Citrusy and slightly sour sumac and a touch of maple syrup enliven pickled onions in a perfect complement to this salad. Kale and Napa cabbage stand up for hours to the sweet and puckery dressing, and hearty farro will keep you going while on the road. This salad is sure to be a favourite for picnics, backyard potlucks, or road trip lunch stops.
Dressing for dinner
This salad stands up well, even while dressed, for up to 4 hours. (Truth be told, I’ve often happily eaten it the next day.) In fact, time helps kale to soften up and become even more delicious.
If you’re travelling for a longer period, make the pickled onion dressing as described above: let it stand for about 20 minutes, and then add all the oil and pack it into a separate container so you can finish the salad when you arrive at your destination. The pickled onions are also great with steaks or chicken.
Kale and Napa Cabbage Salad with Sumac Pickled Onions
Ingredients
- 1 cup (250 mL) finely sliced red onion
- 3 Tbsp (45 mL) apple cider vinegar
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) crushed red pepper flakes
- 1 tsp (5 mL) maple syrup
- 1 tsp (5 mL) sumac
- Pinch of salt
- 1/4 tsp (1 mL) black pepper
- 2 Tbsp (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 5 cups (1.25 L) finely sliced cavolo nero (Italian) kale
- 1 cup (250 mL) finely sliced Napa cabbage
- 2/3 cup (160 mL) finely sliced fresh mint
- 3 Medjool dates, pits removed and finely chopped
- 2 cups (500 mL) cooked farro, drained and cooled
Nutrition
Per serving:
- calories107
- protein3 g
- total fat 4 g
- sat. fat1 g
- total carbohydrates18 g
- sugar3 g
- fibre4 g
- sodium42 mg
Directions
01
In small bowl, combine onion, vinegar, red pepper flakes, maple syrup, sumac, salt, and pepper, and set aside.
02
In large bowl, add 1 Tbsp (15 mL) olive oil and kale, and massage kale for a few minutes with your hands. Let stand for 20 minutes.
03
To assemble salad, toss kale, pickled onion dressing, and remaining olive oil with cabbage, mint, dates, and farro. Keep cool or refrigerate for up to 4 hours before enjoying.
Helena McMurdo is a writer, food stylist, and photographer based in Vancouver.
