How To Saute Celery And Onions

How do you feel about celery recipes? What?!

Are you looking for a recipe that is really good, easy to make and is something you probably never made before? Here’s a sauteed celery and onion recipe that I think you’ll love.

Celery is in a lot of recipes. It’s used in French cuisine with the mirepoix. It’s in the Italian soffritto that is the base for many great recipes. It’s in the Holy Trinity of creole cooking.

Celery adds so much flavor to a ton of recipes, but it’s always part of an aromatic base with some diced onion and part carrot or bell pepper.

You hardly ever see a recipe where celery is the main ingredient. That’s what makes this a really different recipe that’s going to become part of your regular rotation.

When I discovered this simple recipe I wasn’t sure what to think. I mean… It makes sense.

So many recipes call for so many parts onion and so many parts celery, so this should work.

And it did. This recipe with sauteed celery, onions and tomatoes is a great way to use up that extra celery in your fridge.

Let’s start cooking.

the ingredients for this recipe on a table: celery sticks, an onion, peeled tomatoes, garlic and parmesan cheese

Here’s What You Need

Celery: I’m sure you have some celery hanging around your fridge that you don’t know what to do with. I know I always have leftover celery when I buy it. I use a couple stalks in a recipe and then I’m stuck with the rest of the bunch. Why do most grocery stores only sell celery in big bunches?

Onions: I had some large onions in my kitchen when I made this recipe. I peeled one and sliced it up nice and thin. You can use Spanish onions or white onions for this recipe.

Garlic: get a few cloves of fresh garlic and chop it up.

White Wine: I always try to use a wine that’s good enough to drink. It doesn’t have to be fancy.

Tomatoes: I had a can of diced tomatoes in my pantry so that’s what I used. You could also use crushed tomatoes or whole plum tomatoes.

Olive Oil: try using a good quality extra virgin olive oil for this recipe.

Parmesan Cheese: get a nice chunk of parmesan cheese and grate it yourself. You can buy cheese that’s already grated if you trust the source.

Seasoning: use some Kosher salt and black pepper.

How To Make Your Sauteed Celery, Onions and Tomatoes

The first thing you need to do is prepare your vegetables.

Get a sharp chef’s knife and chop your garlic into small pieces. Chop the celery, leaves and all, into one inch pieces.

Peel your onion and slice it thin.

Now grab a large skillet and pour in your olive oil.

Place the pan on medium heat and place your garlic in the pan. Season the garlic with salt and pepper. The garlic will start to flavor the oil as it cooks.

sauteeing garlic

 

When the garlic becomes fragrant, which usually takes about 3 minutes, add your celery and onions in equal amounts.

Season the vegetables with more salt and pepper and turn the stove up to medium-high heat.

sauteing celery and onions

The celery and onions will start to cook down and soften up. After about 5-7 minutes you should have slightly caramelized onions and celery.

the sauteed celery and onions have caramelized

Add the wine to the pan and turn up the heat for about one minute.

adding wine

Now it’s time to add the tomatoes and turn the heat up so that it starts to boil. When it starts to boil, turn the heat down to a simmer on medium-low heat. Make sure you stir it every so often with a wooden spoon so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.

adding tomatoes to the sauteed celery and onions

Allow the celery and onions to braise in the tomatoes for about 20 minutes.

Add in the grated cheese and let it cook with the celery and tomato sauce for the last 5 minutes.

the finished plate with a sprinkle of grated parmesan cheese on top of it

When the tomato sauce reduces to about half, it should be ready.

Transfer the contents of the pan to the serving bowl and add some extra grated cheese on top.

FAQs

Q: Can I use Romano cheese instead of parmesan?
A: Yes. Feel free to use a good pecorino Romano cheese if you like that cheese. Romano cheese is a good substitute for parmesan.

Q: What can I do with the leftover sauteed celery, onions and tomatoes?
A: A great way to use the leftovers is to add some chicken broth and sauteed chicken. Let it simmer for a little while and you have an easy chicken stew.

You can also put some haddock or cod on a sheet pan, cover it with the sauteed celery and fresh herbs and let it bake in the oven.

Q: What should I serve this sauteed celery and onions with?
A: This is the perfect side dish for roast chicken, Italian sausages and fish.

 

Print
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Sauteed Celery With Onions & Tomatoes


  • Author: Mortadella Head
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
  • Diet: Vegetarian

Ingredients

Scale

34 stalks of celery with leaves chopped into 1 inch pieces

1 can of diced tomatoes (14 oz) or 2-3 peeled plum tomatoes

½ of a large onion sliced thin

3 large cloves of garlic chopped

2 tablespoons of olive oil

½ cup of white wine

½ cup of grated parmesan cheese

Salt and pepper to taste


Instructions

  1. Get a large skillet and pour in your olive oil.
  2. Place the pan on medium heat and place your garlic in the pan. Season the garlic with salt and pepper. The garlic will start to flavor the oil as it cooks.
  3. When the garlic becomes fragrant, which usually takes about 3 minutes, add your celery and onions in equal amounts.
  4. Season the vegetables with more salt and pepper and turn the stove up to medium-high heat.
  5. The celery and onions will start to cook down and soften up. After about 5-7 minutes you should have slightly caramelized onions and celery.
  6. Add the wine and let it reduce for about a minute on medium high heat.
  7. Add the tomatoes and turn the heat up so that it starts to boil. When it starts to boil, turn the heat down to a simmer on medium-low heat. Stir it every so often with a wooden spoon so it doesn’t stick to the bottom of the pan.
  8. Allow the celery and onions to braise in the tomatoes for about 20 minutes.
  9. During the last 5 minutes, add in the grated cheese and let it cook with the celery and tomato sauce. When the tomato sauce reduces to about half, it should be ready.
  10. Transfer the contents of the pan to the serving bowl and enjoy!
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Category: Side Dishes

Keywords: how to saute celery and onions

4 thoughts on “How To Saute Celery And Onions”

  1. Recipe looks delish, I love celery. I have a question, what kind of tomatoes and how much? A can of San Marzano is my usual go to but you may have used fresh? Thanks in advance

    1. Hi Licia, and thanks for your feedback. You can use both canned and fresh tomatoes. Chuck typically uses a 14-oz can of diced tomatoes or 2-3 peeled plum tomatoes.

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