This Italian celery salad is both light and refreshing and takes less than 10 minutes to put together. Sprinkled with fresh parmesan cheese shavings and dressed with a light lemon dressing, this vegetarian salad is perfect for summertime.
Slice the entire bunch of celery, including the leaves, into approximately one inch pieces. Discard the bottom and any brown tips or bad spots.
Combine celery and parmesan cheese shavings in a mixing bowl and toss to combine.
In a small mason jar or container with a lid, combine lemon juice, olive oil, dried thyme, salt and pepper. Close jar and shake until combined and creamy in texture. Pour dressing over celery and parmesan and toss to combine.
Serve immediately at room temperature or chill for 30-60 minutes in the refrigerator before serving.
Crisp up limp celery by cutting off the bottom of the bunch of celery and place it in cold water for 20-30 minutes to crisp it up again.
Substitutions and Variations
Vegan/Dairy Free - to make this salad vegan or dairy free, omit the parmesan cheese.
Nuts/Seeds - add sliced almonds, sunflower seeds or chopped walnuts for extra crunch.
Fruit/Vegetables - add in dried cranberries, sliced apples or sliced fennel for extra flavor.
Different Cheese - try feta, asiago or pecorino romano as other cheese alternatives.
Spicy - add ¼ teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes to the dressing to kick the flavor up a notch!
Storage Suggestions
If making this salad ahead of time, store the combined celery and parmesan in the refrigerator separately from the dressing. When it's time for serving, pour the dressing over celery and parmesan and toss to combine. Leftovers can be stored in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 24 hours.