Celery Seed Dressing [Recipe of the Week]

Celery Seed Dressing

The flavor of this dressing is not overpowering which allows it to go well with sweet or savory salads. Try it with arugula, carrots, cucumbers, radishes, tomatoes, avocados, eggs or be adventurous and throw in some fruit like mandarin oranges or pears!

Contrary to what you may think, celery seed does not come from the celery vegetable. It comes from a close relative which is a slender plant that stands about 2-3 feet tall and has small, white flowers. The dried fruit (seeds) are found in the flowers. While it doesn't come from the well-known vegetable, it does taste like a concentrated flavor of celery. Celery seed has been used as medicine for thousands of years all around the world. During ancient times, Indian Ayurvedic medicine used it to treat colds, flu, poor digestion, water retention, certain diseases of the liver and spleen and different types of arthritis. Now, it is used mostly as a diuretic and sometimes for treating arthritis and gout.  Sources:  http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/celery-seed