Kale, Beet, and Seaweed Salad

Makes 8 servings

With this dish, I am doing nothing more than group the veggies many of us wouldn’t imagine eating raw. The result is a real triumph, so get ready to adopt them wholeheartedly into the family! You would enjoy beets and turnips much more often, even raw, if only you would grate them very fine in a food processor. The salad will keep well a good couple of days.

1 bunch kale, tough stems removed, leaves cut into very thin ribbons
1 large beet, red or golden, grated very fine (food processor fine shredding blade)
6 scallions, sliced very thin
1/4 cup hijiki or other seaweed: wakame, arame, etc (health food stores), soaked in hot water to cover
1/2 cup sesame or other seeds (chia, flax, hemp, etc), toasted
1 cup Chinese green tea dressing (recipe follows)

Place all salad ingredients in a mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss. Store refrigerated in glass jars.

Variations
• Substitute other greens for the kale—mustard, collard, turnip, spinach, even napa cabbage.
• Substitute rutabaga (yellow wax turnip), daikon, carrots, or zucchini for the beets.
• Throw in diced avocado.
• Throw in some sprouts.
• Throw in some chopped toasted cashews or peanuts.
• Use any other kind of seaweed—nori, kelp, wakame, arame, etc.
• Throw in some cooked lentils, brown rice, thawed frozen corn kernels, or any grain you have on hand and turn it into a complete main course.

Chinese Green Tea Dressing

The magic of Asian ingredients! With such intense and clean flavors, a little goes a long way. You will love this dressing not only with many salads but also drizzled on grilled fish, tofu, or chicken.

One 2-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled
1/2 cup toasted sesame oil
1/2 cup strong green tea (or red or white), decaf OK
2 tablespoons honey, agave, or maple syrup
1/3 cup soy sauce or tamari
1/3 cup unfiltered apple cider vinegar, or brown rice vinegar
Dash of bottled hot sauce, or to taste

Recipe used with permission from The Whole Foods Kosher Kitchen: Glorious Meals Pure and Simple by Lévana Kirschenbaum, www.levanacooks.com/cookbooks