Celery Soda
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Author Notes: This recipe is inspired by a great soda company from Seattle called Dry Soda. They make not overly sweet sodas with interesting flavors like lavender, juniper, and rhubarb. I decided to see how celery soda might work, and was pleasantly surprised by the result. I've added a bit of lemon, black pepper, and cardamon to enhance and complement the fresh, herbaceous flavor of the celery. This is a grown-up soda that would be perfectly refreshing on a sultry summer day. - hardlikearmour
Food52 Review: Hardlikearmour has created a very cool way to use celery. This is different than every other soda. It's not overly sweet, rather it's a little spicy with a strong undercurrent of celery. It packs jsut the right amount of spice to be interesting, but still refreshing and light. I liked mine in a dilution of 6:1, but feel free to play with it to find what you like the best. - biffbourgeois
Makes about 2 cups of syrup
- 7 - 8 large stalks celery (about 3/4 lb) (plus inner stalks for garnish)
- large lemon
- 1 tablespoon black pepper corns
- 8 green cardamom pods
- 1 1/4 cup water (12 oz)
- 1 cup sugar (7 oz)
- seltzer water (about 2 quarts for the entire batch of syrup)
- Clean then thinly slice the celery. It should measure about 3 cups when firmly packed into a liquid measuring cup. Set aside.
- Remove the zest in strips from half of the lemon. Lightly crush the pepper corns and cardamom pods. Set aside.
- Bring water and sugar to a boil in a medium sauce pan. Once it reaches a boil, add the sliced celery and return it to a boil for about 1 minute. Stir once or twice in the process. Remove from the heat.
- Add the lemon zest, pepper, and cardamom to the celery mixture. Stir to combine, then cover the pan and allow to cool to room temperature.
- Strain the celery syrup through a fine mesh strainer into a jar or other suitable storage container. Press the celery to extract as much syrup as possible. Feel free to nibble on some of the candied celery - it's surprisingly tasty! (and if you think of any good uses for it, pass them on! I send most of it to the compost heap.)
- Juice the lemon, and add 3 tablespoons of the juice to the syrup. Stir to combine. Store covered in the refrigerator until ready to use.
- Mix syrup with seltzer water. A 1 to 4 dilution is a good starting point; adjust to your taste. Serve over ice with a tender inner celery stalk as garnish if desired.
- This recipe is a Community Pick!
- This recipe was entered in the contest for Your Best Celery Recipe
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3 months ago mbr101
I just found this... would love to have a class of rIght nOw. Think I'll surprise my hubby w/it this weekend :) He's not mUch on experimenting but I'll try almost anything once... providing it's not meat :P
3 months ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
I love experimenting, and am lucky my husband is quite open to it! Hope you and yours enjoy!
12 months ago Caroline Cooks
I made this over the weekend and I enjoy it after work as an alcohol free refreshment. Lovely .
12 months ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thank you for letting me know! I'm glad you enjoy it!
about 1 year ago cambridgecook
Can't believe New Yorkers haven't mentioned Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray soda, the classic pairing for corned beef or pastrami on rye. Try this recipe with a sandwich. Bet it's great. Gin optional.
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Cool FYI! Thanks, cambridgecook. I just looked up the Cel-Ray soda - sounds pretty delicious!
9 months ago SMSF
...an acquired taste, Dr. Brown's Cel-Ray! : )
about 1 year ago wssmom
Brilliant CP (even without the gin LOL)
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks, wssmom! I was pretty thrilled to see it with the lovely new photo.
about 1 year ago BlueKaleRoad
The celery syrup is cooling as I write and I've already nibbled on some of the candied celery slices...a nice little appetizer! I'm looking forward to serving it to our guests tomorrow evening.
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Yay! Let me know how it goes over.
about 1 year ago BlueKaleRoad
Celery soda was a hit with our guests! I will be making it again soon. Thanks again for a terrific recipe. Have a great weekend!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
I'm thrilled to hear that! You made my day.
about 1 year ago Ms. T
Mmmm...love this idea for a hot summer day. Congrats on the CP!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks! I think it's perfect for summer.
about 1 year ago BoulderGalinTokyo
Unbelievable! I just read about celery soda in GUILT by John Lescroart. Sounded good, but never having tried it I had no idea what it tastes like. I googled and Alton Brown has a recipe but its made from celery seeds, and I didn't think that sounded very FRESH. Within 24 hours, I find your tantalizing recipe. Thank you so much!!!!! Fresh celery and pepper, !!!!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Funny! I haven't read that book, and probably should've researched celery soda, but didn't. I'm glad I went with celery stalks instead of seeds. It has plenty of celery flavor without being overpowering IMO.
about 1 year ago PistachioDoughnut
I would like to try this! I am so thirsty...right now...
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
LOL! I'm about to make myself a glass in your honor.
about 1 year ago PistachioDoughnut
Not fair...
about 1 year ago EmilyC
This is brilliant! I would LOVE to have one of these right now!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks, EmilyC! I'd love to serve you one!
about 1 year ago Midge
Super refreshing! Love the gin idea.
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thank you, Midge! So far I've only tried it NA, but will remedy that soon.
about 1 year ago BlueKaleRoad
This is inspired! I can't wait to try it. I'm a fan of Dry Sodas, too - love their flavors. I am dreaming of a sultry summer day...
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
I'm dreaming of summer, too! It's chilly and rainy here.
about 1 year ago wssmom
Definitely, especially with Hendricks!!!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Or Aviation ;-)
about 1 year ago SKK
Sounds divine! With our without vodka! This is on my list.
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks, SKK! Do let me know if you try it.
about 1 year ago em-i-lis
Emily is a trusted source on General Cooking.
ooh, i like this HLA! and drbabs, i like your way of thinking!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks, em!
about 1 year ago LE BEC FIN
cardamom. sigh. big smiley face!I am going to make this ,with cucumber. FanTAStic, so thank you!
p.s. what made you think to use black peppercorns?
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
When I was trying to figure it out I made a bunch of different spiced simple syrups, then mixed them together with the celery in different ways. The cardamom & black pepper was my favorite. Once I had that figured out I worked the ratios out and made a test batch as written in the recipe to make sure it worked out as expected.
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
PS. Dry Soda does have a cucumber version that is quite nice!
about 1 year ago aargersi
Abbie is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Yum! Poolside!!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Perfect!
about 1 year ago gingerroot
Lovely! As soon as it warms up around here (lol - crazy weather!) I'm giving this a try.
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks, gr! I hope your weather gets better soon.
about 1 year ago mrslarkin
Mrs. Larkin is a trusted source on Baking.
Yummmm.... I'll take two, please.
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
I'd gladly serve you two!
about 1 year ago drbabs
Barbara is a trusted source on General Cooking.
I'll take mine with gin please.
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Then it will definitely be an adult-only beverage! Cheers!
about 1 year ago fiveandspice
Emily is a trusted source on Scandinavian Cuisine.
Oh. Yes. Me too, please!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
I only have Aviation, but if you and drbabs want to come over I'd gladly mix up a pitcher of gin and celery sodas!
about 1 year ago fiveandspice
Emily is a trusted source on Scandinavian Cuisine.
Works for me!!! As soon as I get a plane ticket... :)
about 1 year ago wssmom
I volunteer to bring extra Hendricks ....
about 1 year ago sdebrango
Suzanne is a trusted source on General Cooking.
Love it, how refreshing this must be. I'm already thinking syrups for summer drinks.
about 1 year ago boulangere
Cynthia is a trusted source on Bread/Baking.
Yes, me too!
about 1 year ago hardlikearmour
hardlikearmour is a trusted home cook.
Thanks, ladies!