Ingredients

• 1/4 cup grated Pecorino or Parmigiano cheese
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• Zest and juice of 1 lemon
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1⁄2 teaspoon honey
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon crushed red chile flakes
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1 large bunch black Tuscan kale, ribs removed and coarsely chopped
• 1/4 heaping cup hazelnuts, toasted in a skillet over medium heat until fragrant and then finely ground
• 3 tablespoons hazelnut oil
• 1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
• 1 teaspoon finely chopped shallot
• 1 teaspoon minced thyme leaves
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 3 cranks black pepper
• Roasted and marinated beets
• 2 balls burrata or fresh mozzarella cheese, torn into rough chunks
• Kosher salt
• Freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup coarsely chopped toasted hazelnuts

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, combine the cheese, olive oil, lemon zest and juice, garlic, honey, salt, chile flakes, and pepper. Add the kale and toss to combine—really get in there and work the kale with your hands; this isn’t a gentle massage. Set the kale aside to marinate at room temperature for 2 hours or in the fridge overnight. Alternatively, you could toss the kale in with the just-roasted, marinating beets along with the cheese, olive oil, et al., and let the mixture sit at room temperature for 2 hours or in the fridge overnight. They’ll marinate just the same.
2. Combine the hazelnuts, hazelnut oil, vinegar, shallot, thyme, honey, salt, and pepper in a small jar with a tight-fitting lid and shake it until the dressing comes together. Set aside until ready to serve or store in the fridge for up to 5 days.
3. Preheat a large cast-iron pan over high heat for 5 minutes. When the pan looks very hot (you see little wisps of smoke), add the marinated beets and char on one side for 1 minute, just long enough to get some char. Remove the beets from the pan and add the kale, again charring for 1 minute. You are looking to just heat the kale, not fully cook it. You also could do this over the high heat of a grill. Remove the pan from the heat.
4. Spread the cheese over a large platter. Season it a bit with salt and pepper. Scatter the charred kale and beets over the cheese, douse with the hazelnut vinaigrette, and finish with the chopped hazelnuts