Celery Salad with Apples

This crisp celery salad with apples, Parmesan, and a tangy vinaigrette is a no-cook side dish ready in just 15 minutes! This unexpected salad wins over every skeptic.

It might sound weird, but this celery salad is one of my favorite salads ever. Yes, the name doesn’t have quite the ring of say, potato salad. But this unique salad is so refreshing, you’ll become a convert from the first bite.

Crunchy celery pairs perfectly with sweet apple, Parmesan shavings and a tangy vinaigrette. It’s easy, it’s crunchy, it’s hydrating: it works for summer, and it’s perfect in the winter too. Really, what can’t this celery salad do?

5 Star Reader Review

“Different and tasty!” — Ora

Ingredients You’ll Need

You need just a handful of ingredients for celery salad: and I promise, it will be the talk of your dinner! (At least, it is whenever I serve it to guests.) Pairing the bitter depth and crunch of celery with sweet apples and tangy dressing makes for a unique salad that is always surprising. Here’s what you’ll need:

Celery: This salad heightens the flavor of this green vegetable by using the celery leaves as part of the salad! You’ll thinly slice the ribs of celery, then pull off the leaves and use those too. Make sure to find a bunch of celery with leaves attached (some bunches are sold without the leaves).
Apple: You can use any kind of apple: I like using a red apple for color contrast (like Pink Ladies or Honeycrisp).
Parmesan shavings: The better the Parmesan, the better the salad.
White wine vinegar: The backbone of the dressing: you can also use red wine vinegar.
Dijon mustard: Acts as an emulsifier and adds a tangy depth to the flavor!
Maple syrup or sugar: Just a touch to balance the acidity.
Olive oil: This emulsifies everything into a delicious dressing.

How to Make Celery Salad

This recipe truly couldn’t be simpler. Here’s a quick overview:

Slice the celery as thinly as you can — just using a sharp chef’s knife does the job.
Slice the apple: See my tip below for the fastest method!
Whisk the dressing in a medium bowl: vinegar, Dijon, maple syrup, and salt first, then drizzle in the olive oil one tablespoon at a time while whisking.
Toss everything together: Celery, celery leaves, apple, dressing, and Parmesan shavings!

Tips for the Best Salad

Use the freshest celery you can find. This salad is all about crunch, so limp or yellowing celery won’t give you the snap you’re looking for. Bright green stalks are what you want!

Serve it the day you make it. This salad is best immediately or within a few hours of dressing. If you’re prepping ahead, slice and refrigerate the components separately and toss right before serving.

The Fastest Way to Slice an Apple

Thinly slicing celery is pretty self explanatory. But we do have a quick method for thinly slicing apples! It’s totally slick and you won’t believe that you’ve never done this before. Here’s the trick of how to quickly thinly slice apples:

Holding the core of the apple, use a large chef’s knife to slice off four sides of the apple, cutting as close to the core as possible.
Take one of the quarters and place it flat side down on the cutting board. Then cut it into thin slices. Repeat with the remaining quarters!

How to slice apples

Ways To Serve It

This salad pairs well with just about anything, making it an incredibly versatile side dish! Here are a few ways we’d suggest pairing:

With more salads: Serve it as a salad trio as a summer salad dinner! Try it with Tortellini Salad, Watermelon Feta Salad, Antipasto Salad, or Grilled Corn Salad, Red Cabbage Slaw, or my favorite Carrot Salad.
Seafood: I also like it with seafood like Baked Salmon, Grilled Salmon, Grilled Tilapia, Grilled Shrimp, Ahi Tuna, Pan Fried Cod or Seared Scallops.
Pasta. Or, try it alongside Roasted Eggplant Pasta, Butternut Squash Pasta, Creamy Cavatappi or my Favorite Vegan Lasagna.

Storage Info

One thing to note about the salad is that it does taste best right away. The flavor truly pops and is freshest right when you make it.

That said, you can refrigerate the salad until serving, or you can keep leftovers for a few days. If you do, you might find the flavor dull a little bit. Add a pinch of salt or a tiny sprinkle of white wine vinegar to revive the flavors.

Dietary Notes

This celery salad recipe is vegetarian and gluten-free. For vegan, plant-based, and dairy-free, omit the Parmesan cheese.