How Much Celery to Substitute for Broccoli
Works for sauteing, slow cook, and steaming. Celery comes across milder than Broccoli.
How much celery equals one cup of broccoli?
Use 1 1/4 cups celery per cup broccoli.
Health notes
Compared with Broccoli, Celery has: less calories (14 vs 34 per 100g in Broccoli), less protein (0.7g vs 2.8g per 100g in Broccoli), and less carbs (3g vs 6.6g per 100g in Broccoli).
Using celery as a broccoli substitute in pan-frying
1 1/4 cups per cup broccoli; cut thin. Stays crisp longer than broccoli.
Other cooking methods
- Slow Cook
1 1/4 cups per cup; softens to tender strands. Adds mild, savory depth.
- Steaming
1 1/4 cups per cup; takes 8-10 minutes. Becomes very tender and mild.
- Raw Cold
1:1 in slaws and salads; crunchier and more fibrous than broccoli.
- Drinks
1:1 in fresh juices and smoothies; adds crisp, clean flavor.
Methods to avoid (3)
- Baking
Not recommended: celery adds moisture and won't brown or set structure.
- Frying
Not recommended: celery splatters in hot oil and doesn't crisp like broccoli.
- Grilling
Not recommended: celery chars too fast and loses structure.
FAQ
- How much celery equals one cup of broccoli?
Use 1 1/4 cups celery per cup broccoli.
- Can I substitute celery for Broccoli in pan-frying?
Yes. 1 1/4 cups per cup broccoli; cut thin. Stays crisp longer than broccoli. Not recommended: celery adds moisture and won't brown or set structure.
- How much celery to use as a broccoli substitute?
Milder and more savory; add garlic, herbs, or a splash of vinegar.
- How does the flavor change when substituting Celery for Broccoli?
Celery comes across milder than broccoli.
- How does texture change when substituting Celery for Broccoli?
Celery crunchier raw with visible fibers; becomes tender and stringy when cooked. Less dense than broccoli florets.
- What else should I know about substituting Celery for Broccoli?
For sauteing, slow-cooked soups and stews, and raw salads. Expect milder, more savory flavor with a stringy texture when cooked. Skip baking, frying, and grilling. Raw celery works 1:1 but is crunchier and less bitter. Celery works well in juices 1:1. Add garlic and herbs to boost flavor.
- What still works when substituting Celery for Broccoli?
Celery still works as a moisture, flavor carrier, and texture.
- What won't work when substituting Celery for Broccoli?
Celery won't work as a color.
- How well does Celery match Broccoli?
Celery is okay on structure, okay on heat, and stretch on flavor.
- How does nutrition compare per 100g when substituting Celery for Broccoli?
Celery has about x2 fewer calories and fat, x3 fewer sat. fat, and x4 fewer protein.
- How do the flavor notes shift when substituting Celery for Broccoli?
The flavor shifts toward less bitter and less umami notes.