Celery and Carrot Tossed with Sesame Recipe - Viet World Kitchen (2024)

By Andrea Nguyen

A couple of weeks ago while I was in Los Angeles, we went for lunch at the Beijing Pie House in Monterey Park (a Mecca for excellent Chinese food in America). My husband Rory and I started things off with silken tofu garnished with soy sauce and scallion and an order of celery with peanuts. On the face of things, these dishess may seem boring but in reality, they awaken your palate.

At a snack shop like Beijing Pie House, such side dishes prepare you for the onslaught of hearty dumplings, pan-fried meat pies, and noodle dishes. It was a hot afternoon and the savory smooth tofu and the delicately dressed crisp celery were perfect partners.

The tofu came out quickly but the kitchen took a while to make the celery salad. I wondered why didn’t they already have it done and ready to dish up? It was just blanched vegetables tossed in a few seasonings. The waiter explained that each order was made on the spot.

Aha! It’s a dead simple preparation, totally a la minute. So I gave it a whirl after we returned home and came up with my own rendition, spiked with nutty sesame oil and ground Sichuan peppercorn. Beijing Pie House used mostly celery and few pieces of carrot and some boiled peanuts, coating everything in a touch of sugar, salt, and vegetable oil. The peanuts didn’t add much so I upped the carrot. I also amped up the seasonings.

It took me all of 10 minutes to make the crisp, cooling, and colorful combination. Letting the vegetables soak for a couple minutes in just-boiled water is my way to effectively monitor and control the cooking. You don’t want limp celery and carrot. This is easy breezy cooking, perfect for summer.

Recipe

Celery and Carrot Tossed with Sesame

Instead of the sesame oil, use chile oil or go neutral with canola or vegetable oil. This is a recipe that can easily be doubled.

Yield: 2 servings as a nibble or side

  • 4 large ribs celery, cut on the diagonal into thin pieces, each a generous ⅛ inch thick and 3 inches long
  • 3 inches carrot, halved lengthwise and cut into thin piece, about half the thickness of the celery
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon sugar
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 2 pinches ground, toasted Sichuan peppercorns

Instructions

  1. Put the celery and carrot into a bowl. Bring half a kettle of water to a boil, turn off the heat. After the boiling subsides, pour enough water over the vegetables to cover. Set aside for 2 minutes, until you can bend a piece of celery so the ends nearly touch.
  2. Drain the vegetables, flush with cold water, and set aside to drain. Wipe the bowl dry, then stir together the salt, sugar and sesame oil in the bowl; don’t worry about dissolving the sugar and salt. Shake excess water from the vegetables before adding them to the bowl. Stir to coat. Set aside for a couple of minutes to develop the flavor. Taste and add extra salt or sugar.
  3. Transfer to a plate and sprinkle on the Sichuan peppercorn. Serve.

More hot-weather salads

  • Spicy Vietnamese Vegetarian Cabbage Salad (Goi Bap Cai)
  • Green Papaya Salad with Beef Jerky (Goi Du Du Kho Bo)
  • Vegan Green Papaya Salad (Goi Du Du Chay)
  • Thai Melon Salad
  • Asian Herb Rice Salad (Nasi Ulam)
  • Grilled Beef and Jicama Salad
  • Chilled Cucumber and Garlic (on Asian Dumpling Tips)

More Recipes: All

  • Vietnamese Bolognese (Bo Kho Meat Sauce)
  • Hawaiian Tofu Watercress Salad Recipe
  • Vietnamese Chile Sauce Recipe (Tuong Ot Vietnam)
  • Persimmon Spice Cookies
Celery and Carrot Tossed with Sesame Recipe - Viet World Kitchen (7)
Celery and Carrot Tossed with Sesame Recipe - Viet World Kitchen (8)
Celery and Carrot Tossed with Sesame Recipe - Viet World Kitchen (9)
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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Yun Ho

    Hi Andrea:
    This recipes sounds very refreshing!! I will e-mail you cold cucumber-wakame soup recipe that you can add to your hot weather salad(?)recipes.

  2. Andrea Nguyen

    I'd love the recipe, Yun Ho! That sounds lovely. I have lots of wakame seaweed.

  3. Biki

    I made this with some char siu in steamed buns, think asian sliders. We went nuts over this salad, and have made it twice in the last 5 days. Hubby adores it, he told me that this is something he wants to see on his plate more often. yummmmmmmm

  4. Stephanie

    This was really good in a rice bowl with Korean beef and spicy broccoli.

    • Andrea Nguyen

      Thanks!

  5. Stephanie

    I literally just referenced your dumpling book for a quarantine project later in the week but was looking online for a simple Chinese celery and carrot salad for tonight - how delighted I was to find your recipe! I'll be making it tonight to go with Fuchsia Dunlop's ma po tofu. Hope you stay well - I always enjoy reading your newsletters so please keep 'em coming.

    • Andrea Nguyen

      Well, I'm extra happy that you found this little recipe to go along with the dumplings from the book. It's like a double whammy for me to know that I can help folks who have my book and also use this site. HOOOOORAY!

Celery and Carrot Tossed with Sesame Recipe - Viet World Kitchen (2024)

FAQs

What are the 3 ingredients in mirepoix? ›

The culinary term refers to the combination of diced onion, carrots, and celery, gently cooked in fat. Mirepoix is a foundation for many classic dishes, including sauces, soups, braised meat dishes, and other recipes.

What is the ratio for the mirepoix? ›

The French flavor base called mirepoix is a combination of onion, carrot and celery generally cut to the same size. It's used in a ratio that's 2 parts onion to 1 part celery and carrot.

Why carrot onion celery? ›

Mirepoix is an aromatic blend of ingredients made to bring flavors to foods like stews, soups, stocks, and broth. This trinity food is made by slowly cooking carrot, onion, and celery to “sweat” out the flavor and create a delicious base for other recipes to be built upon.

What can I do with mirepoix? ›

Here are a few of our favorite ways to use mirepoix:
  1. Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup.
  2. Bolognese Sauce.
  3. Basic Vegetable Stock.
  4. Easy Minestrone Soup.
  5. Veggie Quinoa Burgers.
Mar 12, 2021

What is the Mexican version of mirepoix? ›

The analogous soffritto (frequently containing parsley) is the basis for many traditional dishes in classic Italian cuisine, and the sofrito serves a similar purpose in Spanish cuisines. In Cajun and Creole cuisine, a mirepoix or (jocularly so-called) "holy trinity" is a combination of onions, celery, and bell peppers.

What is a mirepoix in English? ›

or mire·pois

a flavoring made from diced vegetables, seasonings, herbs, and sometimes meat, often placed in a pan to cook with meat or fish. finely chopped vegetables, as onions and carrots, sometimes with meat, often used as a bed for meat that is to be braised.

What is the ratio of onions to carrots and celery in mirepoix? ›

The French flavor base called mirepoix is a combination of onion, carrot and celery generally cut to the same size. It's used in a ratio that's 2 parts onion to 1 part celery and carrot.

Do you add water to mirepoix? ›

So how do you make a great broth? Well, most often it begins with what chefs call mirepoix (pronounced as meer-pwah), which is a combination of onions, carrots and celery. This bouquet is considered aromatics and is lightly sauteed in butter or oil before adding to your water to make broths.

What is the formula for a mirepoix? ›

What is the Basic Formula for Mirepoix? The basic Mirepoix that is a staple of French cooking is a mix of 2 parts onions, 1 part carrots, and 1 part celery. This formula will give you that classic flavor.

What is a mix of onion celery and carrot called? ›

Mirepoix is a French term for a mixture of onions, carrots, and celery that forms a base and added depth of flavor for many dishes.

What does celery and carrots do to your body? ›

Carrots: They are an excellent source of beta-carotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. Carrots also contain fiber, vitamin K, potassium, and antioxidants. Antioxidant Properties:Celery: Contains antioxidants like flavonoids, beta-carotene, and vitamin C, which can help neutralize free radicals in the body.

What is roughly chopped carrots onion and celery called? ›

To make mirepoix, start by chopping the carrot, onion, and celery roughly. (If the mirepoix will be strained out of your final dish, it's not strictly necessary to peel your carrots.) In general, the finer you chop the veggies, the quicker the aroma and flavors will be released.

What are 3 kinds of mirepoix? ›

In the French culinary tradition, flavorful dishes are built on a foundational trio of onions, celery, and carrots. Together, these three hearty vegetables form a mirepoix.

Can you put garlic in mirepoix? ›

Mirepoix is diced onions, carrots, and celery. I often add its adjunct friend, garlic.

What is a substitute for onion in mirepoix? ›

Some versions of mirepoix replace the onions with leeks. Matignon is another version that starts by rendering bacon.

What is a mirepoix made of? ›

A Mirepoix is an essential flavor base made from humble vegetables such as onions, celery, and carrots. Fundamental to many classic soups, stew, and meat dishes find out how to make your own mirepoix recipe, how to use, and quickly take your cooking to the next level!

What is the difference between Trinity and mirepoix? ›

The holy trinity is the Cajun and Louisiana Creole variant of mirepoix; traditional mirepoix is two parts onions, one part carrots, and one part celery, whereas the holy trinity is typically one or two parts onions, one part green bell pepper, and one part celery.

What is the difference between soffritto and mirepoix? ›

What is mirepoix and sofrito? Mirepoix is a mixture of diced onions, carrots, and celery used as a base for many dishes in French cuisine. Sofrito, on the other hand, is a blend of aromatic ingredients like onions, peppers, garlic, and tomatoes used in Spanish, Latin American, and Caribbean cuisines.

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