In the thick of winter, a warm winter salad is a welcomed addition to the dinner rotation.
What does a warm salad entail? Think roasted vegetables and cooked grains as a base. Imagine salty, crunchy bits as tasty accessories. For this salad we combined broccoli and Brussels sprouts for a cruciferous foundation. These greens are deep in their color and delectable in their flavor. While this Warm Winter Salad recipe does not call for a grain, you can easily add faro or quinoa to the mix.
To build upon this base we fry up bacon and add the freshness of a crispy apple to elevate each bite. If you feel especially committed to adding maple flavor to this salad (we encourage it!) try making our Maple Candied Bacon recipe. Chopped up it’ll add a fitting sweetness and bit of kick (courtesy of the cayenne).
But we understand if time is tight, and the extra step is a half hour too long to wait. Bacon, as you like to prepare it, will fulfill its duty here – which is to add salt and crunch.
Another crunch component is the maple seed brittle. Toasted and glued together with maple syrup, it’s a top tier topping. You may find yourself snacking on this treat before it has a chance to grace the greens. That’s understandable! We do it! This recipe can be a snack, a topping for roasted vegetables or even oatmeal. Add cayenne if you crave additional spice.
We recommend serving this salad underneath a filet of salmon or a roasted thigh of chicken. This Warm Winter Salad can be enjoyed as is, perhaps with a slice of sourdough toast on the side, but it completes a plate of protein beautifully.
