Anyway You Slice It

I eat a lot of salads.  I never tire of the crunch factor.  The winter is a great time to step outside the box and look for salads that don’t rely on lettuce as the main ingredient.  I usually look for seasonal, stable vegetables; and brassicas are an easy solution.  Every thing from cauliflower, to broccoli, to cabbage offer creative and healthy options for salads with a seasonal flare.

Another thing to keep in mind is to include a variety of textures, color and flavor profiles.  Sweet against salty, is one I often use to help keep it interesting.  This salad has all the elements that I enjoy.  It’s colorful, crunchy, sweet and salty all at the same time.  It has great staying power and lasts for several days in the refrigerator.

Red Cabbage Salad with Dates and Feta

INGREDIENTS:

1. 1 small red cabbage (or half of a large one), halved, cored, then quartered and sliced very thin

2. 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

3. 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice

4. Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

5. 1/4 teaspoon Aleppo pepper flakes

6. 1/2 cup pitted Medjool dates, coarsely chopped

7. 4 ounces feta, crumbled

8. 2 tablespoons flat-leaf parley, chopped

9. 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted

INSTRUCTIONS:

1.  In a large bowl, toss the cabbage with olive oil, lime juice, salt and pepper to taste.  Taste and adjust with more lime juice and salt.  It should taste well seasoned.  Let macerate on counter for 30-45 minutes, to slightly soften cabbage.

2. Toss dressed cabbage with half of the dates. and feta.  Arrange in a bowl or on a platter, and sprinkle the rest of the dates and feta on top.  Garnish with parsley and toasted almonds.

Serves 4-6

 “Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.””

#vegetables #feta #cheese #cabbage #dates #almonds