A Kilkenny February Salad

With a little care and protection salad leaves can easily be grown in Kilkenny, at all times of the year. This February Salad is made up of the thinings from Cos lettuce plants, young sprigs of watercress and blanched chicons.

A freshly picked Kilkenny February Salad

The dressing consists of Irish rape seed oil, homemade verjus, honey from the bees in the yard and a small amount of finely chopped fresh parsley, fresh thyme, fresh sage and fresh rosemary. All the ingredients originated within a few square yards of each other in rural Kilkenny, with the exception of the oil.

Email: kilkennyseakale@gmail.com

Chicory, Radicchio and Chicons

The blanched Chicons are now ready to eat, they were dug and lifted late in November, placed upright in pots with compost and kept in the dark in a cool dry place, since. Sliced from their roots at the base and then cut into small pieces, with some dressing and they make a refreshing winter salad at a time, when there are fewer salad leaves available.

Witloof Chicons

To my surprise the mild winter has allowed the non-forcing Chicory or Radicchio varieties to survive continuous cropping and they are still providing us with welcome fresh green and red leaves.

Chicory Salad Leaves

Email: kilkennyseakale@gmail.com