Ease of Preparation: Easy
Yield: Serves 4
Fresh, tart apples and crisp, peppery radishes are best friends with walnuts and pumpkin seeds, but did you know they’re also besties with star anise? That’s right, a sweet ‘n’ sour vinaigrette of bright, licorice flavour takes this salad up to 11!
Ingredients:
Star Anise & Apple Vinaigrette
- ½ cup (120 ml) apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons (30 ml) sugar
- ½ cup (120 ml) walnut oil
- ¼ cup (60 ml) grapeseed oil
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) star anise powder, ground from whole seeds
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 2 large garlic cloves, grated on a rasp
- ½ tablespoon (7.5 ml) smooth Dijon mustard
- 1 tablespoon (15 ml) grainy Dijon mustard
- Salt and pepper
Apple & Radish Salad:
- 2 cups (470 ml) Fuji apples, skin on, sliced very thinly
- 1 ½ cup (350 ml) thinly sliced radishes
- 1 small bulb fennel, thinly sliced
- 4 cups (950 ml) Bibb lettuce, whole leaves
- Star Anise & Apple Vinaigrette
- ½ cup (120 ml) toasted pumpkin seeds
- ½ cup (120 ml) toasted, chopped walnuts
- 1 teaspoon (5 ml) chopped chives
Method:
For the Star Anise & Apple Vinaigrette:
In a small saucepan over medium-low heat, combine apple cider vinegar and sugar. Heat just enough to dissolve sugar.
Allow mixture to cool to room temperature.
Add the mixture to a mason jar.
Add the walnut oil, grapeseed oil, star anise powder, shallot, garlic, smooth Dijon mustard, and grain Dijon mustard to the jar.
Season with salt and pepper.
Screw the lid tightly onto the jar and shake vigorously until emulsified.
Reserve until needed.
For the Apple & Radish Salad:
In a mixing bowl, toss together the apples, radishes, and fennel.
In a separate large bowl, place bibb lettuce leaves.
Add a small amount of dressing to both, and toss.
Transfer the dressed bibb lettuce leaves to a serving plate, and top with dressed apple, radishes, and fennel.
Top with pumpkin seeds and walnut pieces.
Drizzle extra dressing over the top.
Sprinkle the salad with the chopped chives and serve immediately.