Crisp Celery Salad with Cranberries and Toasted Pecans Recipe
This fresh and crunchy Celery Salad combines the natural crispness of celery with the sweetness of dried cranberries and the rich crunch of toasted pecans, all tossed in a creamy, tangy dressing made from sour cream, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and red wine vinegar. A perfect make-ahead salad that’s both refreshing and flavorful, ideal as a light side dish or snack.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 2 minutes
- Total Time: 2 hours 12 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Salad
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Salad
- 8 ribs celery – thoroughly washed, chopped into 1/2” pieces
- ⅓ cup dried cranberries
- ⅓ cup pecans – roughly chopped
Dressing
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise – or homemade Avocado Oil Mayonnaise
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon red wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Toast Pecans: Heat the roughly chopped pecans in a dry skillet over medium heat for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently until they become golden brown and emit a toasted aroma. This enhances their flavor and adds a satisfying crunch.
- Make Dressing: In a large bowl, whisk together the sour cream, mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, red wine vinegar, salt, and black pepper until smooth and well combined.
- Combine Salad Ingredients: Add the chopped celery, dried cranberries, and toasted pecans into the bowl with the dressing.
- Toss Salad: Gently toss everything together until the celery, cranberries, and pecans are evenly coated with the creamy dressing.
- Chill: Cover the salad and refrigerate it for at least 2 hours, up to 12 hours, to allow flavors to meld and the dressing to penetrate the celery.
- Serve: Before serving, lightly toss the salad again. Optionally, garnish with extra dried cranberries, toasted pecans, and a sprinkle of black pepper for an attractive presentation.
Notes
- Store refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezing this celery salad is not recommended as it will compromise texture and flavor.
- Metric conversions provided are approximate and for guidance only.
Keywords: celery salad, pecan salad, creamy dressing, dried cranberries, healthy salad, make-ahead salad, side dish, vegetarian salad
