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Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad

DFGFV

Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad

This Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad is a crunchy, earthy, salty, and sweet salad that makes for a lovely side dish, or a meal in itself if you serve it with crusty bread.

Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad // FoodNouveau.com

Is it spring yet? Not here in Quebec City, it’s not. No flowers or even buds are in sight yet, and it’s been raining for several days straight—which, in a way, is good because it made our several feet-high snowbanks melt in a flash. Every year, from late March, we know we’re over the extreme cold and the snowstorms, but nature’s still sleeping tightly, so we’re stuck just walking in the slush and the dirt until mid-May. This yearly in-between season is the hardest time of the year for me. Everyone’s saying, “Summer’s finally coming!” like an incantation, and we talk about the summer festivals and the lazy afternoons on terraces and the barbecued meals, but there are still so many weeks to go through before any of that happens.

While the Internet is ablaze with fresh spring recipes, cocktail ideas, and grilling tips, I’m still craving comforting dishes, but I do want to see some bright colors on the plate. This crunchy, earthy, salty, and sweet Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad makes for a nice hearty meal with a glass of wine and a thick slice of bread—a meal that we still have to enjoy by the fireside but helps us hang tight ‘till the summer salads finally come around.

Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad // FoodNouveau.com

A note about this recipe’s two kale textures: Mixing raw and crispy baked kale adds a very interesting dimension this beet salad, but you can skip the crispy kale altogether and just use raw. But since the oven’s on, why not make kale chips too? It only takes 5 minutes!

 
Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad // FoodNouveau.com

Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad

This Pecan, Kale, and Beet Salad is a crunchy, earthy, salty, and sweet salad that makes for a lovely side dish, or a meal in itself if you serve it with crusty bread.
Servings 4 servings
Author Marie Asselin (foodnouveau.com)

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Make the dressing: Add all the dressing ingredients in an airtight glass container (such as a small Mason jar). Shake vigorously and let rest for a while. The dressing is best if prepared at least an hour in advance.
  • Prepare the roasted beets and the kale chips: Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C) and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Put the cubed beets in a mixing bowl and add the olive oil, the maple syrup, a generous pinch of sea salt and some freshly ground black pepper. Mix well so the beets are well coated with the oil and syrup mixture. Spread the beets in a single layer on the parchment paper-lined baking sheet and roast for about 40 minutes, or until you can pierce the beets easily with the tip of a knife.
  • While the beets are roasting, line a second baking sheet with parchment paper. Put 2 cups of the chopped kale leaves in a mixing bowl, and add 1 tsp (5 ml) extra-virgin olive oil. Using your hands, rub the leaves together so they are all lightly coated with olive oil. Spread the kale leaves on the second parchment paper-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with a pinch of sea salt. Five minutes before the end of the beets cooking time, add the kale to the oven. Toast until the kale is lightly browned but still bright green. Be careful not to burn it—the kale will finish crisping up while cooling.
  • Take the kale and the beets out of the oven and let both roasted veggies cool completely at room temperature, at least 30 minutes.
  • Assemble the salad: In a salad bowl, mix together the raw kale, beets, pecans, and bacon bits. Add dressing to your liking. Divide between plates and top each serving with parmigiano-reggiano shavings and crispy kale chips. Serve immediately.
  • MAKE IT DAIRY-FREE: Omit the parmesan, or replace with lactose-free or vegan cheese.
  • MAKE IT VEGAN: Omit the bacon, and replace the parmesan with shaved vegan cheese.
  • Recipe Credit: Marie Asselin. The recipe was previously published in French by Fou des foodies.

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Tell me how you liked it! Leave a comment or take a picture and tag it with @foodnouveau on Instagram.

 

Author: Marie Asselin

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  1. I feel your pain. We are finally seeing signs of spring/summer in Cincinnati but our weather is likely to change any minute. We can go from 75 and sunny to snow flurries within 24 hours.

    This salad looks great – healthy but filling and full of bright colors. Although I hate peeling beets, you may have just convinced me to make this for dinner one evening this week!!