Beet salad with kale and maple balsamic

•         6 small beets (red and/or golden).

•         1/2 cup pecans

•         1/3 cup maple syrup, divided

•         Dash of cayenne

•         1 bunch curly kale

•         2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar (good quality)

•         1 tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice

•         1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil

•         1/2 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese (optional – you may omit or substitute vegan goat cheese or vegan feta)

Wash beets leaving their skins on. Bring beets to a boil in salted water until tender; between 20 and 40 minutes, depending on the size. As soon as done, rinse the beets under cool water and rub off the skins. The skins should easily slide off.

Let the beets cool down and cut them in cubes.

Place the pecans in a small nonstick skillet and toast over medium heat for 4-5 minutes until fragrant.

Pour 1/4 cup maple syrup over the pecans and bring to a boil over medium. Sprinkle the pecans evenly with a dash of cayenne. Let the syrup boil for 1-2 minutes over medium heat, stirring frequently, until most of the liquid evaporates.

Pour the pecans immediately onto a piece of parchment or wax paper. Spread them out with a spoon into a single layer. Let them cool and dry out.

Meanwhile, clean your kale, pat dry, and cut the leaves from the tough stalks. The stalks are not needed for this recipe; you can save them to sauté later, if you wish. Cut the leaves into small pieces and place in a salad bowl. Sprinkle with a generous pinch of salt. Massage the kale with clean hands for 2-3 minutes till it wilts and loses its bitter flavor.

In a small bowl, whisk together balsamic vinegar, 1 tablespoon maple syrup, and lemon juice. Whisking briskly and constantly, drizzle the olive oil very slowly into the mixture till the dressing is emulsified and thickened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Add the roasted beet wedges and crumbled feta or goat cheese to the salad.

Break apart the candied pecans into small pieces. Sprinkle the pecans over the top of the salad.

Serve each portion of salad drizzled with a bit of dressing (about 1 tablespoon per serving).

Note: This salad does not keep well when assembled. If you plan on eating it and saving leftovers, store the elements separately– beets in one container, candied pecans in another, cheese in another, and the massaged kale in a sealed plastic bag. Assemble ingredients for each portion of salad, and make the dressing fresh before serving. If you store the salad assembled, the pecans will get soggy and the kale will become limp– best to store the elements separately and make it fresh.

Recipe adapted from Tori Avey: https://toriavey.com/kale-and-roasted-beet-salad-with-maple-balsamic-dressing/