Prato-style Stuffed Celery

We might think of celery as being a base ingredient, a fundamental part of any self-respecting Italian soffritto. But then we think celery might stop there, that it becomes a seasonal vegetable without much role in Italian cuisine once you move past a sauce preparation. Instead, friends of exciting Italian cooking, there's more to celery than meets the eye, or the taste buds!

This highly unique style of celery presentation is more than just a simple snack - when celery is blanched, it turns this seasonal vegetable from a crunchy veggie into a semi-sweet (with natural sweentess, of course) vessel for a creamy, rich stuffing brimming with Italian flavors like mortadella and Parmesan cheese.

This is quite far removed from the classic filled celery we remember as kiddie snacks and moves us into full-on adult cuisine lands. You might even say this moves us into the territory of delicious antipasto-style savory celery bites with a bite.

If your palates include a love of salt and umami, the filling for this classic stuffed celery will meet your flavor loves perfectly. While Italian-style stuffed celery might not be first dish that jumps to mind when you think about classic Italian cooking, the Riviera-style stuffed celery dish is a surprising find - perfectly light in time for the spring season, yet perfectly filling to meet all appetite demands.

For other Mamablip veggie-based dishes, be sure to check out the Vegetable Recipe index on Mamablip. Read up on your seasonal Italian vegetables, and get cracking on that springtime Italian meal planning! Sign up below for delicious Italian recipes, wine news, and tips in the Mamablip newsletter. A quick sign-up and you'll get these details delivered right to your inbox once a week - could living like an Italiano be any easier?