Summer Kale Salad (Printable View)
Hearty kale tossed with summer fruits, crisp vegetables, feta, and a zesty lemon-honey vinaigrette.
# What You Need:
→ Vegetables & Greens
01 - 1 large bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 small cucumber, sliced
04 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Fruits
05 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
06 - 1/2 cup blueberries
07 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
→ Cheese & Nuts
08 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
09 - 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon honey
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Place the chopped kale in a large salad bowl, add a pinch of salt, and massage the leaves for 1 to 2 minutes until they become tender and vibrant green.
02 - Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, strawberries, blueberries, and diced avocado to the massaged kale.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until fully emulsified.
04 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and toasted sliced almonds over the top and serve immediately for the best texture.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The massaging trick transforms raw kale from tough and bitter into something silky and addictive
- It barely takes fifteen minutes but looks like something from a restaurant menu
02 -
- Serving this more than twenty minutes after dressing it means soggy kale and mushy avocado so time it close to when people sit down
- The massage step is not optional even if you feel ridiculous doing it because unmassaged kale will sit in your stomach like a brick
03 -
- Dry your kale completely after washing because water on the leaves will dilute your dressing into something bland
- Taste a berry before you start and if it is not sweet enough add an extra half teaspoon of honey to compensate