Celery seeds are the tiny dried fruits of the celery plant. They have a strong aroma. The immediate flavour is that of celery (a sort of mildly bitter, mildly peppery, slightly lemon-like flavour). This flavour intensifies as you chew and becomes quite tangy. Some people compare the taste to that of
Fenugreek.
Using Celery Seeds
The seeds can be used whole in
stews, soups, curries and with vegetables. It can also be ground down with salt to make the seasoning
celery salt. As with cumin, fennel and caraway seeds, lightly frying celery seeds helps to release their aroma into the oil and therefore deepening the flavour of the dish.
