Fall Harvest Hemp Salad
Here’s a seasonal salad that can be served alone or as a side dish. The bright, contrasting colours add eye appeal, while the maple syrup dressing adds a hint of sweetness to please all palates and ages.
Salad
1 medium-sized butternut squash, peeled and seeded
1 Tbsp (15 mL) extra-virgin olive oil, divided
Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
3 collard leaves, rinsed and patted dry
1/2 cup (125 ml) pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries
1/4 cup (60 mL) hemp hearts
3 Tbsp (45 mL) chopped fresh cilantro
1/4 cup (60 mL) crumbled goats’ feta (optional)
Dressing
2 Tbsp (30 mL) extra-virgin olive oil
1 Tbsp (15 mL) pure maple syrup
1 Tbsp (15 mL) apple cider vinegar
Pinches of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves
Preheat oven to 400 F (200 C). Line baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside.
Cut butternut squash into 1/2 in (1.25 cm) chunks. Place in large bowl and toss with 1 Tbsp (15 mL) oil. Season with a little salt and pepper and spread cubes out in single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake in centre of oven for 15 to 20 minutes or just until tender. Squash should be slightly firm, not mushy. Remove and place pan on cooling rack and cool to room temperature.
Remove centre ribs from collards and cut leaves in half lengthwise. Then stack leaves one on top of the other and thinly slice into 1/4 in (0.6 cm) ribbons. Bring pot of water to a boil. Stir in collards and swirl around. Bring to a boil. Immediately strain through fine sieve and plunge blanched collards into bowl of cold water to stop cooking. Strain again and spread on clean kitchen cloth or paper towel and blot dry. Set aside.
Combine dressing ingredients in large salad bowl. Whisk vigorously until emulsified. Add collards and butternut cubes to dressing and gently toss to coat. Sprinkle with pomegranate seeds or dried cranberries, hemp hearts, and cilantro. Gently toss a couple of times to lightly distribute. Add salt and pepper to taste if you wish. Sprinkle with feta.
Serve immediately or cover and leave at room temperature for up to an hour before serving.
Serves 6.
Each serving contains: 156 calories; 5 g protein; 11 g total fat (1 g sat. fat, 0 g trans fat); 14 g total carbohydrates (4 g sugars, 3 g fibre); 33 mg sodium
source: "Hemp Power", alive #384, October 2014
Fall Harvest Hemp Salad
Directions
READ THIS NEXT
SEE MORE »
Salmon Tacos with Red Cabbage and Orange Slaw with Lime Yogurt
These mildly spiced salmon tacos served with sweet and spicy pumpkin seeds will bring a party together. Make a small quantity of salmon go further when you pair it with a fresh red cabbage slaw featuring citrus and cilantro. Drizzled with some bright lime yogurt, the flavours come together perfectly. Sustainability status Wild salmon from the Pacific Northwest and Alaska are considered among the most sustainable, as the fishery is subject to limited harvests. With salmon stocks in decline, supporting managed fisheries such as these can help maintain populations into the future. That may also mean eating salmon less often than we do now. Salmon is a favourite Salmon is the most popular variety of fish in Canada and the second most popular in the US.
Mussels with Tomato, Saffron, and Fennel
B12-rich mussels are a very good and economical source of protein and iron. Steamed mussels are a classic way to enjoy seafood—and so is this rich, aromatic broth of tomato, fennel, and saffron. Be sure to allow saffron to fully infuse to get the full flavour benefit, and finish off the dish with the fragrant fennel fronds. Sustainability status Farmed mussels are considered highly sustainable due to their low impacts on the environment. They are easy to harvest, require no fertilizer or fresh water, and don’t need to be fed externally, as they get all their nutritional requirements from their marine environment. Mussel prep Selection: Look for mussels with shiny, tightly closed shells that smell of the sea. If shells are slightly open, give them a tap. Live mussels will close immediately. Storage: Keep mussels in the fridge in a shallow pan laid on top of ice. Keep them out of water and cover with a damp cloth. Ideally, consume on the day you buy them, but within two days. They need to breathe, so never keep them in a sealed plastic bag. Cleanup: In addition to being sustainable, farmed mussels tend to require less cleaning than wild mussels. Most of the fibrous “beards” that mussels use to grip solid surfaces will have been removed before sale. But if a few remain, they’re easily dispatched: grasp the beard with your thumb and forefinger and pull it toward the hinge of the mussel and give it a tug. Afterward, give mussels a quick rinse and scrub away any areas of mud or seaweed, which, with farmed mussels, will require minimal work.
Open-Faced Shrimp Sandwich with Celery, Radish, and Sunflower Shoots
The delicate flavour of shrimp is highlighted with just a touch of lemon and a hint of mustard, while radish and celery give some fresh crunch to this dish. Eat it in lettuce cups, on top of greens, or served on whole grain bread for a filling snack. Sustainability status Both wild and farmed shrimp can be sustainable depending on where they’re caught and how they’re raised. See our article “Sea Change” for more information about choosing ethical shrimp.
Steamed Pacific Halibut Packets with Kale, Grape Tomatoes, and Garlic Lemon Chili Oil
Steaming fish in parchment-paper packets, also known as cooking en papillote , is a classic technique that allows you to cook all your vegetables and fish at the same time in a quick, easy, and convenient way. Flavours of lemon, garlic, and spicy dried chili make this a simple, yet showstopping meal. Sustainability status Wild-caught Pacific halibut has Ocean Wise and Marine Stewardship Council certifications and is fished using longlines, which is a more selective method of fishing that results in less bycatch. Prep party Involve family or guests in the prep and have everyone make their own packet. Once you’ve mastered the technique, it’s easy to change up the ingredients. Make sure you select vegetables that will cook at the same rate as the fish.