How to Make Celery Shrub

Our tart and bracing celery shrub is both unusual and delicious. If you’ve ever had a Dr. Brown’s Cel-Ray soda, the flavor will be familiar. Made with vinegar and syrup, shrubs can be mixed with seltzer or tonic water to make sodas and cocktails. In this version, we’ve opted for honey rather than sugar, but make sure you use light amber honey to maintain the shrub’s bright green color. Stir 1 tablespoon of the shrub into your next Bloody Mary or gin and tonic, or stir together ½ ounce celery shrub and 2 ounces of dry vermouth before topping off with seltzer. 

Celery Shrub Recipe

Makes 3 cups

Shopping List
1 bunch organic celery (about 10 ribs with leaves)
1 organic lemon
2-inch piece organic fresh ginger
1½ teaspoons black peppercorns
1 teaspoon fennel seeds
½ cup light amber honey
½ cup organic apple cider vinegar
Sparkling water or tonic watrer, for serving

Tools
Peeler, fine-toothed grater, fine-mesh strainer, medium bowl, blender

1. Prep and blend the shrub ingredients

  • Trim the root end from the celery bunch. Cut the celery ribs and leaves into 2-inch pieces.
  • Using a peeler, remove the zest in wide strips from the lemon, being careful to remove only the outermost yellow layer and leave behind the bitter white pith; twist the strips and set aside for garnish. Juice the lemon.
  • Grate the ginger.

In a blender, combine the celery, ginger, black peppercorns, fennel seeds, lemon juice, and ½ cup water. Blend on high just until smooth, about 30 seconds. If large chunks remain, scrape down the blender sides and blend again.

2. Strain the puree; finish the shrub

In a fine-mesh strainer set over a medium bowl, strain the celery mixture, lightly pushing the liquid through with the back of a spoon or spatula; try not to push too much celery pulp through. Discard the solids.
Add the honey and apple cider vinegar to the celery juice and stir to combine.

Serve
Fill individual glasses with ice. Pour equal parts celery shrub and sparkling water or tonic water into each glass, garnish with a lemon twist, and serve. 

Nutrition per serving: Calories: 110, Protein: 1g (2% DV), Fiber: 2g (8% DV), Total Fat: 0g (0% DV), Monounsaturated Fat: 0g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 0g, Saturated Fat: 0g (0% DV), Cholesterol: 0mg (0% DV), Sodium: 70mg (3% DV), Carbohydrates: 29g (10% DV), Total Sugars: 23g, Added Sugars: 21g (42% DV). Not a significant source of trans fat.

Bonus recipe—ingredients not included in box.

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