The usual suspects as far as Halloween food goes are spooky desserts, appetizers, and cocktails, but rarely do I ever see recipes for Halloween Salads. I love salads, I eat one everyday for lunch. And not because I’m on a diet…I eat them for nutrition. The older I get, the more my body tells me what I need and salads are just the thing I always crave. But my salads are not mere rabbit food, I add cheese (lots of cheese), nuts, croutons, or sometimes leftover rice…its definitely a meal. So what would a Halloween Salad look like? To answer this, I was inspired again by my love of vampire romance novels and a little romantic daydreaming. I imagined being in love with a vampire. I’d be the hapless human swept up by a tall dark stranger that only comes out at night. We’d take moonlit strolls at midnight and I’d be lost in his love and mystery. So that got me thinking…if I had to live my life in the dark to be with the vampire what would the garden look like at night? Midnight Garden Salad is what came to mind. Enjoy!
Midnight Garden Salad
Ingredients
- 1 bunch Red Kale
- 1 bunch Lacinato Kale
- 1 cup blackberries
- 1/2 cup roasted pumpkin seeds
- 1 cup feta cheese, crumbled
- 1/2 cup rose and carnation petals
Blackberry Shallot Vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup blackberries
- 1 small shallot
- 1 tbsp honey
- 3 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 3 tbsp olive oil
- salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Most people don't like Kale because its so tough. But Kale requires a little massaging to get it to taste good. Begin by removing the tough stems and then chop kale into small pieces. Next, take small handfuls of the chopped kale into your hands and rub it back and forth and roll it into a ball to break up all the fibrous toughness. Work in batches massaging and rubbing all the leaves. Wash and spin and place in a large salad bowl.
- Add blackberries, pumpkin seeds and feta cheese and then toss with washed rose and carnation petals. Prepare vinaigrette, toss and serve.
Blackberry Shallot Vinaigrette
- Combine blackberries, shallots, honey and vinegar into a food processor and puree. Add oil to emulsify dressing. Add salt and pepper to taste. Refrigerate until ready to use.
This salad is wonderful! Absolutely delicious, I added additional dark items I had in my Kitchen like black olives, purple onion, and purple turnip, and some walnuts ☺️
I’m so glad you like the salad Payton and the additions you made sound incredible. Thank you so much for taking the time to comment my dear. Hope you have a wonderful week!
🖤Lori
I really want to try this for a Halloween movie night! But I can’t find red kale on many grocery store websites other than ornamental red kale. Is that what you mean? Is it like the rose and carnation petals that wouldn’t be sold as food but are still edible?
Hi Millie
I got my red kale from the organic section of my grocery store here in SoCal, but I’ve also seen it at my local farmers market at times. But you can substitute with regular curly kale for the Red Kale. I’m not certain that ornamental red kale is edible, so I wouldn’t risk it. Hope that helps.
Lori
Did you use decorative roses or specific ones sold to be eaten?
I used roses and carnations from the market and washed them well. Ideally it’s best to grow your own. Hope that helps.
Lori 🖤
I found another source online https://gourmetsweetbotanicals.com/
Amazing recipe. Loved the view. Where would you get the red rose petals though?
You can get some online from https://gourmetsweetbotanicals.com/