Play Me a Recipe

Carla Lalli Music makes Sorry, I Love Celery

Episode Summary

Do you love caesar salad but are looking for a way to switch it up? Well Carla Lalli Music has come to the rescue with an incredible recipe out of her new book that makes celery the star of this twist on a classic recipe.

Episode Notes

On Play Me a Recipe, your favorite cooks will walk you through their most treasured recipes, offering all the insider tips, stories, and tricks you won't get from a written recipe—and you'll be right alongside them, every step of the way. Feel free to pause, jump back, or navigate the steps via the podcast chapters (if you're in Apple Podcasts, swipe up on the episode player page—the podcast chapters will be at the bottom).  

If you're cooking along, here's the recipe we're making today. Go ahead and grab the ingredients below (Emma starts listing them at 1:03) before starting the episode.

Sorry, I Love Celery

Serves 4 to 6

Ingredients:

• 3 anchovy fillets packed in oil, drained
• 2 garlic cloves
• kosher salt
• freshly ground pepper
• 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon Aleppo pepper
• 10 Castelvetrano olives
• 6 Piparra peppers
• 1 bunch celery
• 2 ounces Parmigiano
• 1/2 cup parsley leaves and tender stems

1. In a mortar and pestle or mini chopper, combine the anchovies and garlic with a big pinch of salt and many grinds of black pepper. Pulverize until a paste forms. (Alternatively, you can finely chop the anchovies and garlic together on a cutting board, then season with salt and black pepper and use the flat edge of the knife blade to smash the ingredients into a paste.)
2. Scrape into a medium bowl and whisk in lemon juice, olive oil, and Aleppo pepper until combined. Taste and season with more salt and black pepper, if needed.
3. Use the flat side of a chef’s knife to smash the olives and loosen the pits, then tear the flesh into 2 or 3 pieces (discard pits). Cut peppers in half lengthwise, then halve crosswise. Place the olives and peppers in a salad bowl.
4. Trim the celery at both ends, then separate the bunch into individual stalks; wash and dry. Snap off the light green leaves from innermost stalks and set those aside. Cut the celery into very thin slices on a dramatic angle, then transfer to the bowl with the olives and peppers.
5. Use a vegetable peeler to shave half the Parmigiano over. Add most of the dressing and toss with your hands to coat.
6. Add the parsley and reserved celery leaves and toss gently to combine. Shave the other half of the Parm over, drizzle with dressing, and top with a few more grinds of black pepper.