Raw Beet + Kale + Carrot Salad with Apple Miso Dressing

In addition to being a recipe hoarder, I’m a flavor combination fixator.*

*I could have just said “ingredient combination fixator,” but then I wouldn’t have the lovely alliteration.When I ended up with all those beets from the D.C. farmer’s market, I knew it was finally time to attempt a flavor creation I’d been fixating upon since I worked at Central Market in Texas, and saw a salad made by a co-worker involving those purple-icious pretties……along with raw carrots and shredded kale.I would have used ‘real’ carrots–not that baby ones aren’t just big daddy carrots cut down to size*–but when you have a bag of the minis forgotton in the bottom of your fridge, you best get a move on using them before they get all gross and slimy.

*They were getting egotistical and deserved it.The shredder attachment on your food processor comes in very handy here. As does the ‘chute’ (minus a ladder) into which I decided it made sense just to shove the entire stalks of kale, stem and all.

It made a mess, but it sure was fun.

You could probably just shred everything together at once, but I didn’t want my kale and carrots to turn purple*, so I did everything separately.

*At least not until we reached “leftover” stage.

Once I had combined my flavor combo fixation in a bowl, I realized I needed a dressing. The only thing I remembered was that my co-worker’s original salad involved ginger, garlic, and lemon. I didn’t have lemon, but I had lime, garlic, ginger, and a whole lot of other things to play with.Currently, I’m flavor fixated on miso + ginger, so I threw a healthy dose of both into the mix. Considering my lingering fixation on apple + ginger, it seemed only right to cut out the middleman and bring miso + apple together. [Fine. With the middleman.]A little splash of rice vinegar (cheaper at TJ’s than anywhere else I’ve seen) to brighten things up…

…and stir it up like Bob Marley!

[Although, don't be jammin' out TOO much or your carrots will turn, well, the color of...jam.]

I have nothing witty to say to close.

So beet it.*

*Heeheehee….

Raw Beet + Kale + Carrot Salad w. Apple Miso Dressing

• 2 cups shredded carrots
• 2 cups shredded beets
• 2 cups shredded kale
• Juice of one lime
• 2 Tbsp. unsweetened applesauce
• 1 tsp. minced garlic
• 1 tsp. minced ginger
• 1 1/2 tsp. miso
• 1 Tbsp. rice vinegar

1. Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.
2. Stir well to combine.
3. Salad is delicious immediately, but flavor really develops after a few hours in the fridge!