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Celery and calories
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Celery, a Mediterranean herb, has, of late, begun to find its way into Indian cuisine.
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CELERY IS known for it's use in various recipes and is relished as a salad ingredient.
It is particularly popular among dieters, because it is said to be the only food that contains what are called `negative calories'. The calories that one uses up while eating celery are more than the calories that celery contains!
And this is just one of the many reasons why celery can be used in recipes. It flavours soups, salads, sauces and Chinese delicacies like nothing else does.
Though celery is a Mediterranean herb, it is used extensively in Oriental cooking, because of its cooling properties in hot, spicy dishes.
However, as it is just beginning to get popular in Indian homes, it may not always be available in many vegetable markets or supermarkets.
The best way to obtain fresh celery, therefore, is to grow it at home. The easiest and fastest way to grow celery (Apium graveolens) is to buy a small plant from a nursery. Make sure the plant has roots that haven't decayed, because planting celery seeds takes a long time and requires ample care.
The root with a small stalk can be planted in a pot (a single plant) or previously prepared plant bed (each plant should be 10 to 12 inches apart).
Celery needs moist soil that is rich in fertilizers. It is best to prepare the soil weeks in advance by adding fertilizers and watering it regularly. Celery should preferably be planted in the winter months or when abundant moisture is available.
The plant needs a long growing season, approximately three to four months, and must be watered well and kept in cool temperature. The celery plant does not need daylong exposure to the sun and should be kept in the sunlight only for a couple of hours each day. Once the plant grows to a height of 10 to 12 inches, the stalks and leaves can be used to flavour dishes. Preferably, use the tender stalks raw, while the leaves and thick stalks can be used in various dishes.
The celery plant, which has many medicinal properties, came to be used in cooking only by the 17th century. Prior to that, it was popular for its therapeutic value.
One version of celery is also said to find mention in Homer's Odyssey. The plant is known for its anti-toxic, anti-rheumatic, and antiseptic properties. In many cases, celery has also been used to relieve gout and arthritis. It is said to be good for blood pressure. Celery is not recommended during pregnancy because of its urine stimulation properties. However, it can be used during lactation. Celery contains nutrients such as Vitamin B-complex, Vitamins A and C, potassium, and iron.
TINA GARG
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