Celery And Caramelized Date Salad With Goat Cheese And Toasted Walnuts

Celery and Caramelized Date Salad 

                        With Goat Cheese and Toasted Walnuts
This recipe combines crisp celery, sweet caramelized dates, tart goat cheese and crunchy walnuts with a simple dressing to create a flavor packed salad that is sure to satisfy your taste buds. This plant-powered dish comes packed with nutritional benefits. To name a few, walnuts are a good source of heart-healthy fats including omega-3s as well as plant-based protein, vitamins and minerals. Dates are a quality source of fiber and contain nutrients such as potassium, folate and magnesium. Celery is not only a hydrating vegetable, thanks to its high water content, but also serves as another source of fiber in this recipe, as well as vitamin K.
Ingredients:
6 celery stalks, thinly sliced (leaves included)
1 cup pitted Medjool dates, halved
3 ounces goat cheese, crumbled
½ cup walnuts
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
½ lemon
Salt and pepper
Directions
Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Place the halved dates, cut side down, in the skillet, ensuring they are spaced apart for even caramelization. Without moving them, cook for 2 to 3 minutes, until the cut sides are golden and caramelized.

Flip the dates to the rounded side, season with salt and cook for about 1 minute. Remove the dates from the skillet and let them cool slightly before quartering.

Wipe the skillet clean with a paper towel and return it to medium heat. Add the walnuts to the same pan and toast them for 3 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until fragrant and lightly browned. Remove from heat, let them cool and roughly chop.

In a large bowl, combine the thinly sliced celery and its leaves with the juice from ½ a lemon, the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Toss gently to coat.

Add the quartered dates and roughly chopped toasted walnuts to the bowl with the celery. Gently toss to combine, ensuring the ingredients are evenly distributed.

Transfer the salad to a serving dish and top with crumbled goat cheese. Garnish with extra celery leaves if desired and serve immediately to maintain the salad’s crisp texture. Serves 4.