Shahar Shamir as a child loved eating halva, the dense sesame confection he found at markets in his native Israel. But as an adult living in New York City, he began to crave a less sweet version of his beloved treat. A fair amount of kitchen tinkering birthed Brooklyn Sesame a deconstructed halva spread made from rich tahini stirred with honey. Today, Shamir makes six different versions of his spread: sesame seed, almond, pistachio, black caraway seed, toasted coconut, and cocoa and sea salt.
Kale-Pomegranate Salad with Almond Halva Dressing
March 15, 2021
Ingredients
For the dressing
- ½cup Brooklyn Sesame Halva Spread with Raw Almonds
- 3tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 1teaspoon apple cider vinegar
- 1tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 1large garlic clove, pushed through a press
- ⅓cup water, or more if needed
- ¼teaspoon salt, or more to taste
- freshly ground black pepper
For the salad
- 1 5oz container of baby kale (about 6 cups)
- 1small Granny Smith apple, peeled, quartered, cored, and cut into thin wedges
- 1small bulb fennel, halved, cored, and thinly sliced
- ½cup fresh pomegranate seeds (from about half a pomegranate)
- ⅓cup sliced almonds, toasted
- ⅓cup packed fresh mint leaves, torn or roughly chopped
Yield: Serves 6-8
Preparation
To make the Kale-Pomegranate Salad with Almond Halva Dressing
- Step 1
Whisk together the Halva Spread, lemon juice, cider vinegar, olive oil, garlic, 1/3 cup water, 1/4 teaspoon of salt and a generous amount of black pepper in a small bowl.
- Step 2
Taste and add additional salt if desired.
- Step 3
If the mixture is too thick (it should pour easily, but not look watery), whisk in more water, 1 tablespoon at a time until the desired consistency is reached.
- Step 4
The dressing can be made up to 1 day in advance and stored, covered, in the fridge. If it thickens overnight, stir in a little more water.
To make the Kale-Pomegranate Salad with Almond Halva Dressing
- Step 1
Combine the kale, apple, fennel, pomegranate seeds, almonds, and mint leaves in a large bowl, and toss to combine.
- Step 2
To serve: dived salad on to individual plates and drizzle with desired amount of dressing.