This roasted beet and sweet potato kale salad screams healthy! The basic ingredients for this salad are just four: chioggia beets with their candy cane stripes, sweet potato, kale and Germany’s own version of freekeh — a grain called Grünkern.
This is a nutrient dense autumn salad that is deceptively simple to prepare. The vegetables roast themselves while the grain cooks and the only effort you need to put in is a little massage for the kale. I massage all varieties of kale when eaten raw, especially curly kale, since it is particularly coarse by nature. Massaging kale is a great way to soften it up without having to cook it. I’ve bought the season’s first harvest of curly kale, but if you wait until high-season (officially November to March), you’ll find this is the best time to buy it, since cold temperatures enhance its flavor, making this bitter green sweeter.
Massaging kale
Giving kale a rub down is pretty easy to do. First remove the stems and tear the kale into bit-sized pieces. Rinse the kale and then give it a whirl in a salad spinner to remove any excess water. Place in a large bowl to get it ready for a massage. My usual method is to simply add some olive oil, a little sea salt, and a squeeze of lemon; a dressing such as vinaigrette is also fine. With your hands, rub the oil mixture into the kale until all the leaves are fully coated, even the curly edges. Let stand at room temperature (anywhere from 15-30 minutes) to allow the leaves have enough time to soften. Magically, before your eyes, the kale with soften and brighten in color!
TIP: Reduce kitchen waste by saving kale stems. Kales stems are a nutritious addition to your morning smoothie. They are rich in vitamins A, C and K, as well as calcium and iron!
Roasted beet and sweet potato kale salad with my go-to grain
Grünkern is one of my favourite grains to use in salads or pilafs (and newly chili — coming soon!). It has a wonderful nutty sweetness and smoked flavor and is said to be comparable to the middle eastern grain freekeh (or frikeh), which is also a smoked young green grain, but rather than produced from spelt like Grünkern, Freekeh is made from durum wheat. I would say you could use any grain of choice for this salad; whether your go-to grain is freekeh, farro, barley or spelt or a pseudo grain like quinoa.
Grünkern gehört zu meinen liebsten Getreidesorten für Salate
Aber auch für Pilafs oder Chilis ist Grünkern eine gute Wahl. Es hat einen leckeren, nussigen, süsslichen und geräucherten Geschmack. Der deutsche beziehungsweise österreichische Grünkern wird aus halbreifem Dinkel gewonnen, während der ganz ähnliche Grünkern aus dem Mittleren Osten aus Hartweizen besteht. Für den Grünkohlsalat mit geröstete Rote Bete und Süßkartoffel könnt Ihr aber jede Getreide-Sorte verwenden. Von Farro über Gerste bis zu Dinkel oder sogar Quinoa (ein Pseudo-Getreide) könnt Ihr frei wählen.
Roasted Beet and Sweet Potato Kale Salad
Ingredients
For roasting the vegetables:
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled and cut into cubes
- 4 small beets, peeled and cut into cubes (ca. 250 g)
- 1 1/2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- sea salt and pepper, to taste
For the salad:
- 1 cup uncooked grünkern (or other grain such as freekeh, farro, barley or spelt)
- 1 bunch of kale, (about 6-8 generous handfuls), stemmed and cut or torn into bit-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- For the dressing:
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (from an organic lemon)
- 4 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 1/2 tablespoon honey (or maple syrup for vegans)
- 2 small shallots, finely diced
- freshly ground pepper, to taste
Method
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Preheat oven to 375°F / 190°C. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
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In a medium bowl, toss the sweet potatoes and beets with 1 1/2 tablespoons olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Spread in a single layer on the baking sheet. Roast until tender, stirring halfway through, for about 35-40 minutes (depending on size). They should be just tender, not mushy. Remove from the oven and set aside.
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While the vegetables are roasting, cook the grünkern with 2 cups (500 ml) water, according to package instructions; for about 30 minutes. Drain if necessary and set aside.
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Meanwhile, in a large bowl, gently massage the kale with olive oil and salt for a few minutes with your fingers. Add the vinegar and massage for a couple more minutes; until kale wilts and lose some volume. Let stand at room temperature for 25-30 minutes.
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In a small bowl, whisk together the olive oil, zest and lemon juice, soy sauce, honey, and shallots. Season with freshly ground pepper.
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In a large serving bowl, combine the roasted vegetables, grünkern and kale. Add the dressing and toss to combine. Season with additional salt and pepper, if desired. Serve and enjoy!
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