Juicy Star Fruit Salad with crisp celery and gotu kola in a light lemony dressing. Candy-roasted macadamia nuts complete this super refreshing, crunchy salad. Easy recipe.
1cupgotu kola leaves or flat-leaf parsleythinly sliced
¼cupsweet Maui onionsliced
1smallhead butter lettuce
¼cuppomegranate kernels optional
Dressing
2TBmacadamia nut oil
2TBfresh lemon juice
½tsp.sea salt
Candied macadamia nuts
½tsp.macadamia nut oil
½cupplain raw macadamia nuts
1TBvegan honey, maple syrup , or agave syrup
1/16tsp. sea salt
1TBraw sugar, optional
Instructions
Salad mix
Separate leaves from 1 small head butter lettuce and set them aside to line salad plates.
Slice 3 cups star fruit crosswise into ¼-inch thick pieces. Slice 2 cups celery and ¼ cup sweet Maui onion. Slice 1 cup gotu kola leaves or flat-leaf parsley into thin slivers.
Place star fruit, celery, onion, and gotu kola in a mixing bowl. Keep everything chilled while making dressing and candied nuts.
Dressing
Whisk together 2 TB macadamia nut oil, 2 TB fresh lemon juice, and ½ tsp. sea salt.
Candied macadamia nuts
Heat a heavy-bottomed skillet on the stovetop at a medium setting. Add ½ tsp. macadamia nut oil and ½ cup plain raw macadamia nuts. Toast while stirring for about 5 minutes or until nuts start turning golden on the edges.
Add 1 TB vegan honey, maple syrup , or agave syrup and continue stirring for another 3-4 minutes. You want most of the sweetener to thicken and coat nuts but not to burn.
Remove candied nuts to a piece of parchment paper. Sprinkle nuts while still hot and sticky with 1/16 tsp. sea salt. If you like your nuts sweeter, sprinkle them with 1 TB raw sugar, optional to taste. Nuts will harden as they cool.
Assemble salads
Take chilled salad mix from the refrigerator. Pour dressing over all and toss.
Lay whole leaves of butter lettuce on 4 salad plates. Spoon star fruit salad onto lettuce-lined plates.
Top with candied macadamia nuts and ¼ cup pomegranate kernels if desired.
Notes
Recipe tipsChill star fruit before making the salad.Make Ahead tipsStar fruit salad can be made in advance and chilled before adding dressing. If you would like to make it this way, reserve 1 tablespoon of lemon juice from the dressing. Toss the sliced salad gently with the lemon juice and refrigerate. Just before serving, add macadamia oil dressing and garnish the salad with candied macadamia nuts.