Beet-Noodle-Salad

Beet Noodle Salad

Ingredients

  • 2 ea. Large Beets, peeled, tops reserved
  • 2 T Lemon Juice
  • 1 T Ginger, finely minced
  • ¼ lb. Thin Asparagus
  • Pink Salt, to taste
  • Mixed Salad Greens, as needed
  • Beet Crema, recipe follows
  • Spearmint, for garnish
  • Thai Basil, for garnish
  • Cilantro Coconut Chutney, recipe follows

PREPARATION

Spiralize beets with a spiralizer, and set aside the greens for beet crema. Combine lemon juice, ginger, turmeric and salt in a large bowl, and massage the noodles until fully incorporated. Set aside to allow noodles to marinate. Slice asparagus at an angle; blanch.

To assemble, layer 1 cup of salad greens with 2 cups of beet noodles and a few asparagus spears. Drizzle with beet crema. Garnish with herbs and cilantro coconut chutney.

To make beet crema: Steam beet trimmings in a pressure cooker for 10 minutes. Trim unusable parts; set aside. Soak 2 cups of raw cashews in boiling water for 30 minutes; drain and discard water.

Transfer cashews to a blender and add 1½ cups of water to form a creamy puree. Add ½ cup cashew cream to a blender with the greens, 1 tablespoon of lemon juice; 1 teaspoon of gochugaru; ½ tablespoon each of cinnamon; nutmeg and minced ginger; ½ teaspoon each of cardamom powder and pink salt. Add ½ cup of water, and process until smooth.

To make cilantro coconut chutney: Blend 1 cup of coconut in a food processor for 1 minute; transfer to a bowl. Add ½ cup of lemon juice, ½ teaspoon each of honey and minced ginger and a generous pinch of salt, and blend for 1 minute. Add 3 bunches of cilantro leaves, and process for another minute. Stir in coconut.

Chef Nikita Villastrigo | Pharm Table, San Antonio, Texas