Shredded Collard Green Salad with Roasted Sweet Potatoes and Cashews

Serves
serves 6-8
Time
1 hour

PHOTOGRAPHY BY RYAN LIEBE

The flavor of raw collard greens combines perfectly with tender roasted sweet potatoes and tangy, rich goat cheese in this hearty starter. West Africans cook virtually every dish they make with red palm oil, which is made from crushing the fruit of the palm, unlike palm kernel oil, which is derived from the fruit's seeds. Organic, fair-trade brands are available at Amazon, Whole Foods, and from West African specialty grocers.

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Ingredients

2 lb. sweet potatoes, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/2-inch-thick slices
¹⁄₄ cup plus 2 tbsp. red palm oil or vegetable oil
1 tbsp. cumin seeds
1 tbsp. thyme leaves
2 cloves garlic
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tbsp. fresh lime juice
1 tsp. minced ginger
1 lb. collard greens, stems removed, leaves thinly shredded (6 cups)
2 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
¹⁄₄ cup roasted, unsalted cashews, roughly chopped

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Instructions

Step 1

Heat the oven to 400°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the sweet potato slices with 2 tablespoons of the palm oil, the cumin, thyme, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and roast the sweet potatoes, flipping once halfway through cooking, until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a rack and let cool.

Step 2

Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the lime juice and ginger and let stand for 10 minutes to soften. Whisk in the remaining 1⁄4 cup palm oil until emulsified and then season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper.

Step 3

To serve, place the collard greens in a large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of the dressing, massaging it into the greens for about 5 minutes. Transfer the greens to a serving platter, top with the sweet potatoes, and sprinkle with the goat cheese and cashews. Serve with the remaining dressing on the side.

Heat the oven to 400°. On a rimmed baking sheet, toss the sweet potato slices with 2 tablespoons of the palm oil, the cumin, thyme, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper and roast the sweet potatoes, flipping once halfway through cooking, until golden brown, about 40 minutes. Transfer the potatoes to a rack and let cool.
Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the lime juice and ginger and let stand for 10 minutes to soften. Whisk in the remaining 1⁄4 cup palm oil until emulsified and then season the vinaigrette with salt and pepper.
To serve, place the collard greens in a large bowl and toss with 1 tablespoon of the dressing, massaging it into the greens for about 5 minutes. Transfer the greens to a serving platter, top with the sweet potatoes, and sprinkle with the goat cheese and cashews. Serve with the remaining dressing on the side.