20 Perfect Replacement Options For Celery To Choose In Recipes

Celery is a key ingredient in many cuisines.

If you’re not familiar with the taste of pepper, it has a very peppery flavor and tastes mildly earthy. The texture of celery is very crunchy but does soften dramatically when cooked down.

It’s a versatile vegetable that can add a delicious flavor to a recipe. Celery has been a popular ingredient within French cuisines, staring in dishes such as Mirepoix.

It’s also a staple in Cajun cuisines, referred to as part of the ‘holy trinity’ (celery, bell pepper, onion). You’ll also see celery pop up a lot in Italian cuisines, with it being a key ingredient in Battuto and Soffritto (along with onion, carrot, and necessary herbs).

Likewise, celery has been a key ingredient in British cuisines, you will often find celery used in stews and soups. While this vegetable tastes deliciously cooked, many enjoy it raw as a healthy snack.

Some eat it by themselves, while others pair dips such as hummus to enjoy alongside.

Alongside its wonderfully peppery taste, celery has excellent health benefits. It’s a great source of fiber, folate, vitamin K, and vitamin A — to name a few.

While most people enjoy celery due to its natural flavor, some like celery because it is incredibly low in calories. It is also low-fat and low-carb.

Moving on from diets, celery is known for its health benefits, that many people juice this vegetable for its healing properties. While don’t have to juice celery to get its health benefits, it does seem to prove itself a star player in the kingdom of juicers.

Now, when substituting celery, or any vegetable, it’s important to remember that you’re unlikely going to replicate the same exact taste. All vegetables have their own unique flavors. You can, however, get a very similar taste.

Maybe you opened your pantry and noticed that you’ve run out of celery. Perhaps you forgot to pick it up in your weekly shop. Or, whether you simply cannot eat celery, and you need a substitute, we’ve got you covered.

With that said, let us check out our best substitutes for celery.

Quick Table: Celery Substitutes

Substitutes	Calories (Per 100 Grams)
Celeriac Root	42
Fennel	31
Celery Seeds	392
Bok Choy	9
Cardoon	17
Onion	40
Carrot	41
Water Chestnut	97
Jicama	38
Parsley	36
Bell Pepper	20
Green Apple	52
Cucumber	45
Radish	16
Leeks	61
Celery Salt	392
Asparagus	20
Cabbage	25
Broccoli	34
Green Beans	31

The Best Celery Substitutes

Below, we’re going to discuss the best substitutes for celery, and how you can utilize them in your recipes.

Celeriac Root

The first substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is celeriac root.

Interestingly, celeriac and celery are derived from the same plant. They’re just different parts of the same puzzle. Celery is cultivated for the stalks, while celeriac is cultivated for the roots.

That’s why you’ll hear people say celeriac root/celeriac interchangeably, they’re referring to the same thing.

While they’re both derived from the same plant, they do taste slightly different. Celeriac typically has more of an earthy taste and is much stronger tasting than celery.

It’s an excellent substitute for celery for this reason, but it will mean that you should consider using less celeriac than celery, and taste-testing as you go. You can use celeriac for pretty much anything you would use celery in, such as sauces and soups.

How To Substitute

The celery root comes as an excellent substitute for celery. It gives a stronger and earthy flavor to the recipe. A useful ingredient for stews, soups, and salad, slicing the rot gives a strong taste.

Fennel

The next substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is fennel.

Fennel has a different flavor to celery, akin to a very pungent anise flavor. While some people eat this vegetable raw, it is too strong for others. The texture of the fennel is why it works as a great replacement for celery, as they are very similar.

Once the fennel is cooked, the flavor is much milder, so uses sparingly it will not overpower the dish. Fennel works great as a replacement in soups and stews.

While you will not get the same flavor as celery, you will get a somewhat similar taste once it is cooked down, and a very similar texture.

How To Substitute

Fennel comes as a good substitute for celery as it comes with a perfectly distinct flavor. In cooked recipes, fennel comes as a great option to replace celery.

Celery Seeds

The first substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is celery seeds.

Celery seeds are very nifty for when you do not have any fresh celery spare. It’s a seasoning used as a spice, which can be purchased either as seeds, or grounded into a powder.

Like celery itself, celery seeds are very pepper, bitter and have a similar earthly flavor. Now, the celery that we traditionally purchase in the shop, and the celery seeds we may purchase, come from different variations of celery.

Celery seeds are from wild celery, and thus they have a much stronger flavor. They are much more bitter than traditional celery, though, so use sparingly.

Celery seeds are a great replacement for celery for recipes that call for sauces, brines, and dressings.

How To Substitute

With bitter and earthy flavor, celery seeds come as a great substitute for celery. To overpower the dish, it is not required to add an excessive quantity of the seeds. Best used in stuffing, it is used to give the best taste of celery.

Bok Choy

The fourth substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is bok choy. Bok choy is a delicious vegetable, primarily used in Asian cuisine.

It has a very crunchy texture, and it has a mildly bitter taste. Once cooked, it resembles crunchy spinach. Bok choy can be eaten raw or cooked. It is usually used in stir-fry, soups, or is steamed.

Bok choy is extremely healthy, it’s full of great nutrients such as vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin B6, and vitamin K. Bok choy is made up of a whopping 95% of water.

It’s a very good substitute for celery, especially when used raw.

How To Substitute

A chinese cabbage – Bok Choy is a great replacement for celery. With suitable replacement, bok choy gives similar flavors of celery. With green leaves, it also has a crunch to be added in soups or salads.

Cardoon

The next substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is cardoon.

Cardoon is a lovely little leaf vegetable. It has bigger leaves than celery, and while it has a very bitter taste, it is also a little nutty. Due to the bitterness of cardoon, you need to soak it in saltwater an hour before cooking.

You also have to ensure that you wash it properly. You can do this by giving it a good rinse and ensuring that you’ve trimmed off the ends.

It also takes longer to cook than celery, so you need to be mindful when using it in recipes. It works well if making a stew or a soup, but if your recipe is speedier than that, cardoon might not be the right fit for you.

How To Substitute

Cardoon is the best option to substitute celery. It has a similar flavor, but more bitter and peppery. It is often cooked in soups, stews, and braised dishes. It can be difficult to prepare at home, so it is best to find it at a specialty grocer or at a farmers market.

RELATED: 12 Best Substitute For Celery Seed – All Information You’d Know

Onion

The first substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is onion.

Onions are an excellent substitute, they’re an aromatic vegetable that has depths of flavor. While most recipes call for both onion and celery, if you were not planning on using onion, it’s a quick and easy replacement.

Most people have onions lying around, so it’s also generally cheaper.

When consumed raw, onions have a bitter flavor, so may work well as a substitute in salads and dressings. Cooked down, the flavor is much milder and sweeter. Onion is traditionally used in anything from sauces to stews.

How To Substitute

The green onions are an excellent substitute for celery. It is one of the best alternatives to be used in pastas, pizzas or salads giving a little crunch with flavorful taste. Due to the stronger flavor profile, it gives a different taste to the recipe.

Carrot

The seventh substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is carrot.

While carrot and celery are not similar in taste, they are similar in texture. In their natural form, carrots are very crunchy. If you’re looking for a textual replacement, then carrots can work just fine.

Like onions, most people have carrots lying around, so they’re an easy substitute. Carrots are actually packed with nutrients, so if you do end up using them, they’re a very good part of your 5 a day.

The carrot would make an excellent substitute for celery if you planned on using celery for snacking. Carrot is delicious raw, and very crunchy. They are also used often in stews, sauces, and soups.

How To Substitute

Making a fantastic raw snack, carrot is an excellent substitute for celery. It can be used as a raw snack or if you like to have juice. It comes as a fantastic substitute in soups, stews, salad or stir fried recipes.

Water Chestnut

The first substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is water chestnut.

Water chestnuts are a critical part of Chinese cuisine and for good reason. They’re packed with nutrients and, as the name suggests, contain a high percentage of water.

When it comes to flavor, water chestnuts and celery are not similar. Water chestnuts have a mildly sweet flavor, but it is faint due to the excess of water.

However, they are very crunchy, so if you’re looking for another textual replacement, water chestnuts could be for you.

They are ideal to replace celery in salads, stir-fries, and certain soups. When selecting water chestnut, go for fresh, rather than canned.

How To Substitute

To make the best substitute for celery, water chestnut is a great option. It gives a good combination when mixed in salads, saute grilling and soups. Versatile enough, it is good enough to be enjoyed at any moment.

Jicama

The ninth substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is jicama.

Jicama is a root vegetable, also referred to as Mexican turnip. It’s a very good substitute for celery and celeriac alike.

It has a wonderfully crunchy texture, but it should not be cooked for too long, otherwise, the crunchiness will drastically decrease.

Jicama has a sweet taste, with a slightly nutty flavor. It is eaten both raw and cooked. It’s incredibly good for the health, containing a lot of vitamins and minerals. Likewise, it is also a good source of fiber.

Furthermore, it’s a good replacement for celery in sauces and salads.

How To Substitute

Jicama is a better option to be substituted with celery. It can be eaten cooked or raw. With crisp and crunchy texture it is an excellent source of fiber. As with mild flavor, it can be blended in smoothies or salads.

Parsley

The next substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is parsley.

Many people are surprised to know that parsley and celery are also from the same family. It makes it the perfect substitute for celery as they are very similar in taste.

It should be noted that if you are looking for a textural replacement, you’re not going to find it here. Parsley is a leaf, so this is pretty much a replacement for the flavor of celery.

While parsley and celery are similar in flavor, they aren’t quite the same. Parsley has a much stronger flavor than celery, so you should use it sparingly. You can use parsley as a substitute for celery in soups, meat dishes, vegetable dishes, and sauces.

How To Substitute

With refreshing taste and pungent aroma of parsley, it is a good option to substitute it with celery. It has a taste and aroma similar to celery and has low fat and calorie content.

Bell Pepper

The next substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is bell pepper.

Okay, when it comes to flavor, bell pepper and celery are not quite the same. Bell peppers are usually sweet, but they do have an earthy flavor akin to celery.

They’re great if you’re looking for a substitute for the earthiness of celery, and they’re also great if you’re looking for a textual substitute.

If you want to replace celery will bell pepper, it is a good substitute in salads or if you plan on making a sauté.

How To Substitute

Delicious, healthy and guilt-free, bell pepper is perfect to alternate with celery. For their bright flavors and their nutritional benefits, it can be used in salads, saute vegetables and other green vegetables.

Green Apple

The twelfth substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is green apple.

As I said in the introduction, people use celery for a multitude of reasons.

If you’re looking for a replacement for your snacks, or for in juices, green apple can work great. Green apples have a very sweet flavor, so it is drastically different from the bitterness of celery.

However, much like celery green apples are eaten raw, and even paired with dips such as whole peanut butter for a healthy snack. Green apples are also wonderful in juice due to their sweet flavor and wonderful health benefits.

You can also use green apples to replace celery in certain salads, due to its lovely crunchy texture. While it will give the dish a sweetness, it is often used in walnut salads. Apple is also often used in curries, so you can be creative with it.

How To Substitute

Green apples are used in a variety of dishes and are often used in salads, soups and other recipes. As a best alternative to celery, it comes as a great pairing when it comes to cooking.

Cucumber

The last substitute for celery we’re going to discuss is cucumber.

Cucumbers are very crunchy, so they make a great textual substitute. They work well in salads, and they also pair well in soups. If you’re looking for a snack replacement, cucumber is delicious raw and can be eaten with hummus.

Or, if you’re looking for a juice replacement, cucumber is a great option and full of nutrients.

Now, cucumbers do have a sweet taste, so you’re not going to get the bitterness of celery. However, cucumbers also contain a very high percentage of water and thus are quite absorbent to flavor.

If you wanted to include cucumber in salads for a lovely crunch, you could lightly grind some pepper on top of the cucumber, with will give it a gentle peppery aftertaste, vaguely similar to celery.

How To Substitute

A great substitute for salads, cucumber gives a crunch and a mild sweet taste. It is high in water content and is a great alternative for snacks, smoothies and salads.

Radish

Radish, or radishes, are the perfect replacement for celery, offering a healthy crunch and a peppery flavor. They are also versatile and can be eaten raw, in salads, or roasted and served as a side dish.

Celery is often a staple in salad dressing, but it can be tough to eat and digest. Radishes have a mild flavor and soft crunch, making them a great alternative to celery. Radishes also help to prevent cancer, which is always a good thing.

Celery’s flavor is intense and a bit on the bitter side. Many people don’t like it, but those who do love it. For those who don’t, there’s radish. Radishes are milder and more mellow than celery.

How To Substitute

Celery can be replaced with a radish for a simple and tasty way to change up the vegetables in your favorite recipes. The radishes are cut to the same size as celery. These are added to the dish after cooking, either in the broth or with the vegetables. The radishes have a more earthy flavor than celery and are a great addition to your favorite soups and stews.

Leeks

To replace celery in a dish, you can use Leeks. Leeks are an ingredient with a strong, aromatic flavor and add beautiful color to a dish. 

To prepare, chop off the dark green and white parts of the Leeks and then add them to boiling water. Boil for a few minutes and then drain. 

You can also add the Leeks to a pan of butter and cook for a few minutes before adding them to the dish.

Leeks are a popular vegetable that can be used in a variety of recipes. They are typically used in soups and stews and are often added to vegetables to help them cook more quickly. 

They are a good option for vegetarians or vegans who may not eat celery.

How To Substitute

The classic dish of French onion soup uses the intense, sharp flavor of onion to balance the sweetness of the caramelized onions. The celery in this recipe has a milder, sweeter flavor that can be substituted with leeks. This substitution will create a dish with a more robust flavor profile.

Celery Salt

Celery salt is made by dehydrating celery in a low-heat oven. The resulting salt is crunchy and salty, with a flavor reminiscent of celery. It is a popular seasoning in both food and beverages.

Celery Salt is a flavorful seasoning that can be used on various dishes and is incredibly delicious on salads, seafood, or meats.

 It can be used in recipes for potato salad, tuna salad, egg salad, chicken salad, and macaroni salad and as a rub for meat. It is a popular spice that is an excellent addition to your spice rack.

Celery Salt is a pure, unrefined salt with a slightly crunchy texture. Celery Salt is a natural product mined from underground salt deposits, then hand-harvested washed, and dried. The salt is 100% natural, pure, and unpolluted. 

How To Substitute

Celery is a great snack but can also be tricky to work with. Celery has a high water content, so it’s easy to get soggy. Celery salt is an excellent substitute for celery with a salt-to-water ratio similar to celery. Celery salt can be used in many recipes and is perfect for salads.

Asparagus

Asparagus is a vegetable with a unique taste. It is a springtime vegetable typically eaten raw, in soups, or as a side dish. Asparagus is known to have a slightly earthy flavor and is best when paired with butter or lemon juice.

Asparagus is a vegetable that grows in excellent, moist soil. Therefore, it is best when harvested when it is young and tender. 

It is usually eaten raw or steamed but can also be boiled, roasted, or fried. The vegetable can be cooked in various ways and served with a wide variety of side dishes.

How To Substitute

Asparagus is a starchy vegetable with a sweet flavor that can be substituted for celery in any recipe. Asparagus is an excellent substitute for celery because it has the same size, shape, and color as celery and a similar texture. However, it is essential to be careful with recipes that require cooking the asparagus in boiling water, as it will become mushy.

Cabbage

Cabbage is a vegetable in the cruciferous family that is often served raw, boiled, or sautéed. It is also a popular ingredient in soups, stews, and slaws.

Cabbage is a vegetable with a mild flavor and crunchy texture. It can be found in the grocery store or your kitchen. It is commonly used in salads, sandwiches, and soups.

It is widely grown in temperate climates for its large leaves and crisp, crunchy texture. It is often served cooked, as a boiled or sautéed vegetable, or in a cabbage soup.

How To Substitute

Cabbage is a great way to substitute celery in recipes that call for celery. Celery can be substituted with any green vegetable that is not too starchy, like cabbage. Cabbage can be boiled, sautéed, or added to a soup.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a vegetable that is best known for its crunchy stalks, vibrant green color, and its distinct flavor. The vegetable is most commonly boiled, steamed, or sautéed, but it can also be eaten raw. 

It is a cruciferous vegetable, which means it contains a type of phytonutrient called glucosinolates that may have cancer-fighting properties.

Broccoli is a vegetable part of the Brassica family, including kale, cabbage, cauliflower, and kale. The vegetable has a mild flavor and is eaten raw or cooked.

How To Substitute

Broccoli is a vegetable that can be substituted for celery in many recipes. Broccoli is also a popular dish in its own right. Broccoli can be eaten raw or cooked but is often boiled or steamed. The best way to prepare broccoli is to cook or boil it, eat it as is or serve it with a sauce or dip.

Green Beans

Green beans are a vegetable typically eaten boiled, roasted, or steamed. Green beans are commonly found in American cuisines, such as with ham and cheese, with salt and pepper, or as a side dish with meat.

Green beans are healthy, easy to grow, and delicious. They are full of fiber, vitamin C, and other essential nutrients for a healthy body.

The dark green beans are harvested from various field-grown beans that are processed at the peak of their freshness and packaged for your convenience.

How To Substitute

In a dish that includes celery, it is possible to substitute green beans. To do this, wash and cut the green beans into pieces the same size as the celery. After the green beans are sliced, they should be sautéed in butter or oil and mixed with celery and seasonings.

How To Select A Celery Substitute

While I have given you twelve wonderful substitutes for celery, and discussed lightly how you could use them as a replacement, you still might be confused as to which substitute you could select.

I am now going to explain the considerations you should reflect on before you make your decision. This not only will ensure your recipe tastes delicious, but it will help you refine your palette, thus helping you become a better cook.

Flavor

When it comes to flavor, there are not many substitutes that give the exact same taste like celery. Celery is a unique vegetable, due to its earthy, bitter, and peppery flavor. Ideally, if you have celery seeds on hand, then you are golden.

It is the closest you are going to get to the flavor of celery. Otherwise, celeriac, parsley, and jicama is your best option.

The best substitute for celery for flavor: celery seeds, celeriac, parsley, and jicama.

Crunch

The crunchy aspect of celery is loved by many. The crunchiness is usually important when it comes to making salads, or consuming vegetables raw.

If you’re looking for a vegetable with a good crunch, you could try carrots, water chestnut, and bell pepper. If you don’t mind adding fruit to the mix, you can use green apple.

The best substitute for celery for crunch: carrots, water chestnut, bell pepper, and green apple.

Texture

If you’re trying to replace the textural component of celery, this is much easier to reach than flavor. There are a lot of crunchy fruits and vegetables that you could choose from.

While you won’t the exact flavor, you can get a somewhat similar texture. You could select fennel, jicama, bell pepper, and bok choy.

The best substitute for celery for texture: fennel, jicama, bell pepper, and bok choy.

Seasoning

When it comes to replacing celery as a seasoning, you may find it a little tricky, but we have some great options and tips for you.

The more notable selection on the list would be parsley, but if you have some extra seasonings in your cupboard, then you might find it easier to get the flavor you’re looking for.

You can use dill seed, black pepper, white pepper, smoked paprika, and even garlic.

The black or white pepper with parsley is probably the safest way to go, but keep in mind whatever you use, you should use it sparingly, as the concentration of flavor will be much higher in a seasoning.

If you have celery seeds, then you can use those, but I won’t assume that everyone has them lying around in their cupboard.

The best substitute for celery for seasoning: black pepper, white pepper, parsley, dill seed, smoked paprika, garlic, celery seeds.

Green Vegetables

If you’re looking for a substitute for a green vegetable in your dish, you have a lot of options to choose from.

You could use bok choy, kale, spinach, zucchini, broccoli, or even lettuce. While these do not have the same flavor as celery, if you’re looking to add a health boost of green vegetables, you have a lot of vegetables to choose from.

Substitutes For Celery In Cooking

If you’re cooking a specific meal, and you’re wondering what the best option is, we’ll discuss a couple of dishes below.

Substitutes For Celery In Stuffing

If you are looking to substitute celery for a stuffing dish, you have a few options. You could use celery seed, dill, celery sat, or fennel.

Substitutes For Celery In Soup

If you are looking to substitute celery in soup, you have more options than stuffing. You can use fennel, onion, garlic, carrots and, bell pepper. If you plan on using any of these vegetables, then use ½ cup for each stalk of celery.

Further Advice

Maybe you plan on ignoring everything in this article. Maybe instead, you choose to hop in your car and go buy some celery (hey, I’m not judging you). In that case, I would like to give you some advice on how to choose quality celery.

• Ensure that the celery leaves are crispy, and they are green (avoid yellow).
• Purchase celery that has a green stem, and upstanding stalks. To test the freshest of your celery, you can pull them. If they snap, then they are fresh.
• Try not to chop your celery in advance. While I believe that bulk cooking is effective and a time saver if you’re looking for the best amount of nutrients possible, you should only cut the celery when you’re ready to cook it.
• To keep your celery lasting longer, store them in an airtight container with water.
• You can also consume the leaves of celery, they are packed with nutrients. They contain vitamin C as well as potassium.

We understand that when it comes to cooking, it can be different to know how to effectively use a substitute.

A lot of blogs on the internet do not provide themselves with a lot of genuinely useful information. We wanted to give you everything you could need to know about celery, in one useful article, so you feel more secure and confident in the kitchen.

Summary

Well, that brings us to the end of our article on the 13 best substitutes for celery.

Whether you’re looking for a replacement for cooking, in juices, or as a raw snack, we’ve provided lots of great alternatives that you can enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Vegetables Can I Use To Replace The Bitterness Of Celery?

If you are looking to replace the bitterness of celery, try subsiding it with celeriac root.

Why Would You Replace Celery With Fruit?

You wouldn’t always replace celery with fruit, but it’s a good substitute depending on the dish you’re making. For example, apple is used in salads due to its sweet flavor and lovely crunch. If you’re looking for a crunchy replacement, apple could work for you.

Where Can I Buy Celery Seeds?

You can buy celery seeds in most supermarkets. If you can’t find them there, you should be able to get them in your local health store. If all else fails, you could order them online.