Asian Peanut and Celery Salad

Name: Asian Peanut and Celery Salad
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 40 min
Total time: 50 min
Ingredients: 1 cup peanuts ((with red skin)); 6 cups water; 2 inch ginger ((sliced thin)); 2 cloves garlic; 4 green onions; 2 bay leaves; 1 cinnamon stick; 1 star anise; 8-10 Sichuan peppers; 1 tsp salt; 1 medium carrot ((peeled and diced)); 1 stalk celery ((diced)); 2 tbsp sesame oil; 1 tbsp soy sauce; 1 tsp sugar; ¼ tsp salt; ½ cup water

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An easy to make side, Asian Peanut and Celery Salad is a crunchy, salty and flavorful recipe.

This pairs perfectly with Hot Pot, is great as a side for drinks or as a nutritious snack.

Top view of celery and peanut salad in a white bowl with a gold black fork in it and some peppers and celery on the side.

Asian salads are always a delight. Most of them are simple yet delicious and pretty healthy. Whether it is the cold tofu salad or the kelp (seaweed) salad or even the wood ear mushroom salad; they are all on these lines.

We have been introduced to the yummy world of Asian sides or salads from visiting the numerous restaurants around the Bay Area. And each time we are there, we do try some of their specialty salads and dips.

Som Tam (Thai Papaya Salad), Kimchi, Smashed Cucumber Salad and Japchae top the list of favorites. And not to forget this recipe that I am sharing today; Asian Peanut and Celery Salad.

Jump to:

What is Peanut Salad
Why this recipe works
Ingredients and Substitutions
How to make this recipe
Expert Tips and Notes
Recipe FAQs
Recipe Inspiration
More Asian Recipes
Asian Peanut and Celery Salad

What is Peanut Salad

This is a super delicious salad made from peanuts and a bunch of other ingredients. It has a light dressing and some crunchy vegetables for taste and flavor and it is great to enjoy cold or at room temperature.

This salad is made with peanuts braised in a flavorful combination of spices and water till they are cooked and get the flavor from the spices too. And these peanuts when mixed with nutty sesame oil and some seasonings; it is a great side for drinks or appetizers. Plus it doubles up as a yummy snack.

Why this recipe works

This salad is a great one for summer. It tastes great at room temperature or even fridge cold.
Enjoy it as an appetizers, serve it with drinks or even as a snack; this dish works great in all ways.
A make-ahead recipe, this peanut and celery salad is perfect for parties.
A nutritious salad, we can customize this to be friendly for kids. Just reduce the spice and it works well.
The recipe is naturally Vegan and easy to make gluten-free too.

Ingredients and Substitutions

Ingredients for Asian Peanut Celery Salad; peanuts, vegetables, braising ingredients and spices.

Peanuts: We start the recipe with peanuts. I like to use regular peanuts with skin. The shelled peanuts do not taste the same unfortunately. Available in any grocery store or specialty store, these are quite easy to find. The fresher the peanuts, the better the flavor and crunch.
Celery: We use a large amount of celery in the recipe. Chopped and blanched celery gives the salad a lot of flavor, crunch and taste. I would not recommend skipping this one.
Carrot: Some carrot adds a pop of color along with more crunch to the recipe. I use regular orange carrots, but rainbow carrots work too. They are blanched quickly to par cook them before adding.
Spices: The peanuts in the salad get all its flavor from the spices it boils with. Do not skimp on these else the peanuts will taste bland. I add star anise, cinnamon stick, bay leaves, Sichuan peppers, garlic and ginger. Plus, some stalks of scallions works well here too.
Soy Sauce: While the spices flavor the peanuts, we use some soy sauce to make the salad umami and flavorful. Replace with tamari for a gluten-free version. I like to use dark soy sauce in the recipe.
Toasted sesame Oil: A small amount of toasted sesame oil makes the salad super amazing. It adds so much flavor and warmth to the salad. Replace with chili sesame oil for a spicy version.
Salt and Sugar: Like most recipes we flavor the salad with salt and a hint of sugar. As the sugar balances all the other flavors really well; I would not recommend skipping this.

See the recipe card for detailed ingredient information, measurements and nutrition.

How to make this recipe

1- In a deep pan add the peanuts.

2- Add the scallions, ginger, garlic, bay leaves, star anise, cinnamon, Sichuan peppers and salt.

Pro Tip: Place the Sichuan peppers in a tea ball or muslin cloth to easily fish them out. I left most of the peppers in the salad.

Collage steps to prepare for braising peanuts.

3- Add water and start to boil.

4- Let the peanuts boil for 40-50 minutes; till they are slightly soft but still have the crunch. Remove from heat and set aside.

Collage steps for boiling peanuts to make an Asian salad.

5- Fish out the flavoring ingredients and discard and remove the tea ball if using and set aside.

6- Drain the peanuts and set aside.

Collage steps for braising skin peanuts.

7- In a pan add water and bring to a boil. Add the diced carrots and a pinch of salt and cook for a minute. Drain and set aside.

8- Then repeat the same with chopped celery and keep ready.

Collage steps for boiling carrots and celery to add to a salad.

9- In a large bowl add the cooked peanuts.

10- Then add celery, carrots and scallions.

Collage steps for making peanut and celery salad.

11- Then season with sugar, toasted sesame oil and soy sauce.

12- Mix well and serve at room temperature or cold.

How to plate Asian Peanut Celery Salad in white bowl with spices around the bowl.

Expert Tips and Notes

Use peanuts with the red skin rather than the shelled ones. They absorb the flavor from the spices better.
The celery, carrots and scallions are for crunch and a pop of color. However, use more vegetables like peppers, tomatoes, cabbage etc. if you like.
Add some chili oil or chili flakes for a spicy version.
The salad tastes great at room temperature or cold. I have had it fridge cold with Hot Pot and it does taste amazing.
Let this Asian Peanut and Celery Salad stand for some time before serving. The flavors become better with time.
Refrigerate the leftovers and enjoy straight from the fridge or bring to room temperature before serving.

A fork with some peanuts, carrots and celery with a white bowl on the side with the remaining salad.

Recipe FAQs

Is Asian Peanut and Celery Salad Vegan and Gluten-free?

Yes the recipe is naturally Vegan. It is easy to make gluten-free by using tamari instead of soy sauce. Other than that all the ingredients are gluten-free compatible.

Can we make this salad with shelled peanuts?

While the recipe works with shelled peanuts, the ones with the red skin tends to absorb the flavors better. I like to use them but go ahead with shelled ones if they are easier to get.

Does braising the peanuts make them soggy?

No. The end result is crunchy peanuts that are salty, crisp and full of flavor. They are not soggy at all. Plus, the added crunch from the celery and carrots completes the salad perfectly.

What can we serve this Asian Peanut and Celery Salad with?

This salad is great with beers, other drinks, as an appetizer or snack. It is nutritious and full of flavor.

Recipe Inspiration

I have tried this salad at some popular Asian restaurants and most of all at Happy Lamb Mongolian Hot Pot. This salad is always a part of their all you can eat and I enjoy it throughout the meal.

Plus, when I looked around I saw a lot of versions of the recipe. And I have tried a lot of them too. However, the one that was the best was definitely this one from omnivore's cookbook. This recipe is a combined version of her recipe and the one I have tasted from the restaurants.

White bowl with Asian Peanut Celery Salad in it; with some celery and sichuan peppers on the side.

More Asian Recipes

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Love this recipe? Please leave a star rating in the recipe card below & if you REALLY like it, consider a review in the comments whilst you are there, thanks!