Little Gem Salad with Walnut Vinaigrette and Urfa Crumble

Salads

Active Time: 20 MINTotal Time45 MIN
Yield: Serves : 6

At Kismet in Los Angeles, chefs Sarah Hymanson and Sara Kramer make a stunning summer salad with a homemade toasted walnut butter. “Nut butter is a great way to make a salad dressing creamy without adding dairy,” says Hymanson. The rich dressing is paired with nuts spiced with sweet, smoky Urfa biber, a Turkish chile, then drizzled over crisp lettuce, radishes, and herbs.
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups walnuts

  • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

  • 1/2 cup water 

  • 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar

  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided

  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

  • 2 teaspoons ground Urfa biber (Urfa pepper) or Aleppo pepper

  • 4 red radishes or baby white turnips (such as hakurei turnips)

  • 2/3 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves

  • 2/3 cup loosely packed fresh tarragon leaves

  • 2/3 cup loosely packed fresh mint leaves

  • 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  • 1 lemon wedge

  • 6 heads Little Gem lettuce or 2 heads romaine lettuce, trimmed and leaves separated

How to Make It

Step 1    

Preheat oven to 300°F. Spread walnuts in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet, and toast in preheated oven until browned through center, about 20 minutes. Let cool.


Step 2    

Transfer walnuts to bowl of a food processor. Pulse until nuts reach a pebble-like consistency, about 8 times. Reserve 1/4 cup chopped walnuts.


Step 3    

Process remaining walnuts until they form a smooth nut butter, 1 to 2 minutes. With food processor running, add lemon juice, 1/2 cup water, vinegar, 11/2 teaspoons salt, and black pepper. Process until creamy and emulsified, about 1 minute. Transfer dressing to a bowl, and refrigerate until ready to use.

Step 4    

Place reserved 1/4 cup chopped walnuts in a small bowl; sprinkle with Urfa biber, and stir to combine. Set aside.


Step 5    

Using a mandoline, thinly shave radishes. Toss together radishes, parsley, tarragon, and mint in a medium bowl. Drizzle with olive oil; squeeze lemon wedge over mixture. Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 teaspoon salt.


Step 6    

To serve, gently toss together lettuce leaves and 3 tablespoons walnut dressing in a large bowl; divide among 6 plates. Top evenly with dressed radish-herb mixture and Urfa crumble. Serve with remaining walnut dressing.

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