Sunchokes (a.k.a. jerusalem artichokes) are a gnarly looking vegetable, but quite tasty! They are similar to potatoes, but less starchy. This roasted combo goes great with soup on a winter day.
Photos and illustrations © Erin Gleeson www.theforestfeast.com
Kale Chips are an easy healthy snack to have before dinner, perhaps with a holiday cocktail!? All the crunchy satisfaction, and a little less guilt. They burn quickly, though, so watch them like a hawk. Four of five minutes in a hot oven does it, just until they get a little brown around the edges. Enjoy!
Mango salsa! Great with beer. Finely dice one (not too ripe) mango and one (not too ripe) avocado. Combine with diced red onion and cilantro. Dress salsa with a bit of lime and salt (for a sweet salty kick) and eat with tortilla chips.
Persimmon salad with cilantro, red onion and pom seeds. I made this for Thanksgiving and added big avocado chunks which was great as well. A lovely fall salad!
*Please remember to buy Fuyu persimmons. They are the squat, donut looking ones. The other more oblong persimmons leave a weird pasty, chalky taste in your mouth that is no fun. This dish works best when the persimmons are orange but relatively hard (not super ripe).
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Find this recipe in The Forest Feast cookbook
This citrus salad has great colors and is hearty yet light. Go heavier on the edamame (which you can find shelled and cooked at TJ’s) to make this a more substantial dish. If you don’t love “tart” you can use oranges instead of grapefruit. Spinach could be used in place of arugula.
Grapefruit Edamame Salad
serves about 4
1 bag of baby arugula (about 5 oz)
1 pink grapefruit, peeled and sliced into bite-size pieces
1/2 c pomegranate seeds
1 c edamame beans
1 avocado, sliced into chunks (look for a firm but ripe one that will slice nicely)
your favorite vinaigrette (perhaps a citrus one! or simply lemon juice, olive oil and salt)
Preparation:
Spread the arugula out on a platter and top with all the other ingredients. Dress lightly or serve dressing on the side so that you can save any leftovers.
