Tapas Days and Nights: Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
Tapas Days and Nights:
Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
Tapas Days and Nights: Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
What a disappointing summer, just as I was getting into the swing of things, getting the sun loungers out, cleaning the barbecue, packing away all of my winter clothes and liberating my t-shirts, we are back to cool, dully and very grey days. I had a Tapas evening planned on Sunday, but Tapas weather it was not; however, not to be deterred I carried on anyway, and Malcolm and I enjoyed a lovely Spanish meal inside (at the kitchen table) instead of outside on the terrace. The meal was a new recipe I created, all based around some AMAZING chorizo I was sent from the lovely people at Jamoteca, Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing.
Tapas Days and Nights: Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
I wasn’t just sent chorizo, the lovely people at Jamoteca also sent me some Paleta, Caña de Lomo and some of their delicious Jamón too. We have enjoyed some of the Jamón already, with Manchego cheese and some Membrillo I made last year – Elizabethan Quince Cheese ~ Membrillo. I am a BIG lover of all Spanish hams and charcuterie and Jamoteca is a well-respected name, with some quality products. Their chorizo was simply delicious and although we loved it in this salad recipe, it was just as tasty when eaten by itself with a glass of sherry and some Spanish olives.
Tapas Days and Nights: Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
I am really pleased with my new salad recipe, as this salad would be perfect for all seasons; it’s robust and rustic enough to be served throughout the cooler months as well as summer. I love cabbage, chard and kale, and although the temptation was to steam this first before I served it, the “stir-fry” method was much better, as you infuse the kale with the olive oil and fresh garlic. The toasted (pan-fried) almonds made for a lovely nutty texture, and the cheese added that essential saltiness to the overall flavours. It goes without saying that the chorizo was sublime with this salad – the overall taste was a sophisticated meld of smoky meat and salty cheese with iron rich leaves.
Tapas Days and Nights: Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
All that is needed to serve with this Spanish style salad are a few olives and that essential glass of sherry, preferably dry and chilled, such as a fino. Sunshine would be good too, but in the absence of that, just pour yourself an extra glass of sherry, why not! My new recipe is shared below, and if you are a vegetarian, why not make this and just add more Manchego cheese.….and have more sherry too! This recipe is part of my weekly meal plan, that I will be sharing later, so do pop back to see what I have up my culinary sleeve for the week ahead! Have a great start to the working week, and see you soon, Karen
Tapas Days and Nights: Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
Disclaimer: I received some meat products from Jamoteca free of charge for review; all of the opinions and views expressed in this post are mine and I was not asked or paid to write this post. Karen
Tapas Days and Nights: Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
Print recipe
| Serves | 2 to 4 people as main meal or appetiser |
| Prep time | 10 minutes |
| Meal type | Appetizer, Lunch, Main Dish, Salad, Side Dish, Snack, Starter |
| Misc | Gourmet, Pre-preparable, Serve Cold, Serve Hot |
| Occasion | Barbecue, Casual Party, Christmas, Easter, Formal Party, Valentines day |
| Region | Spanish |
| By author | Karen S Burns-Booth |
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 200g chopped curly kale
- 2 cloves garlic (peeled and finely chopped)
- 50g sliced chorizo (I used Joselito sliced chorizo)
- 50g amonds (toasted in a dry pan for a few minutes to brown them slightly)
- Manchego cheese (shaved to garnish the salad)
- salt and black pepper (to taste)
Sherry Dressing
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of dry Fino sherry
- 1 tablespoon sherry vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard
Note
A rustic and very tasty kale salad with chorizo, almonds and Manchego cheese; the salad is brought together with a final Spanish flourish in the form of some sherry salad dressing. This salad is best served warm, but it can also be served cold if you wish. Perfect for picnics, as once the kale is cooked the salad travels well, just make sure you dress it JUST before serving it to keep the leaves crunchy.
Directions
| Step 1 | Heat a large wok or saute pan over a high heat and add the olive oil; heat until the oil is hot and then turn the heat down to low. Add the garlic and chopped curly kale, place a lid on the pan and cook for 3 to 5 minutes, moving the pan around all the time to toss the ingredients inside. |
| Step 2 | Take the lid off and test the kale after 5 minutes; it should be soft (cooked) but still retain a crunch. Continue to cook with the lid off until the kale is cooked to your liking. Season to taste with salt and lots of freshly ground black pepper and share between 2 (main meal) or 4 (starter) plates. |
| Step 3 | Arrange the chorizo slices over the top then scatter the toasted (pan-fried) almonds over the top and dress with the sherry dressing. Finish off by adding some shavings of Manchego cheese, or Parmesan cheese if you prefer. |
| Step 4 | Sherry Dressing: Place all of the dressing ingredients in a jar or bottle and shake vigorously, so it is amalgamated. Shake again before pouring over the salad. |
Tapas Days and Nights: Warm Curly Kale Salad with Almonds, Chorizo and Sherry Dressing
I am entering this recipe into Mrs M’s Recipe Link Party (June ’13)
Kathryn says
What a delicious salad!
Karen says
Thanks Kathryn! It was VERY tasty!
Dominic says
oooh, yes, you set a wonderful scene… I adore these hams, they’re so entirely gorgeous aren’t they? And such amazing quality too… beautiful salad, very very evocative x
Karen says
Thanks Dom! Any time you want to share the scene with us, just let me know! Karen
mimi says
How lucky for you!!! And that’s one beautiful salad!
Karen says
Thanks so much Mimi! Karen
Anneli (Delicieux) says
I just adore Tapas and your salad looks divine. I am off to ‘Tapas’ Isles later this week so I can enjoy lots! Hurray! Lovely recipe and post Karen x
Karen says
Merci Anneli! We often pop down to Tapas Country, as it is only (I say ONLY) a 5 hr drive from the Charente Maritime! Enjoy your time on the Tapas Isles though……Karen
laurasmess says
I love chorizo. I’ve never seen this brand over here in Australia though; I’m guessing it’s not imported this far 🙁 Anyway, at least I can try your gorgeous salad! I’ve made a very similar one but I’ve only used balsamic as a dressing. I love the idea of the sherry… I’ll give this a go very soon. Thanks Karen! x
Karen says
Brilliant! Do give it a try Laura and just use a good artisan chorizo local to you, of which I am sure there are many! Karen
Lisa Williams says
this looks so beautiful and so tasty 🙂
Lisa Williams says
tweeted to share this 🙂
Lisa Williams says
such an interesting idea having a sherry dressing 🙂
Lisa Williams says
and the kale really makes it 🙂
Lisa Williams says
I really love the idea of making your own tapas and just sitting down with friends and having a good night thank you so much for this post as I don’t think I would of attempted it if you had not shown how easy it could be 🙂
Joshua Hampton (Cooking Classes San Diego) says
Your salad looks amazing. Too bad you had to spend your tapas evening indoors. But with food as beautiful as this, I’m sure it won’t really matter whether you eat it indoors or outdoors.
Rachel Blackburn says
it looks delicious! tweeting to friends 🙂
Maya Russell says
It does look delicious! Shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/maisietoo/status/345113719740698625
Janice says
I know how you feel Karen. I feel like summer has been snatched away from me and I want it back! Lovely tapas, nothing like chorizo to bring the sunshine.
Lisa Williams says
tweeted to share 🙂
Lisa Williams says
tweeted to share it is to good not to 🙂
Alfredo Vazquez says
This looks delicious – perfect for the current hot weather
Naomi Bickford says
Wow this looks really good, love tapas and defo will be trying this
Tracy Nixon says
Shared via G+ Thanks!
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter.
tina edwards says
delicious
Maya Russell says
Thank you for the recipe. Shared on Twitter again, @maisietoo
Tracy Nixon says
Shared via FB thanks!
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter
@maisietoo
Gerald Ludlow says
thanks can’t wait to try this.
Maya Russell says
Shared again on Twitter,
@maisietoo
Maya Russell says
Shared this post on twitter,
@maisietoo
Maya Russell says
Recommended this recipe with G+.
Maya Russell says
Shared on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/maya.russell.16/posts/10201681877788925
Maya Russell says
Fab recipe, shared again on Twitter as @maisietoo.
Maya Russell says
Shared on Twitter, @maisietoo. Like the sherry & dijon mustard dressing. I must try that.
Angel says
I love every ingredient here, so will definitely try this.
Sheila Reeves says
This looks delicious, and a great way to use kale – and the Manchego we brought back from Spain recently!