Heirloom Carrot Salad, Yogurt, Almond & Honey Dressing Recipe

Heirloom Carrot Salad, Yogurt, Almond & Honey Dressing Recipe

  • 20 small heirloom carrots (purple, white and orange varieties or just use small Dutch carrots), washed and trimmed (but not peeled)
  • 3/4 cup organic plain yogurt
  • 1/2 bunch fenugreek or purslane, picked and washed
  • 8 small nasturtium leaves
  • 8 nasturtium flowers (any color)
  • Almond & Honey Dressing:
  • 3/4 cup organic raw almonds, roughly chopped
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • 3 tablespoons honey (I use orange blossom)
  • 1 tablespoon chardonnay vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon orange-flower water
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 1 long red chili, sliced
  • 1/3 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • Sea salt
  1. For the almond and honey dressing, place the almonds and butter in a 4-cup capacity saucepan. Place over medium heat and gently warm until the butter starts to foam. Keep it on the heat and when the butter turns a hazelnut color (beurre noisette), add the honey. Bring to a boil, then reduce by one-fifth. Add the vinegar, orange-flower water and lemon juice, bring to a boil, turn down the heat and cook gently for 3 minutes. Pull off the heat, add the chili, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and mix thoroughly. Set aside to cool. This dressing will keep in the fridge for up to 2 months–just gently warm before using.
  2. Place the carrots in a saucepan of cold salted water and bring to a boil. Turn down to a simmer and cook for 8 minutes or until tender. Test the carrots with a sharp knife to see if they're cooked. Drain, then while the carrots are still hot, cut the larger ones in half, place in a bowl and toss in 3 tablespoons of the dressing.
  3. To assemble, place one-quarter of the yogurt on each plate, then assemble the carrots on top. Dress with a little more dressing (making sure to scoop some of the almonds up) and scatter over the herbs and flowers.