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Is celery low FODMAP?

We all have our favourite vegetables. Whether you prefer them for their taste, texture or what they bring to a dish, (mostly) everyone has one they enjoy. Some are less FODMAP friendly than others, though, so today we’re asking: is celery low FODMAP?

An important note, before we begin. This is article is not a substitute for appropriate medical advice. Any elimination diet should always be worked through with a doctor or a dietician before you begin.

A close up macro image of a stalk of bright green celery on a white marble table.

Is celery low FODMAP?

Unfortunately, celery is high FODMAP (specifically, mannitol) in all but very small servings. A low FODMAP serve of celery is 10g, or less than 1/3 of a single stalk. In 15g serves (approximately 1/3 of a stalk) it contains moderate amounts of mannitol. In 75g serves (approximately 2 medium stalks) it contains high amounts of mannitol.

If you are in the elimination phase or have ascertained that you malabsorb mannitol, it is best to avoid celery. However, if you have completed the elimination phase and find that you can eat mannitol with no issues, then you are free to eat as much celery as you can tolerate.

A close up macro image of a small piece of celery on a white speckled ceramic plate.
A 10g piece of celery, which is considered low FODMAP. It is about the size of a thumb nail tip to the first finger joint.

More low FODMAP resources

How to replace celery in low FODMAP recipes

Whether you’re replacing fresh celery or cooked celery, my answer is the same: fennel. Fennel has that crunchy, fresh taste that celery does. If you use the stem section towards the fronds, it also has the same half moon shape as celery, which means it will work in a sandwich or salad. If you’re replacing it in a soffritto, fennel offers a depth of flavour and texture. I like to make a low FODMAP soffritto with chopped carrots, fennel and a garlic infused oil, garlic infused ghee or asafoetida powder.

Fennel bulbs are low FODMAP in 48g serves, which is approximately 1/5 of a fennel bulb or around 1/2 cup chopped fennel. This gives you more leeway for a low FODMAP serve than celery does.

An aerial image of a radicchio, orange, fennel, goats cheese and chilli maple walnut salad on a white ceramic serving platter. The salad sits atop a beige stone backdrop which is bathed in natural light. Thin grassy leaves project their shadow in a pattern across the top of the image and down the left hand side

Low FODMAP alternatives to celery

If you don’t enjoy or don’t tolerate fennel, here are some other low FODMAP alternatives to fennel.

  • Cucumber (raw applications)
  • Jicama (raw or cooked) – a crispy bulbous vegetable that tastes akin to an apple with less sweetness. Jicama are low FODMAP in 75g serves. In serves of 250g or more, they contain moderate amounts of fructans. This suggests that there is some space as to what constitutes a low FODMAP serve, making it a great crunchy alternative to celery.
  • Water chestnuts (raw or cooked) – low FODMAP in serves of 75g, moderate fructans in serves of 335g or around 3 cups. This suggests a low FODMAP serve could be considerably higher than 75g, which makes water chestnut another great option.
An aerial, side on image of two stalks of celery and some celery slices on a white speckled ceramic plate atop a white marble table. A textured water glass sits to the top left of the image.

Low FODMAP recipes that use celery alternatives

Low FODMAP vegan bolognese

This vegan, low FODMAP bolognese initially used fennel and carrot as the soffritto base. I changed the recipe to include just carrot, in order to keep the FODMAP content down. However, this should give you an idea of what using fennel in a low FODMAP soffritto could look like.

Low FODMAP vegan bolognese
A delicious low FODMAP bolognese made with tofu instead of legumes.
Check out this recipe
An aerial view of four plates of FODMAP friendly vegan bolognese on dark blue ceramic plates against a dark blue steel backdrop
An aerial view of four plates of FODMAP friendly vegan bolognese on dark blue ceramic plates against a dark blue steel backdrop

Crispy tofu with ginger satay and green fennel salad

This crispy, refreshing green salad uses cucumbers and finely shaved fennel for crunch and texture. They pair beautifully with crispy tofu and gingery peanut satay.

Salt and pepper tofu with ginger satay and green salad
A fresh and delicious low FODMAP vegan salad.
Check out this recipe
A close up photo of a green salad topped with crispy nuggets of pan fried tofu. The salad sits on a white plate atop a white marble table
A close up photo of a green salad topped with crispy nuggets of pan fried tofu. The salad sits on a white plate atop a white marble table

Cucumber salad with tomatoes, feta and oregano quinoa

This fresh summery salad is a delicious way to use up some cucumbers. You can make it as a light side dish without the quinoa, or use the quinoa for a hearty and filling meal.

Low FODMAP cucumber and tomato salad
A fresh and light summer salad that everyone will love.
Check out this recipe
FODMAP-friendly tomato and cucumber salad from www.georgeats.com
An aerial image of a cucumber, tomato, feta and walnut salad with oregano lemon quinoa. The salad sits in a white ceramic bowl atop a white marble table.

Spinach and water chestnut dumpling filling

This low FODMAP spinach and water chestnut dumpling filling is a recipe from my cookbook, Intolerance Friendly Kitchen. It’s a delicious way to fill the gluten free dumpling wrappers that are also in the cookbook.

A plate of vegan, gluten free and FODMAP friendly dumplings sit atop a white marble table. The dumplings are pleated, and drizzled with chilli oil, tamari and spring onion greens. Chopsticks rest on the edge of the plate and a small ceramic dish of spring onion greens sits to the left of the dumplings

Low FODMAP pico de gallo

This low FODMAP pico de gallo uses fennel to replace the crunch and aesthetic of onion in traditional pico de gallo. It also uses spring onion greens for that fresh onion flavour (and it pairs incredibly well with my low FODMAP jackfruit tacos).

A side on image of a white ceramic bowl filled with low FODMAP pico de gallo. The bowl sits on a white marble table and is surrounded by a skillet filled with jackfruit taco mince and a chopping board topped with coriander

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