What’s On My Table With Alexandra Dudley
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Kale & Pomegranate Salad with Tahini Dressing
We don’t often think of salads in winter, but I find I often crave their fresh crunch amid the richness of Christmas feasting. As a general rule I don’t love kale salads, I often find them too dry or aggressively raw, but this one has tender leaves while maintaining a good crunch and pop of flavour. The key is to massage the kale a little first to soften the leaves. Toss it in a creamy tahini dressing with some zippy pomegranate seeds and crunchy toasted sunflower seeds. I love this with some simple boiled eggs or leftover roast chicken.
Toast the sunflower seeds in a dry frying pan over a medium heat until they are golden brown and begin to smell nutty. Transfer to a plate to cool.
Tear the kale leaf from the stems and place in a large bowl. Squeeze over the lemon juice, olive oil and salt. Massage the oil and juice into the leaves until the kale softens (about 2-3 minutes).
Remove the seeds from the pomegranate. I find the best way to do this is to fill a medium-sized bowl with water, quarter the pomegranate and plunge each one under the water using your hands to dislodge the seeds. The pith will rise to the top and the juicy seeds will sink to the bottom. Scoop away the pith and drain the seeds.
Combine the dressing ingredients together (adding a splash of water if it feels too stiff). It should be relatively thick, smooth and glossy. Pour over the kale, add the sunflower and toss. Then toss through the pomegranate seed and serve.
THE THREE THINGS ALEXANDRA'S LOVING THIS MONTH
Vintage Grain Sack Placemat, £22 | Domestic Science
I’ve gone for a much simpler Christmas table this year, focusing on creams and whites. I love the subtle nod to Christmas of the red in these and the texture is beautiful.
Available at DomesticScienceHome.co.uk
Shell Movement Candle Holders, £125 | Peter Mears
I have an obsession with candle holders and fell in love with the texture and feel of these. Hand made in porcelain by the artist Peter Mears, they are inspired by seashells. They’d make a beautiful gift too.
Available at PeterMears.Studio
Thurlton Handmade Small Glass Candlesticks – Set Of 2, £40 | The White Company
More candle holders! I love using a range of candle holders and various heights of candles on the table. Often, I have some sort of foliage running down the centre of the table and these short glass ones look wonderful against anything green.
Available at TheWhiteCompany.com
AND OFF THE TABLE…
Sticky Toffee Apple Cake at Saltine
I’ve been spoilt with local new openings recently. Saltine is the latest addition to Highbury Park and is a wonderful restaurant/wine bar opened by the team behind my favourite coffee shop, Finks. The menu is concise (always a good sign) and strikes the perfect balance of hearty plates of fish stew and mussel chowder with more delicate zingy sharing dishes such as Cornish crab with pomelo and creme fraiche, and persimmon with stracciatella and rye crumb. I’m not always one for pudding, but I opted to share the sticky toffee apple cake with my husband. It was so good we nearly ordered another plate. Dense and almost fudgy, it gives a good hit of ginger, and there’s a warm caramel sauce against cold vanilla ice cream. It’s a pudding I could eat time and time again.
Visit Saltine.co.uk
For more from Alexandra, follow @AlexandraDudley or visit AlexandraDudley.com
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