Summer Kale, Orange & Pomegranate Salad with Moscato Dressing
By: Michael Norpell
Published: Monday, August 8, 2011 - 12:04pm

Ingredients




For the Salad:
1/2 bunch dinosaur kale, thick stems removed & leaves thinly sliced
1/4 cup curley parsley, chopped
1/2 head of butter lettuce, cored & chopped
1 cup shredded red cabbage
1 to 2 oranges, peeled & segmented
1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
1/2  red bell pepper, thinly sliced
1/4 cup sunflower seeds, lightly toasted
For the Dressing:
3 tablespoons freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
6 tablespoons Presto Moscato Dolce
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
Garnish: Pomegranate molasses, Fresh pomegranate seeds

Preparation

1 Assemble the Salad: Over medium heat, toast sunflower seeds in a small skillet until lightly golden; Cool. 2 In a large bowl, combine kale, parsley, butter lettuce,  cabbage, orange segments, onion, bell pepper & sunflower seeds. 3 Season with Kosher salt & fresh cracked black pepper to taste. 4 In a small bowl, whisk together all the dressing ingredients & lightly spoon dressing over kale mixture to lightly coat. 5 Plating: On a chilled serving plate, place a 3″ x 4″ metal plating/forming ring;  Spoon kale salad mixture into the ring & lightly pressing down to compact salad; Place 2 orange segments on top. 6 Carefully remove plating ring.  Sprinkle fresh pomegranate seeds around the plate with a quarter size drop of pomegranate molasses. 7 Serve immediately or refrigerate for up to 2 days.

About

The cold, crisp texture of the kale greens, the natural sweetness of oranges & the nutty crunch of sunflower seeds make a refreshing option to a hot summer night salad.  The explosion of colors of rich shades of green, orange & red excites your eyes, while the nutrient rich kale nourishes your body.  Kale is high in vitamins A, C & E.   Kale has a substantial mineral content including manganese, iron, calcium & potassium, as well as, phytochemicals such as sulphoraphane (linked to cancer prevention).  Pour a bubbling glass of Presto Moscato Dolce and cheers to a great summer evening dinner.
Wine Pairing: Presto Moscato Dolce