Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon
Holiday Chopped Kale Salad with Mustard Shallot Vinaigrette

Holiday Jewels Chopped Kale Salad with Mustard-Shallot Vinaigrette


  • Author: Camille Styles

Description

This chopped kale salad with pears and gorgonzola is perfect for a holiday dinner party.


Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 1 large head lacinato (Tuscan) kale
  • 1 head curly kale
  • 1/2 head radicchio
  • 1 pear (firm but ripe)
  • 1/2 cup crumbled gorgonzola or other blue cheese
  • 1/4 cup pomegranate seeds
  • 1/4 red onion, very thinly sliced
  • 1/2 cup candied walnuts (recipe below)

 

For the mustard-shallot vinaigrette

  • 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
  • 2 cloves garlic, roughly chopped
  • 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1 shallot, peeled and roughly chopped
  • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil
  • kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Candied Walnuts

  • 1 cup walnut halves
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 3/4 cup water
  • kosher salt

Instructions

  1. Make the vinaigrette: Add everything to a blender, and blend until smooth. Add salt and pepper to taste.
  2. Prepare the kale: remove the leaves from the tough stems (discard the stems), then stack the leaves and cut into ribbons. Add to a very large salad bowl, drizzle with a little extra-virgin olive oil and a pinch of kosher salt, and use your hands to massage for about a minute, until the kale has reduced a bit in size and is bright green and glossy.
  3. To the bowl, add all other ingredients, reserving a bit of each one to use as topping at the end.
  4. Pour over half the vinaigrette, and use your hands (or a big spoon) to mix everything together really well. Top with the reserved ingredients, drizzle a little extra dressing over the top and a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Serve immediately, or place in the fridge for up to 6 hours.

 Candied Walnuts

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper.
  2. Add walnuts, sugar, and water to a small saucepan. Bring to a boil over high heat, give it a good stir, then turn down heat to medium-low and simmer for 5 minutes.
  3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the walnuts to the baking sheet. You want a little bit of the syrupy water to come with the walnuts onto the sheet pan, as this will add to the caramelization. Bake for 10 – 12 minutes, or until the nuts are fragrant and lightly caramelized. They’ll harden and get nice and crunchy as they cool.
  4. I like to store these in the freezer, or you can use immediately on the salad.