Kale, Apple and Manchego Cheese Salad with Tahini Vinaigrette

Ingredients:

• 1/3 cup of tahini

• 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

• Juice from 1 lemon

• 3 Tablespoons pure maple syrup (avoid brands that include high fructose corn syrup or other additives)

• 1/3 cup of water; you can add more for a thinner consistency

• 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

• 1 large bunch of Lacinato kale — remove the stems and thinly slice leaves. If in a rush, you can also use bagged kale.

• 1 small apple cored and cut into match sticks

• 1/2 cup of shaved Manchego cheese

• Optional — a pinch of cayenne pepper, for heat

• Sea salt and ground pepper to taste

 

Method:

For the dressing: Add the tahini, olive oil, lemon, and maple syrup into a small bowl or blender. Whisk in the water a little bit at a time, whisking until the water is incorporated. Keep adding water and whisking until you reach the desired consistency for your dressing. Taste and season with sea salt and pepper. Add the kale to the bowl. Drizzle some dressing onto the greens and use clean hands to mix and massage the kale so the leaves are coated evenly with dressing. Keep going through the process until the leaves are coated and the kale is slightly wilted. With a vegetable peeler shave the 1/2 cup worth of slices of the cheese. Transfer the salad to a serving platter and scatter with the apple, pine nuts*, and shavings of Manchego cheese. Drizzle on more of dressing if desired – it’s pretty as a garnish on the plate. Season with salt and pepper, and serve.

 

*For the pine nuts: Toast the pine nuts either in a small sauté pan until slightly brown in color, or place the pine nuts on a small tray and bake at 300 degrees in a toaster oven for 8-10 minutes. Watch them as they burn easily!

Photo: Stef Schwalb

 

 

PAIRINGS