How To Use Celery Greens

Celery greens are the leafy tops of celery stalks, and yes, you can absolutely use them.
 
Most people chop them off and toss them straight into the trash or compost bin without a second thought.
 
But those leafy tops are packed with flavor and can be used in all sorts of dishes.
 
If you’ve been wondering how to use celery greens, you’re in the right place.
 
They taste a lot like the stalks, just a bit more intense and slightly peppery.
 
In this post, we’ll walk through the best ways to use celery greens so nothing goes to waste in your kitchen.
 
Let’s dive in.
 

What Are Celery Greens?

Celery greens are simply the leaves that grow at the top of a celery bunch.
 
They’re sometimes called celery leaves or celery tops, and they’re completely edible.
 
In fact, they’ve been used in cooking for centuries in soups, stocks, and salads.
 
So if you’re asking yourself how to use celery greens, the short answer is: just about anywhere you’d use the stalks, only with a bolder flavor.
 

1. Use Them in Soups and Stocks

The easiest way to use celery greens is to toss them into soups and stocks.
 
They add a deep, savory note that regular celery stalks sometimes lack.
 
Just chop them up and add them near the end of cooking so they keep some of their brightness.
 
You can also simmer them whole in a pot of chicken or vegetable stock and strain them out later.
 
This is a classic way to use celery greens without any fuss.
 

2. Blend Them Into Pesto

Celery greens make a fantastic pesto when you swap out some of the basil.
 
Blend them with garlic, nuts, parmesan, and olive oil for a fresh, earthy sauce.
 
This is one of my favorite ways to use celery greens because it’s so quick.
 
Spread it on toast, toss it with pasta, or drizzle it over roasted veggies.
 
You’ll never look at those leafy tops the same way again.
 

3. Add Them to Salads

Fresh celery greens work beautifully in salads.
 
Their slightly bitter, peppery taste adds a nice contrast to milder greens like lettuce or spinach.
 
Just chop them finely and mix them in with your other salad ingredients.
 
This is a simple way to use celery greens raw while keeping their crunch and flavor intact.
 

More Ways to Use Celery Greens in Your Cooking

Beyond the basics, there are plenty of creative ways to use celery greens.
 
Let’s look at a few more ideas that’ll help you make the most of them.
 

1. Stir Them Into Eggs

Chopped celery greens fold nicely into scrambled eggs or omelets.
 
They add a subtle herbal flavor that pairs well with cheese and onions.
 
Simply saute them for a minute before adding your eggs.
 
This is a great way to use celery greens for breakfast.
 

2. Sprinkle Them as a Garnish

You can use celery greens as a fresh garnish for almost any dish.
 
They look a bit like parsley and add a pop of green to soups, stews, and grain bowls.
 
Chop them finely and scatter them on top right before serving.
 
This is an easy way to use celery greens without changing the recipe at all.
 

3. Freeze Them for Later

If you can’t use them right away, freezing is a smart way to use celery greens over time.
 
Just wash, chop, and pack them into ice cube trays with a little water or oil.
 
Once frozen, pop them into a bag and drop them into soups and sauces whenever you need them.
 
This way, you’ll always have a stash of celery greens ready to go.
 

4. Make a Celery Green Smoothie

Yes, you read that right.
 
Celery greens blend nicely into green smoothies with banana, apple, and spinach.
 
They add fiber, vitamins, and a fresh, slightly savory note.
 
This is a clever way to use celery greens if you’re not a fan of their texture in cooked dishes.
 

5. Infuse Them Into Butter or Oil

Another fun way to use celery greens is to infuse them into butter or olive oil.
 
Melt butter, add chopped greens, and let them steep on low heat for a few minutes.
 
Strain and use the butter on bread, fish, or vegetables.
 
The same trick works with oil for dressings and marinades.
 

How to Store Celery Greens Properly

If you want to use celery greens before they wilt, you need to store them right.
 
Wrap them in a damp paper towel and place them in a sealed bag in the fridge.
 
They’ll stay fresh for about a week this way.
 
You can also stand the whole bunch in a glass of water like you would with flowers.
 
Either way, proper storage keeps them crisp and ready for whenever you want to use celery greens.
 

So, How Do You Use Celery Greens?

Celery greens are edible and can be used in soups, pesto, salads, eggs, smoothies, and more.
 
They add a bold, peppery flavor that complements many dishes.
 
Instead of tossing them out, chop them up and put them to work in your kitchen.
 
Whether you blend them, freeze them, or scatter them as a garnish, you now know how to use celery greens in a way that saves money and reduces waste.
 
Hope this post has helped you with exploring how to use celery greens and the best ways to enjoy them.