Many folks – vegetarians excluded – would agree with us when we say that meat is usually the head honcho of a dish. Veggies tend to be the side kick; they complement the meat, which always catches our attention first.

So this week, we’re going to turn the tables and make the veggie steal the show. Not only that, we’re going to use a vegetable that is thought to be plain and boring – celery.

If you’re ready to turn away from this recipe at the mention of celery, don’t! We promise that you won’t regret enjoying this crisp, refreshing veggie in a different way. Sure, it’s known for it’s health properties, and many people who are trying to lose weight eat it. But let’s stay away from all that and talk about something more interesting.

“We loved this! The pork chops were very tender and we enjoyed them plain. The star was the slaw and we loved it despite not being celery fans.”
-Sarah

Think, instead, of the crunchiness of celery paired with crisp, sweet Asian pear, with a bit of parsley to brighten it all up. Think of a squeeze of fresh lemon juice, a drop or two of sweet and earthy maple syrup, and just a light sprinkling of salt to bring out the flavors of each ingredient.

Do we have your attention now?

Okay, we’ll bring the meat back. Now add some perfectly seared, tender, juicy pork chops to go along with this bright and refreshing pear and celery slaw. Now that’s a light and healthy meal that will have you smacking your lips and feeling good about what you eat!

“This was a simple but elegant meal that came together very quickly. The pear and celery salad really surprised us — a nice refreshing taste with the pork!”
-Nicole

The secret to this dish is to keep it simple. To truly enjoy the flavors of all the components of this meal, we count on basic seasonings, so nothing gets masked or overwhelmed.

We really hope that this recipe can convince you to try celery. After all, the best way to #eatmoreveggies is to try them in different ways and with various cooking techniques. If you’re not a celery and peanut butter kind of person, or even a fan of celery in stir-fries, then perhaps this slaw is just the thing you need to enjoy this underestimated veggie!

Keep trying!
Still don’t like celery after trying it cooked or raw? Give celeriac, or celery root, a try! Celeriac is a variety of celery that has a lighter, subtler taste than celery, and has a creamy texture when cooked. Try it in a Pureed Broccoli and Celeriac Soup or roast in the oven like you would any other vegetable.

Serving Suggestion:

Round out this healthy meal with another dose of veggies and some color with this Pureed Butternut Squash Soup.

For More Smarts:

A little bit of lemon juice can bring out the flavor of fruit and celery.

Prepping Smarts:

Learn to season your pork chops (or any kind of meat) with this video:

This pear and celery slaw is so easy to throw together. You can see how it’s done with these how-to videos below:

Equipment Smarts:

We love how quick and easy this recipe comes together. All that is required is a bit of chopping and a skillet to cook the pork chops.

For more kitchen and equipment and tool smarts, visit our ‘Essential Kitchen Cookware and Tools’

See this recipe in our meal plan here