Massaged Kale Salad
Have you ever had a massaged kale salad? Or massaged kale yourself?
I’ve been curious about this technique, but avoided it because eating a salad full of raw, bitter kale wasn’t something I was excited about.
Well, it turns out massaging kale with some lemon (or lime) juice and olive oil not only relaxes it (ha) but it calms its bitter flavor. It’s become one of my favorite lunches lately! I included the recipe for this particular version, which is very simply dressed and will take you about 5 minutes to make if your kale is already prepped. There are a bazillion (yes, bazillion) variations you can do with this.
One little guideline that I like to follow when making a salad is to add something sweet, something salty, something chewy, and something crunchy. Usually nuts and dried (or fresh) fruit are great to add. I liked the avocado in this because I tend to like something creamy in my salads as well (like cheese).
It’s wonderful alone as a light lunch or would be nice with just about any type of meat. I can see this served alongside some grilled chicken or salmon for a quick dinner! (Mmm. Grilling. Can’t wait.)
If you love this salad, you MUST try my Costco Copycat Sweet Kale Salad which uses this method of taming kale. It’s a knock off of that kale salad with the cranberries sold at Costco!
Here are a few other massaged kale salads I found around the Internets!
Deb’s Kale Salad with Apples, Cranberries, and Pecans from Smitten Kitchen via Cookies and Kate
Massaged Kale Salad with Creamy Blueberry Vinaigrette from The Roasted Root
My Go-To Kale Salad from Oh She Glows
Massaged Kale Salad with Quinoa from the Tasty Kitchen Blog
Massaged Kale Salad with Roasted Butternut Squash from Healthy Food for Living
Massaged Kale Salad with Pistachios, Dried Cherries, and Avocado
Massaging kale with citrus juice and oil transforms it from a harsh, bitter green to a tender, respectable salad green!
Ingredients
- 1 bunch of kale, stems removed and leaves chopped into bite-sized pieces
- juice from 1 small lemon (about 3 Tablespoons)
- 4 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
- 2 Tablespoons apple-cider vinegar
- 1 small handful salted pistachios
- 1 small handful raw cashews
- 1 small handful dried cherries
- 1 whole avocado, peeled, pitted, and diced
Instructions
Placed prepared kale in a large bowl. Squeeze lemon juice and 2 Tablespoons of olive oil over the kale. Rub the juice and oil into the kale with your hands for 2-3 minutes. The greens should take on a darker color and become more tender.
Drizzle the remaining 2 Tablespoons of oil, and vinegar over the greens; toss to coat. Sprinkle the remaining ingredients over the top and serve.
Yum! This post is making me want to whip up a massaged kale salad for dinner tonight! Thanks so much for including my recipe in your post, Natalie! Your salad is gorgeous!!
Thanks Julia! I can’t stop thinking about that blueberry vinaigrette. That’s going on my next salad :)
LOVE kale. Massaging it is amazing. Whole Foods’ raw kale salad is always my inspiration, now I have a recipe to experiment with. Thanks, Natalie!
I’ve never had their raw kale salad! I hope you figure out a copycat! :)
I love massaged kale salads! I didn’t think I would…but I really do. it absorbs the citrus in the best possible way!
I didn’t think I would either… which is why it took me so darn long!
I love kale salad, and so does my two year old. If you use lime and massage the avocado in too and add a little red or green onion it tastes like guacamole!
Um, seriously? That will be my lunch. Tomorrow.
Um…so…every time I see a “massaged kale” recipe, I really want to make some kind of inappropriate joke/comment, but I never quite know where to go with it.
Yes, these are the things that float around in my head.
Inappropriate touching aside, I can’t wait to jazz this up a bajillion different ways.
Whoops, sorry. Bazillion. ;-)
LOL. I know what you mean. As I was prepping it, I wanted to ask it how its day was… if it had any knots it wanted me to work on. It’s a weird experience. But worth it. :)
Ooooh, this is so beautiful. So simple, but looks so good.
I think I want to make a version with cooked chicken and green apples. Oh, and candied almonds!
I need to get me some kale and give it a good massage, presto!
Great tip and this looks so yummy! I want it for lunch right now!
I have been trying to incorporate more kale into my diet but truth be told, I don’t love it. It feels like something I “have” to eat. Now I’m gonna give them a little massage and see what happens ;) Thanks for the tip! Also, I’ve been reading your posts over on Food Fanatic. Paleo is another thing I’ve been tossing around. Sweets and carbs are a huge part of my diet and I know I need to make a change. Your recipes here and on FF have made me think I can take the plunge! They all sound so flavorful and delicious! Thanks for the inspiration.
Thanks Kate! What I love about paleo is that you don’t have to completely give up everything unless you want to. (Unless you have an allergy or something.) For me it helped to focus on adding good things at the beginning instead of taking things away. Then it made the transition easier. It was so gradual, I started making better choices subconsciously. I still remember a night a whole back when I finished my meal planning and realized all the meals were paleo. Unintentionally. Haha.
Thank you for honoring kale with this amazing recipe. I love kale and it just never seems to get its just due these days, don’t you think? By the way, I did paleo some years back as an alternative bodybuilding diet. There is a young pro named Sadik Hadzovik who is paleo, and I followed his plan. I have since become a vegetarian (ovo-lacto). Can I incorporate meatless sources into paleo?
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You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be actually something that I think I would
never understand. It seems too complex and extremely broad
for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!