Cold Celery with Peanuts

Name: Cold Celery with Peanuts
Total time: 2 h
Ingredients: 1 cup Raw peanuts; 3 medium Celery stalks; 1 medium Carrots; 1 tablespoon plus extra for blanching Salt; 1 piece Star anise; 1 teaspoon Vegetable oil; 1/2 teaspoon (optional) Sesame oil; 1 clove (optional) Garlic, minced

A refreshing Chinese appetizer featuring tender boiled peanuts tossed with crisp celery and sweet carrots. The peanuts are slowly infused with star anise flavor while the vegetables maintain their satisfying crunch. Perfect as a light starter or side dish.

2 hours

Easy

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Story

This classic Northern Chinese dish balances textures beautifully—soft, flavorful peanuts against crisp, bright vegetables. The key is allowing the peanuts to soak up the aromatic cooking liquid after boiling.

Ingredients

Raw peanuts 1 cup

Celery stalks 3 medium

Carrots 1 medium

Salt 1 tablespoon plus extra for blanching

Star anise 1 piece

Vegetable oil 1 teaspoon

Sesame oil 1/2 teaspoon (optional)

Garlic, minced 1 clove (optional)

Instructions

Prepare the peanuts

Place raw peanuts in a bowl and cover with cold water. Let them soak overnight or for at least 8 hours. Drain the water and transfer peanuts to a pot. Add fresh water to cover, along with 1 tablespoon of salt and the star anise. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Keep the peanuts in the pot and let them steep for at least 1 hour to absorb the flavors.

Prep the vegetables

While the peanuts are steeping, prepare the celery. Pull off any tough outer strings and cut the stalks into small dice. Peel the carrot and cut into similar-sized pieces. You want bite-sized, uniform pieces for the best texture.

Blanch the vegetables

Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil. Add a pinch of salt and a few drops of vegetable oil. Carefully add the carrots first and cook for 1 minute, then add the celery and cook for another 30 seconds. The vegetables should remain slightly crisp. Drain immediately and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking process.

Combine and season

Drain the peanuts (reserve some cooking liquid if desired). Add the peanuts to a large bowl along with the blanched vegetables. Toss gently. Add sesame oil and minced garlic if using. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional salt if needed. Let the dish cool to room temperature before serving, or refrigerate for a cold appetizer.