Description
Fresh and zesty bobby flay harvest salad combines roasted autumn vegetables with tangy goat cheese and crisp greens. Seasonal ingredients create a delightful mix of flavors you’ll savor from first bite to last.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 large bunch kale, washed, stemmed and shredded (6 cups/1.4 kg)
- 1 cup pecans, lightly toasted (100 g/3.5 oz)
- 1 cup dried California figs, cut into small pieces (170 g/6 oz)
- ½ cup goat feta or blue cheese, crumbled (75 g/2.6 oz)
- ½ cup pomegranate arils (75 g/2.6 oz)
- 1 apple, sliced thinly
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil (60 ml/2 fl oz)
- 2 tbsps balsamic vinegar (30 ml/1 fl oz)
- 2 tbsps maple syrup (agave or honey would also work) (30 ml/1 fl oz)
- 2 tbsps lemon juice, freshly squeezed (30 ml/1 fl oz)
- 1 small shallot, chopped
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- ½ tsp ground black pepper
Instructions
- Dressing Preparation: Combine all dressing ingredients in a sealed glass jar and shake vigorously for 15-20 seconds until completely emulsified, creating a harmonious blend of flavors.
- Bowl Foundation: Layer the bottom of a spacious salad bowl with approximately half the prepared dressing, establishing a flavorful base for the ingredients.
- Kale Treatment: Carefully massage the kale with the dressing, working the liquid into each leaf to tenderize and enhance the green’s natural texture and absorb the dressing’s nuanced flavors.
- Ingredient Integration: Gently fold diced apples, figs, chopped nuts, and pomegranate arils into the dressed kale, ensuring an even distribution and creating a colorful, textural medley.
- Final Dressing and Cheese Accent: Drizzle the remaining dressing over the salad and delicately toss, then crown the dish with crumbled cheese, adding a rich, tangy dimension to the harvest-inspired creation.
- Serving Recommendation: Present the salad immediately to preserve its crisp textures and vibrant flavors, offering a fresh and elegant culinary experience.
Notes
- Massage Kale Technique: Firmly work the dressing into kale leaves to break down tough fibers, making them more tender and easier to chew, which dramatically improves the salad’s overall texture and palatability.
- Dressing Emulsification Trick: Vigorously shake ingredients in a sealed glass jar for 15-20 seconds to create a smooth, well-blended vinaigrette that coats ingredients evenly without separation.
- Strategic Salad Layering: Pour half the dressing at the bowl’s bottom first, ensuring each ingredient gets perfectly seasoned from the initial coating to the final sprinkle of cheese.
- Serve Immediately Wisdom: Present the salad right after preparation to preserve crisp textures, vibrant colors, and prevent ingredients from becoming soggy or wilted.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner, Appetizer
- Method: None
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 415
- Sugar: 24 g
- Sodium: 470 mg
- Fat: 35 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 36 g
- Fiber: 7 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 20 mg