There is no scientific evidence showing the potential beneficial effects of celery juice on the body, but according to some it is comparable to a miracle drink that can improve blood circulation, cure skin disorders, increase vitality and much more. However, celery is a vegetable that provides very few calories and is rich in fiber, vitamin K, folate, potassium and antioxidants. If you are an advocate of fruit and vegetable juices, feel free to drink a glass of celery juice a day to evaluate the benefits for yourself. Remember that to stay healthy you need to maintain a balanced diet that includes multiple varieties of fruit and vegetables.
Ingrediants
- 1-2 bunches of celery
- 110 g pineapple (optional)
- A handful of fresh mint leaves (optional)
- 2 teaspoons (10 ml) of lemon juice (optional)
- 1 apple (optional)
Yield: 1-2 glasses of celery juice
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Use a Juice Extractor
Step 1. Remove the leaves and base from the celery bunch
Place it horizontally on the cutting board and remove the leaves and the white part that connects the stems to the root with a sharp knife.
- Generally, a bunch of celery consists of about 8-9 stalks.
- Fans of celery juice argue that the ideal is to drink a glass of it in the morning as soon as you wake up on an empty stomach, but there is no scientific evidence to support this thesis.
Suggestion: if possible, buy celery from organic farming. This way you won't risk ingesting pesticides or other dangerous chemicals.
Step 2. Wash the celery stalks separately
For a thorough cleaning, hold each celery stalk under water and rub it gently with your hands to remove any residue of soil and any other substance. Wash all the stems one at a time before making the juice.
Alternatively, you can put the celery stalks in a large colander and wash them all together
Step 3. Insert one celery stalk at a time into the juice extractor
Turn on the extractor and stick a celery stalk into the top opening. Gently push it down using the attachment attachment, then repeat with the remaining celery stalks.
If the juicer does not include a container to collect the juice, remember to place a glass or carafe under the spout before starting to centrifuge the celery
Step 4. Serve the juice immediately
Pour it into a glass and drink it right away. Plain celery juice doesn't taste great, so drink it all in one gulp if you want to finish it quickly.
If you don't want to drink the juice all at once, you can store it in the refrigerator in an airtight container (such as a glass jar) and consume it within the next 24 hours
Method 2 of 3: Using the Blender
Step 1. Cut a bunch of celery into pieces a couple of centimeters large
Place it horizontally on the cutting board and remove the leaves and the white part at the base of the stems with a sharp knife. After coarsely chopping it into small pieces, repeat with the second bunch of celery.
When you make the juice with the blender, you need to double the amount of celery as it will be filtered and all the fibrous parts will be discarded
Step 2. Wash the celery pieces under cold running water
Put them in a colander and rinse them with plenty of cold water while moving them with your hands to get rid of possible residues of soil and other unwanted substances.
It is very important to wash celery well, especially if it does not come from organic farming, to remove residues of pesticides and other chemicals that are dangerous for the body. Try to choose organic products whenever possible
Step 3. Blend about 1/4 of the celery
Place a quarter of the celery pieces in the blender, secure the lid and blend the celery on medium speed until it is finely chopped and begins to release its juices.
Blending only a small portion of celery initially serves to simplify the work of the blender. If you blend it all at once, the result will be less homogeneous
Step 4. Put the rest of the celery in the blender and blend until you have a puree
Remove the lid from the blender and add the remaining celery pieces on top of the ones you have already blended. Close the blender again and blend the celery on high speed until you get a smooth, even puree.
Use the accessory that is used to push the food towards the blades supplied with the blender. Alternatively, you can use a kitchen utensil with a long handle. Proceed very carefully to avoid the tool getting between the blades
Suggestion: Add 60-120ml of celery water if you notice that the blender blades are turning hard.
Step 5. Filter the celery juice using a plant-based milk bag
Place the bag in a liquid dispenser or jug and pour the celery juice into it. Lift the bag and squeeze it firmly to drain the liquid into the container. Discard any remaining pulp inside the bag.
- The vegetable milk bags are made of fabric and are used to separate the pulp of almonds, cashews and any variety of dried fruit from the extracted liquid. These bags also work perfectly for filtering fruit and vegetable juices.
- If you don't have a plant-based milk bag, you can strain the celery juice using a very fine mesh strainer or muslin cloth. Keep in mind that if you use a colander, you will not be able to squeeze the pulp and therefore you will get less juice.
Step 6. Serve the celery juice immediately
Pour it into a glass of your choice and drink it immediately to reap the maximum benefits in terms of taste and properties.
You can store leftover celery juice in an airtight container, for example in a glass jar. Put it in the refrigerator and drink it within 24 hours to prevent it from losing its properties
Method 3 of 3: Add other Ingredients
Step 1. Add a generous 100g of pineapple to give the juice a tropical note
Pineapple brings sweetness, nutrients and vitamins to celery juice. Cut it into pieces and use the extractor or blender to make this tropical variant of celery juice.
In the absence of fresh pineapple, you can use frozen or canned pineapple. If you are using canned, you can also add some of the preservative liquid to further sweeten the juice. If you use the blender, the liquid will also make it easier for the blades to work
Step 2. Add a handful of fresh mint to give the juice a refreshing note
Put the mint leaves in the extractor or blender along with the celery to combine the flavors. In addition to having a delicious taste, mint promotes digestion. The same property is also attributed to celery juice, so your digestive system will benefit double.
As an added bonus, mint helps freshen the breath
Step 3. Add 2 teaspoons (10ml) of lemon juice for a thirst-quenching effect
Add freshly squeezed lemon juice to celery juice to improve flavor and vitamin C intake. You can increase or decrease the amount of lemon juice according to your personal taste.
If you prefer, you can use lime juice
Step 4. Combine apple and celery for a fresh and delicious juice
Choose an apple of your favorite variety, core it and cut it into small pieces. Put it in the juicer or blender along with the celery when you make the juice.
Apples of the Granny Smith variety are an excellent choice, because they have a strong sour taste that compensates for the mild one of celery
Suggestion: You can combine a wide variety of ingredients to create a personalized celery juice recipe. Options include ginger, cabbage, carrots, and cucumbers.
