crispy cauliflower + kale salad
You know that when you’re doling out seven amazing courses, and about 80% of the guests are obsessing over the salad, you’re doing something right.
I think it’s because it surprises people for a salad to taste so good. The flavors in this salad work together in a really memorable way.
The Winter Salad Gregg and I served at ABODE for our first tasting menu, shown above, consisted of crispy charred cauliflower, satsuma tangerine segments, baby kale, fresh mint, uncured green olive, a cauliflower stalk puree, and marcona almond vinaigrette.
We make versions of this salad at home all the time, in a much simpler format. To start, we use a lot more kale, so we’re working with a heartier salad. We toss in whole marcona almonds rather than making a vinaigrette, instead opting to dress the salad simply with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice and olive oil. We don’t bother with the cauliflower puree, and instead of leaving the tangerine segments out to air-dry for hours (a fun little trick to make them pop in your mouth), we just toss them right in.
Also take note that we use a bit of a different technique with the cauliflower. We like to break it into tiny florets and really drench it in olive oil for maximum flavor and texture.
Hope you enjoy!
- 1 head cauliflower, cut into tiny florets
- 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for dressing
- Kosher salt
- 1 5-ounce container baby kale
- 1/2 cup fresh mint leaves
- 4 satsuma tangerines, peeled and segmented
- 1/2 cup Castelvetrano olives, pitted and sliced
- 1/3 cup marcona almonds
- Juice of 1/2 lemon
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Toss cauliflower florets in a bowl with the olive oil. A pool of oil will sink to the bottom; use a rubber spatula to continuously fold the cauliflower into the oil until the cauliflower has absorbed it.
- Spread cauliflower onto a baking sheet in an even layer; season generously with salt. Roast for 20 to 25 minutes, or until crispy and charred on the edges.
- Allow to cool. In a serving bowl, add kale, mint, tangerine segments, olives, almonds, and cauliflower. Squeeze lemon over top along with a healthy drizzle of olive oil and toss to combine. Season to taste.
1/30/2013
crispy cauliflower + kale salad
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Sounds delicious Sarah! Wish I was in NYC to dine at ABODE. So glad it’s going so well!!!
Sarah, thanks for posting the recipe! As you know, I was obsessed with this salad!!! Keep up the good work – see you soon xoxo
It is a beautiful, light salad, with few ingredients. Easy to make really!Thank you for posting the recipe Sarah!
This looked so good (and I love kale salads) so I made it tonight! Used sliced almonds and blood oranges. Delicious! Thanks for sharing-everyone in my humble abode loved it tonight.
The salad was good! The satsuma was a surprise and the mint was great!Are you guys doing the Abode dinners again?!
Glad you enjoyed it! We are taking this weekend off, and coming back the weekend of 2/14 with a new family-style format. Hope to see you!
I’m gonna post about it, as a Vday option =) Is this going to be an on going thing?
Awesome! It’s a week-by-week decision, but you can stay updated on all events by checking here: http://www.bysarahashley.com/abode/
great… added a link to this salad recipe …. hope you dont mind =)
Of course not!
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cauliflower very useful for a person who suffers from diabetes as it helps reduce blood sugar levels… thanks for shared this recipe
[…] Course 2: Winter salad with cauliflower, tangerine, and marcona almond. I have to say, this was one of my favorite salads ever. I was skeptical when the bowl was dropped in front of me and it just looked like a bunch of rabbit food, but it truly was so delicious. I haven’t tried it yet, but Sarah posted the recipe on her blog here. […]