Winter Kale + Sweet Potato Salad

All hail kale! I actually love kale...but I understand that it’s not at the top of everyone’s list of favourite greens. It’s my mission to change that! I have a sneaking suspicion that the reason kale inspires screwed up noses + poked out tongues, is all down to a missed step in its preparation: the oil (dressing) massage. Yes! Turns out raw kale loooooves a little working over with your hands. This takes the edge off, + makes it tender enough to eat raw (the acids in the dressing will also help this process.) Add some other colourful veggies + nuts + seeds + you’ve got yourself a tasty side dish!

Time: 45 minutes

Serves: 4

What you need:

1/4 cup buckwheat groats

1x sweet potato, cubed

1x bunch kale, shredded

1/8th red cabbage, shredded

1x onion, roughly cut

1/2 bunch parsley

6x whole cloves garlic

1/4 cup mixed walnuts + pepitas

Salt + pepper, to taste 

Dressing:

2x teaspoons Dijon mustard

Juice 1/2 lemon

2x teaspoons red wine vinegar (or apple cider vinegar)

1x teaspoon honey (or more, depending on how sweet you like it)

2x teaspoons olive oil

Salt + pepper to taste

What to do:

1/ Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius.

2/ Mix together sweet potato, onion + garlic + put on a lined baking tray. Add a good glug of olive oil + sprinkle with salt + pepper. Put the vegetables in the oven + bake for about 20 minutes, or until veggies are soft.

3/ To prepare the buckwheat, bring a medium-sized saucepan of water to the boil. Add the buckwheat + cover, reduce heat to a simmer + cook until tender (but not mushy), about 10 minutes. Drain off excess liquid. Rinse with cold water + drain well.

4/ Meanwhile, add the cabbage, kale + parsley to a large mixing bowl. 

5/ Combine dressing ingredients + whisk lightly. Add dressing to the kale mix + use your hands to ‘massage’ the leafy vegetables (rub the kale leaves together between your fingers until they just start to soften.)

6/ Add the sweet potato mix + cooked (+ drained) buckwheat to the greens. Mix in  the pepitas + walnuts, + use your hands lightly toss.

7/ Serve with your choice of protein for a hearty winter meal.