By Lia Ryerson From Care2

When I was younger, celery was one of those divisive vegetables—all right to consume if slathered with a generous dollop of peanut butter and raisins, but garbage every way else.

The tides have turned in the vibrant green vegetable’s favor of late, as celery juice has become the latest wellness trend. Advocates of the (highly Instagrammable) juice claim that its anti-inflammatory properties, high amount of vitamin K and diuretic properties (due to its high water content) have helped them heal their guts and feel more energized.

The truth is, juicing has its drawbacks—it strips your veggies of their beneficial fiber, for one thing—and relying on juice to cure all of your bodily ills rather than committing to a lifestyle change will ultimately end in disappointment.

The good news is celery is a versatile vegetable and can be quite delicious if you know how to use it. If you find yourself with dozens of celery stalks on your hands and decide you want to experiment more with the healthy vegetable, check out these tasty ways to use up your celery that aren’t juice.

1. PICKLE IT.

By this point, most of us know that cucumbers don’t get to have all the glory when it comes to pickling. Tangy, crunchy, and perfect in a Bloody Mary, celery sticks have the potential to be the unsung heroes of the pickling world. As a bonus, you could also chop up your pickled celery and throw it into a potato salad or even make a relish.

2. TURN IT INTO A COMFORTING SOUP.

A warm bowl of luxurious, creamy soup can feel like a welcome indulgence on a blustery day. Why not enjoy a cozy bowl of soup while simultaneously loading up on important nutrients? This plant-based Cream of Celery Soup by Blissful Basil incorporates cauliflower, cashews and celery to make a rich, buttery, nourishing meal.

3. LEVEL UP YOUR TOAST GAME.

Avocado toast is still the darling of the brunch world, but Bon Appetit’s repurposing of ants on a log has the potential to knock avocado toast off its pedestal. Simply chuck all the required ingredients of the old childhood standby—celery, raisins, and your favorite nut butter—on top of a piece of toast for a sweet, crunchy and nutty breakfast.

4. BRAISE THE STALKS.

If you haven’t tried braised celery, you haven’t lived. Toss your stalks in the oven with some thyme, vegan butter (or other fat of your choosing), veggie broth and other desired herbs for a hearty side dish you’ll keep coming back to.

5. TRANSFORM IT INTO A SORBET.

It sounds suspect at first, but the more I think about it, the more I really want to eatMartha Stewart’s Cucumber, Celery and Gin sorbet while lounging poolside this summer.

6. MARINATE IT IN THIS RESTAURANT-APPROVED RECIPE.

These salty, crunchy and flavorful Kombu Celery sticks from Bar Goto in New York are extremely—and I mean extremely—easy to make. They only require five ingredients, celery included.

Images via Getty

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