The term celery powder may refer to ground dehydrated celery or to ground celery seeds. Ground celery seeds come from a different celery variety than the type commonly eaten in the west. It is called smallage and is used in China and Southeast Asia. Celery has been used since the time of the ancient Egyptians. Celery seeds were found in the tomb of King Tutankhamun.
Celery is thought to have originated in the Mediterranean region. The English word celery was first documented in 1664 and was derived from the Greek word selinon.
The first people to use the plant as a seasoning were the ancient Romans. A love of the plant’s properties was passed down to The Italian and the French. Celery would be domesticated during the Middle Ages and today it continues to play a major role in modern European cuisine as well as in the cuisines of various Asian countries, including China and India.
Celery powder flavor profile
Celery powder that is literally made up of powdered celery stalks, leaves, or juice will have the herbaceous and savory flavor of celery. Celery powder made from celery seed will have a similar flavor but slightly more intense and with a hint of bitterness.
Health benefits of celery powder
- Vitamins: Celery in both fresh and dried forms is rich in Vitamin K, which helps blood to clot properly. It also contains a significant amount of vitamin C, which is important for collagen formation and for your immune system.
- Calcium: Along with helping to make your bones strong, calcium helps with muscle contractions and with the release of hormones.
- Fiber: Dietary fiber comes from plants and the dehydrated celery used to make celery power contains a reasonable amount of it. You need a diet with adequate fiber for your digestive system to function as it should.
The nutrients that you get from celery powder can help to treat or prevent various health problems, including:
- Constipation: The fiber in celery powder can ensure that more water is retained in food waste as it passes through your gut. This helps it to move more quickly. The result is relief from constipation.
- Cholesterol: Dietary fiber can keep cholesterol from being absorbed into your bloodstream by binding to it in the intestines. The result can be lowered blood cholesterol and decreased risk of heart disease.
- High blood sugar: Dietary fiber can keep your body from absorbing sugar as quickly, which means that it can help to improve the blood sugar levels of people suffering from diabetes.
- Food-borne illness: Research has also shown that the nitrates in celery powder can be just as effective as sodium nitrate when it comes to inhibiting the growth of E. coli bacteria.
Common uses of celery powder
Along with being a popular flavoring in many classic American dishes like potato salad, celery powder can be used to flavor sauerkraut and salad dressings. It is also a popular flavoring for Bloody Mary cocktails. You can use it in barbecue rubs and for pickling.
Celery powder is an effective food preservative as well. When made from celery juice, celery powder has a nitrate content of roughly 2.75 percent, which makes it useful for preserving meat. It is commonly used in organic meat products like bacon and hot dogs. It is seen as a healthier alternative to sodium nitrate, which is prohibited in organic foods by the USDA.
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