Spring

Crunchy Celery, Radish and Turnip Salad-Slaw in Blue Cheese Sauce

by:
October  4, 2022
5
7 Ratings
Photo by James Ransom
  • Serves 4 to 6
Author Notes

This crunchy salad-slaw adds a nice cool element to many dishes. I use it in spring and all summer long on hotdogs, in tacos or just as a salad with any meal. Today it was a delicious addition to our dinner’s roasted chicken and Tortilla Española. —Kukla

Test Kitchen Notes

WHO: Kukla is a classical pianist who has loved cooking and baking since her teens.
WHAT: A summer salad that combines a tangy, creamy dressing with a who's who list of crispy vegetables: radishes, young turnips, celery, and scallions.
HOW: Don't bother turning on the stove -- a whisk, a knife, and a chopping block are the only tools you'll need here.
WHY WE LOVE IT: Sturdy enough to be picnic-ready, yet classy enough for the fanciest of picnics, we'll be toting this salad along to outdoor fetes all summer long. —The Editors

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Ingredients
  • • 1/2 head celery (about 6-7 stalks), peeled and thinly sliced, leaves picked and reserved
  • • 1 bunch radishes, ends trimmed, thinly sliced
  • • 1 bunch young turnips, ends trimmed, halved and thinly sliced
  • • 5 spring onions, white and green parts thinly sliced
  • • 1/2 cup fresh flat leave parsley, chopped
  • For the sauce:
  • • 3 tablespoons Gorgonzola Dolce blue cheese, room temperature
  • • 2 tablespoons good quality mayonnaise
  • • 1/2 cup sour cream
  • • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lime juice plus 2 teaspoons zest
  • • 1 teaspoon kosher or sea salt
  • • 10 grinds black pepper
  • • 2 teaspoons sugar
Directions
  1. In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the blue cheese, mayonnaise, sour cream, lime juice and zest, sugar, salt and pepper until well combined. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
  2. Just before serving in a large bowl toss all the vegetables, chopped parsley and celery leaves; add the sauce and mix well to combine. Taste for seasonings and serve.

See what other Food52ers are saying.

61 Reviews

kimBurley June 4, 2024
This was delicious! I love the lime juice and zest in the dressing, it adds such brightness. I too had a hard time finding spring parsnips, perhaps I’ll use daikon if I can’t find springy parsnips. Because I will be making this again!
LizCo77 April 1, 2018
I made this exactly as written for an Easter brunch, with Daikon radishes. So delicious! Great texture, awesome colors and everyone raved. Thank you!
Amanda A. April 6, 2015
This recipe is changing my life right now THANK YOU KUKLA
Kukla April 6, 2015
Thanks a million Amanda! I am so thrilled to get such compliment from you, a person who is dealing with many first class recipes on daily bases!
Enjoy!
sevenfaces November 8, 2014
I never realised how much I liked radishes until I made this recipe! A delicious slaw. I used stilton as I couldn't find gorgonzola, couldn't find young turnips either so I peeled the fibrous skin off a normal turnip and sliced that up. Yum yum!
Kukla November 8, 2014
Thank you sevenfaces!!!
karmaya October 10, 2014
what about using daikon (from CSA) instead of young turnip (wish i had those) -- so: daikon + red radish + celery : would that work? or would it benefit from some sweetness - eg) thin discs of winter carrot? opinions please.
Kukla November 8, 2014
Daikon would be just as good as the young turnips karmaya.
chefbonandee May 15, 2014
I made this last night to pair with our beer-braised sausage and potato dinner, and it was PERFECT! It's so crunchy and delicious and the sauce is made of magic, I'm pretty sure. The flavors that came together blew me away. It's tart, it's creamy, it's awesome. Definitely making this for my bleu-cheese-loving dad the next time I visit home!
Kukla May 15, 2014
Thank you for the beautiful comment chefbonandee!!! Such comments are the best rewords!!!
I_Fortuna January 5, 2014
I make this often as it is hubby's favorite. I use apple cider vinegar instead of lime. I use Roquefort or Danish blue and Roaring Forties Blue (very salty). Roaring Forties is delicious but taste it first before adding salt to any recipe using it. The flavor is superb. I am happy you posted this delicsious recipe!
Kukla January 5, 2014
And I am happy you like my recipe! Thank you I_Fortuna!
marenann July 16, 2013
Delicious! This brings back memories of one of the dishes my Baba used to make. Thank you for the reminder of happy times.
Kukla July 17, 2013
Thank you marenann for the lovely comment!
khandro April 20, 2013
any suggestions for a vegan dressing for this? Thanks!
Kukla April 21, 2013
Here is wonderful vinaigrette:
2 teaspoons orange zest
1/3 cup fresh orange juice
1/4 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1 jalapeño pepper, seeds and membranes removed, diced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill or any herb of your choice
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Whisk orange juice, lime juice, jalapeño, 2 tablespoons dill, and zest in a medium bowl. Gradually whisk in 1/2 cup oil; season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper to taste. Pour into a mason jar with a tight lid; keep in refrigerator and use as much as you need for the salad. I like to keep the salad and vinaigrette separately in the fridge. Enjoy!
Musebe October 10, 2012
This was awesome...I might add blue lump crab meat next time I make this.
Kukla October 10, 2012
Thank you Musebe for the nice comment! Adding crab meat is a good idea.
ChefJune August 4, 2012
Making this again today. It's our summer favorite!
Kukla August 10, 2012
I am very glad you like the salad and make it often! Thanks a lot ChefJune!!!
43sox June 29, 2012
Absolutely bananas delicious. I was shocked to find a recipe for a group of orphan ingredients in my fridge. Never again will I leave the turnips behind at csa pickup! Thanks kukla!
Kukla June 30, 2012
You are very welcome! I am very glad you liked the salad!
deepthiw June 24, 2012
Thanks for this recipe, it was absolutely delicious! I ended up just whisking the blue cheese into some whole milk and adding lime juice, salt and pepper, but even just that was rich and perfect with the crunchy veg.
Kukla June 25, 2012
Thank you deepthiw!
mainesoul June 20, 2012
Congratulations on your win. Great recipe. Beautiful too.
Kukla June 20, 2012
Thank you very much mainesoul!!!
calendargirl June 19, 2012
Belated congratulations, Kukla! Love all the crunch in this salad, and the Gorgonzola is perfection.
Kukla June 19, 2012
Thank you calendargirl! Congratulations and nice comments are never late.
gingerroot June 14, 2012
Congratulations on the win, Kukla!!
Kukla June 14, 2012
Thank you so much gingerroot! It was a pleasant surprise.
ChefJune June 14, 2012
congrats on the win, Kukla! We loved this salad so much I think I'll make it again this weekend.
Kukla June 14, 2012
Thanks a lot ChefJune! I am very glad you like this salad and will make it again; and am also curious; did you tested it and recommended as a finalist? Any way thank you!!!
Kukla June 13, 2012
Thank You all kindly, for the warm greetings and your beautiful comments!!!
cookingProf June 13, 2012
What a great combination of tastes. Congratulations for the big win! Your recipes are all inspiring.
Bevi June 13, 2012
Hooray Kukla!