Celery & Date Salad

Celery & Date Salad
Serves 2

This recipe is inspired by a dish from Brooklyn’s The Four Horseman restaurant. I’ve always been a fan of celery - long before the Medical Medium - and what I love about this salad is its bitter crunchiness against the sweet chewy dates. Works excellently as Thanksgiving side this time of year.

1/2 jalapeno, minced
1 lemon, zest and juiced
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 tablespoon walnut oil
4 stalks celery, thinly sliced on the bias with leaves reserved
1 cup dates, pitted and chopped
1 cup walnuts, roughly chopped
1/2 apple, diced
Ricotta salata, garnish

In a large bowl, combine jalapeno, lemon zest, lemon juice, and salt. Allow the mixture to sit for a few minutes while you chop and gather ingredients. Whisk in extra virgin and walnut oils.

Add celery, celery leaves, dates, walnuts, and apple. Season as needed. Toss salad and garnish with generously shaving of ricotta salata.