used to chopping up.
If you’ve been asking yourself what can you do with celery leaves, the short answer is: a whole lot more than you think.
These leafy tops can be used fresh, cooked, dried, or blended into all kinds of dishes.
In this post, we’ll walk through the best ways to use celery leaves so you never waste them again.
Let’s get into it.
What Can You Do With Celery Leaves? Here’s Why They’re Worth Keeping
Celery leaves are not just a garnish or a throwaway part of the plant.
They’re actually one of the most underrated ingredients in your fridge.
Here’s why you should think twice before composting them.
1. They’re Completely Edible
The first thing to know about what can you do with celery leaves is that you can simply eat them.
They’re 100% edible and safe to consume just like the stalks.
Many people assume the leaves are bitter or toxic, but that’s a myth.
They taste like a stronger, more concentrated version of celery, with a fresh herbal note.
So if you’ve been cutting them off and binning them, you’ve been missing out.
2. They’re Packed With Nutrients
Celery leaves actually contain more vitamins and minerals than the stalks themselves.
They’re rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin K.
They also carry decent amounts of calcium, potassium, and antioxidants.
So when you use celery leaves in your cooking, you’re boosting the nutritional value of your meal.
3. They Add Serious Flavor
Another reason to love celery leaves is the flavor punch they bring.
They have a bright, earthy, slightly peppery taste that works in soups, stocks, and salads.
A handful of chopped celery leaves can replace parsley or cilantro in a pinch.
That makes them a versatile herb you can reach for any day of the week.
Creative Ways to Use Celery Leaves in Your Cooking
Now that you know what can you do with celery leaves, let’s look at practical ways to put them to work.
These ideas are simple and require zero fancy equipment.
1. Toss Them Into Soups and Stews
One of the easiest ways to use celery leaves is to throw them into soups and stews.
Chop them finely and add them near the end of cooking so they keep their color and flavor.
They work beautifully in chicken noodle soup, vegetable broth, and lentil stew.
You can also add whole celery leaves to a pot of stock and strain them out later.
2. Blend Them Into Pesto or Sauce
If you’re wondering what can you do with celery leaves beyond tossing them in soup, try pesto.
Swap half the basil in your pesto recipe for celery leaves.
Blend them with garlic, nuts, olive oil, and parmesan for a fresh green sauce.
You can also blitz celery leaves into tomato sauce for a deeper, more savory flavor.
3. Use Them Raw in Salads
Celery leaves are fantastic raw in salads.
Their crisp texture and bold taste add a lovely bite to leafy greens.
Toss a handful into a potato salad, tuna salad, or a simple garden salad.
You can even use them as a base instead of lettuce for a punchy, low-calorie salad.
4. Make Celery Leaf Salt or Seasoning
Another clever way to use celery leaves is to dry them and turn them into seasoning.
Spread the leaves on a baking sheet and dry them in a low oven or dehydrator.
Once crisp, crush them and mix with sea salt.
This celery salt is amazing on fries, eggs, popcorn, and roasted veggies.
5. Freeze Them for Later
If you can’t use your celery leaves right away, freeze them.
Chop them up and pack them into ice cube trays with a little water or olive oil.
Once frozen, pop the cubes into a bag and use them whenever a recipe calls for celery.
This way, you always have a stash of celery leaves ready to go.
Tips for Prepping and Storing Celery Leaves
Knowing what can you do with celery leaves also means knowing how to keep them fresh.
Here are a few quick tips to get the most out of them.
1. Wash and Dry Them Well
Always rinse celery leaves under cold water to remove dirt and grit.
Pat them dry with a paper towel or spin them in a salad spinner.
Dry leaves last longer and won’t make your dishes soggy.
2. Store Them Properly
To keep celery leaves fresh, wrap them in a damp paper towel.
Place the wrapped leaves in a zip-top bag and store them in the crisper drawer.
They’ll stay fresh for about a week this way.
You can also stand the stalks in a glass of water in the fridge to keep leaves perky.
3. Don’t Overcook Them
Celery leaves are delicate, so treat them like fresh herbs.
Add them late in the cooking process to preserve their flavor and color.
If you’re using them in a slow-cooked dish, stir them in during the last few minutes.
So, What Can You Do With Celery Leaves?
What can you do with celery leaves comes down to one simple truth: you can use them almost anywhere you’d use herbs or celery itself.
They’re edible, nutritious, and full of flavor, so there’s no reason to throw them away.
Whether you chop them into soup, blend them into pesto, or dry them into seasoning, celery leaves deserve a spot in your kitchen.
So next time you buy a bunch of celery, keep the leaves and put them to good use.
You’ll save money, reduce waste, and make your meals taste better in the process.