Kale and Beetroot Salad

Raw kale can be tough to chew and too bitter for many people’s palates, but lightly baking it makes it crunchy and delicious! I started off with this recipe from One Green Planet and then branched off in my own direction :).

Ingredients:

2 large beetroots, scrubbed and trimmed
1 bunch kale, washed and de-stemmed
1/2 cup aquafaba (cooking/canning liquid from chick peas or other light-coloured legumes)
3 tsp Mrs Dash Garlic and Herb or other no-salt seasoning*
1/4 cup hazelnuts, halved
1 cup silken firm tofu
1 tsp mustard seeds
1 tsp cumin seeds
1 tsp poppy seeds
1/4 cup raw cashews, soaked in water for at least 2 hours
2 tsp tahini
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp lemon juice
2 tbsp date sugar**
1/4 cup water

Method:

Preheat oven to 200°C. Line 2-3 baking sheets with silicon baking mats or baking paper.

Cut beetroots into 8 wedges, leaving them attached at the base. Using a pastry brush, coat the cut surfaces with aquafaba.

Wrap each beetroot in a square of foil, and bake for 45-60 minutes or until beetroot is tender. Allow to cool.

Tear kale into bite-size pieces. Mix Mrs Dash with remaining aquafaba and dunk kale into the mixture, shaking off the excess. Spread in a single layer on prepared baking sheets.

When beetroot is finished, reduce oven temperature to 180°C and bake kale for 10-15 minutes, checking regularly to prevent it from burning.

Place hazelnut halves in a non-stick frying pan over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, shaking pan or stirring regularly to prevent burning. Remove hazelnuts from the pan and set aside. Toast seeds in the same manner for 1-2 minutes or until fragrant.

Drain cashews and blend with tahini, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, date sugar, and enough water to make a mayonnaise consistency.

To assemble, place kale in the bottom of a wide, shallow bowl, arrange beetroot wedges on top, drizzle the tofu cashew dressing over, and sprinkle with hazelnuts and seeds.

* I buy Mrs Dash from iHerb; you can use the coupon code UTE208 to receive a discount on your first iHerb order

** Also from iHerb.