Kumquat and hot pepper kale salad

Ingredients

Dressing

• 1
  
  tablespoon good olive oil
  
• 1
  
  tablespoon good balsamic vinegar
  
• 1
  
  tablespoon fig preserves
  
• 1/2
  
  teaspoon garlic, minced
  
• 2
  
  teaspoons fresh cilantro, roughly chopped
  
• 2-3
  
  teaspoons hot sauce
  
• 
  
  Salt to taste
  

Salad

• 1
  
  bunch laciento kale, de-ribbed and sliced into thin strips
  
• 1/3
  
  cup kumquats, thinly sliced
  
• 1/3
  
  cup hot sweet piquante peppers, roughly chopped
  
• 
  
  Manchego cheese
  

Directions

1. Make the dressing. In a small container, whisk together olive oil, balsamic, fig preserves, and garlic. Stir in the cilantro. Add the first two teaspoons of hot sauce, whisk and taste. Too light? Add the second teaspoon, whisk and taste again. After that, you’re on your own.
2. Pile the de-ribbed and sliced kale into a bowl. Now we’re going to get a little messy for a minute or two… Pour on a generous amount of dressing and then use both hands to massage the dressing into the kale for at least a full minute, adding dressing as needed. If you’re skeptical about whether or not the kale massage is worth it, trust me, it is. Massaging breaks down the cell walls of the kale, allowing it to release its flavors and become more tender. This is one of those extra steps that makes a simple salad special.
3. Transfer the kale to your serving dish, and generously sprinkle the sliced kumquats and peppers over the salad. Shave the manchego over the top, and garnish with one or two of your extra cilantro sprigs.