If you have simply bought yourself some celery seed on a whim, or you are simply interested in finding out what it can do for you, there is some information that you should know about the seasoning celery seed. This seasoning has been around for quite some time in a wide variety of cultures, and you will find that with a little bit of work, it can be easily integrated into your diet. Take some time to look around and see what celery seed can do for you!

What is Celery Seed?

Celery seed comes from a plant called apium graveolons, not the celery vegetable. There are a lot of other small, brown seeds, which are similar in appearance, but the unique smell of celery seed gives it away. They smell just like celery. When you use celery seeds in your recipe, whether you are making crockpot chicken noodle soup, a salad dressing, or a vegetarian casserole, you will find these seeds impart the flavor of celery without having to add stalks of celery to the recipe.

How Can You Use Celery Seed?

Celery seed is a popular ingredient in soups such as chicken noodle soup, salad dressings and in pickling. It also has a medicinal history, including being a homeopathic remedy for arthritis, gout, bronchitis and a variety of inflammations.

Celery seeds are high in phtalides, which means they can be used as a muscle relaxant and sedative. Celery seeds are also high in antioxidants, which are beneficial for the whole body in their fight against the aging effects of free radicals.

How can I make a good celery seed salad dressing?

It is not for nothing that you will find celery seeds in so many salad dressings! To make your own, by mixing a teaspoon of dry mustard, a teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of celery seed. Then add a teaspoon of onion juice. Slowly trickle in 1/3 a cup of vinegar and a cup of salad oil. This will make a wonderfully tangy yet fairly mild dressing that can be used on fruit or vegetable salads. You can also add pepper and sugar to taste.

What foods go well with celery seeds?

The more you experiment with celery seed, the better you will be able to guess which recipes would go well with it. Try substituting celery seed for celery in dishes you like to make. Crockpot chicken noodle soup is a great dish, especially if you want to start it off in the morning, go to work and come home to a delicious smelling house and instant dinner! Chicken potpie is another dish, which is complemented by this versatile seasoning, as is coleslaw.

There are many reasons, as you can see, for using celery seed frequently. A bottle of celery seed keeps for up to 3 years so there is no reason not to get some and experiment. Try making some chicken noodle soup and adding celery seed to taste. You definitely won't be disappointed with the results!