Add some green deliciousness to any meal (hey, even breakfast!) by learning how to whip up this simple (make-ahead approved) recipe for 5-Step Raw Kale Salad.
Go-To Recipe. I make this dish A LOT and love it because once you learn the basics you can change things up by adding in a wide variety of fresh veggies, roasted veggies, fresh fruit, dried fruit, nuts, seeds, pickled veggies, beans and other vegan goodies.
Raw Kale Salad. Yup, it still seems to be everywhere I look these days. And just in case you needed a reminder, kale is indeed PACKED with nutrients..
Whenever I think of raw kale salad I think of my friend Gena. You guys may remember a video we did a few years ago..
Gena introduced me to her massaged version of raw kale salad for our 'summer recipes' video shoot. The scene: We were smiling and happily running around doing our video shoot showcasing a few beloved vegan summer recipes when Gena said she would be making a massaged kale salad. I was thrilled because hey, I love raw kale salads! But wait, did she say "massaged" kale salad? I had kinda 'heard about' massaging kale but never seen it first hand. And then suddenly Gena was on camera with me, chattering away in my living room, wrist-deep in her bowl of salad massaging the heck out it! All those veggies and raw kale bits were getting some serious five-star spa-like pampering. If you watch the video you can see I was a little shocked by the hands-on-ed-ness of it. But ya, it tasted AMAZING.
..OK, I get it now! Do you massage your kale? Well I personally do not often do hands-on deep tissue to my raw kale salad leaves. I usually just do a vigorous fluff-n-fold-n-chill approach and let time do the 'softening' work. So I let my dressing-tossed kale sit in the fridge for about 1-8 hours (prep in the AM, eat by dinner) and by then the flavors are infused and the greens softened. Or for crunchy kale, you can eat ASAP.
THE SEED Vegan Experience!! Speaking of Gena, I am super excited that next month Gena and I will be doing a duo presentation on MY favorite topic: vegan smoothies! Demo included! We will be chatting up all things blogging, eating, vegan smoothie-making, Vitamix-loving and anything the audience wants to ask us a la Q&A sesh. This will be my first big presentation at a big "vegan" event so I am excited! I will also be hanging out at a Healthy Happy Life / Finding Vegan booth hopefully handing out recipes cards and maybe a few more goodies to remind people to buy my book 365 Vegan Smoothies which will go on sale shortly after the event. If you are in NYC please come say hi! I'd love to meet you! Buy 50% off tickets while they last!
But enough chatter, lets get kale-ing...
5-Step Kale Salad
Step 1. Wash your fresh kale greens. Run each thick leaf under warm to hot water and massage any grit away. Then refresh the leaves by running them all under ice cold water. (The hot and coldest settings on your tap will work.)
Step 2. Prep your ingredients. Remove the thick vein from your kale leaves and discard. (You could keep this on, but it is quite chewy.) Also prep your other veggies however you'd like. Chop, dice, cube, shred... Add the chopped kale and veggies to a large mixing bowl.
Step 3. Make your dressing. In a small bowl, whisk your dressing together.
Step 4. Toss! Add the dressing to your bowl of veggies and kale and start tossing! You could massage if you'd like 🙂 Fluff and toss until the dressing is well absorbed into the greens and veggies.
Step 5. Chill it! Allow at least an hour for the dressing to really sink into the ingredients. Plus chilling everything makes it refreshing and tasty as a cold salad side. You can even make this salad the night before you serve it. Overnight chilling works! The greens should be eaten within 48 hours though.
Now for the recipe...
5-Step Kale Salad
vegan, makes 6 cups
4 cups chopped raw kale (about ½ small bunch)
¾ cup shredded carrots
1 small avocado, diced
½ cup sweet onion, diced
2-3 tablespoon seeds or nuts (I added some mineral-rich pepitas)
*you can easily change up the veggie and other add-ins as desired.
Simple Sweet Tahini Dressing
2 tablespoon tahini
2 tablespoon maple syrup
3 tablespoon fresh lemon juice + pinch of zest
1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil (optional)
2-3 pinches cayenne
pinch of salt + a few pinches of black pepper
(Make a double batch of dressing if you like your greens more heavily dressed)
Important notes:
* If you want to lighten up the dressing, substitute fresh orange juice for the EVOO.
* You can use raw agave syrup or brown rice syrup in place of maple if desired.
* Add a splash of tamari in place of the salt if you have it on hand!
* Be sure to stir stir stir first if your tahini settled with oil on top!
* Add a splash of apple cider vinegar if you'd like a perkier, more acidic dressing.
* I like to use pink Himalayan salt.
* Freshly finely chopped parsley is a very nice touch for this dressing.
Zoe Rae says
This salad is so simple and so good! I often make it for work potlucks, and get rave reviews!
sweetonnh says
How many would this serve as a main dish?
Kathy Patalsky says
So happy to hear this!
Jamie says
I've been looking for more recipes that use kale. Found this on Pintrest. Glad I did! This was really good! I'm not a big fan of tahini. For me, it's only ever been used with hummus. But, I thought, i'd give it a try from reading the other comments here. Great recipe! Will be using this in my rotation of recipes. 🙂
Daniel Hickstein says
I made this tonight and it was very good. I thought that the dressing would be too heavy, so I made about 1/2 of the recommended portions. I was still good, but I think that the recommended dressing portion would be better. I realize this is a vegan food blog, but the recipe is also delicious with some grilled chicken on top.
Sue says
I didn't have a good avocado! I started the recipe and when it came time to cut the avocado....it was bad, darn. I had all the other ingredients so I went ahead and made it. It is amazing, even without the avocado. I def. will be making it again and I hope to add a good avocado to it next time. Great recipe...I never would have thought to add avocado to kale, awesome. Did I say avocado enough?? =)))
Saucy Mama says
I so love salad, and this salad recipe is awesome with my favorite fruit avocado. That's heaven, wow ! Thanks for sharing, a must try salad recipe.
Shari Weiner says
I just made this and holy cow - YUM! It is chilling right now for later, but was excellent at room temp also. I used a tablespoon of this wonderful white balsamic grapefruit vinegar I have in place of the olive oil and added dry roasted salted sunflower seeds for the seed option. This is going to be on regular rotation!
Kent Scott says
Having recently begun living a vegan lifestyle it has been challenging at times to find something both filled with flavor and healthy - This recipe seems to do it all making it a great snack or meal depending on when I get a craving. Will be making this regularly!
Sue Shapiro says
I made this last weekend. It is delicious! The dressing is perfect - it pulls all all of the favors together without overpowering the salad. Thank you!
Melissa Schultz says
Awesome salad. It was my first experience with Kale and I loved it! Your recipes are crazy good:)
Mary says
Great recipe, and really liked the tips on working with Kale. Delicious!
Poemfish says
I was skeptical about all the Kale but decided to go for it after reading your blog! This salad is crazy good! Everytime I feel discouraged about eating vegan or think the only options are picking up a plain raw vegetable and jamming it down my throat, I head to your blog and am always inspired! Thank you!! You are a vegan rockstar!
Donna Fleck says
This salad is amazingly delicious... has a fabulous taste. I made it, packed it for a road trip, and it was so well received by my husband I'm making it again right now for tonight! Yum... so good!
Brooke Douty says
Well Kathy, this is beyond amazing!!!! I have just finished making my 3rd batch of this delicious creation of yours, and let me tell you, I can't get enough...eating it for breakfast even! Love it! Thank you so much for all your wonderful recipes
shannon says
this looks amazing! i would definitely love to try this
Therawfoodsisters.com says
Amazing!!! Thanks for the inspiration. Sounds and look Amazing! Love new salad inspiration!!!
Jessica Lauren says
Yum! I just enjoyed this salad for lunch! I finished before realizing I forgot to add the sunflower seeds :(. Still really good, though!
Dianne Terrasi says
I just made this salad...it is delicious!!! I can see it's going to be one of my regulars! Thank you... I love your posts.
Jennifer Setser says
Kathy - what is your favorite type of kale to use for the "massaged" salads? THANKFULLY I've been seeing more varieties in my area! Ever tried a Russian Kale?
What should I eat for breakfas says
My hubby was asking me to prepare something healthy tasty for tomorrow lunch. And he likes kale, so bingo 🙂
Liz says
While I LOVE kale and kale salads, I am actually quite averse to MASSAGED kale salads. When I do it, the flavor becomes some much stronger and rather unpleasant, which is ironic, since massaging the kale is supposed to make it more PALATABLE. Go figure. So, needless to say, whenever massaging is called for, I am strictly hands off with it. I find it to be so much more enjoyable that way.
Kathy Patalsky says
yum! I have been eating more lentils lately. So loaded with nutrients and protein!
Kathy Patalsky says
there are more than a few brands that are great. I like organic brands like Once Again. That is what is in my fridge now. If you want raw tahini try Artisana. I usually buy roasted tahini though as opposed to raw. Raw can be quite strong in bitterness.
Maggie De Vincenzi says
Thanks!!
Kathy Patalsky says
yum! glad you tweaked it with some yummy results!
Seen too much says
Just made this salad. I added shiitake mushrooms, one half of an apple, leaks, baby spinach and some curry to the dressing recipe. DeLish!
Maggie De Vincenzi says
Looks so yummy! What brand Tahini do you use?
robintabletalkblognet says
Wow, that's looks really good. My husband will appreciate the creaminess of the dressing
Kelly Gentry says
Sounds delicious. Kale is the best. I just had my warm lentils over steamed kale salad for lunch. So yummy!
Warm Vanilla Sugar says
That dressing alone looks soooo good! Yum!
JennsAdventures says
oh. mah. gah. that salad looks AMAZING! I'm so hungry & I want it noooowwww! 🙂 Definitely gonna have to make that this week!
LeGrumeau says
I love kale! Your salad really looks amazing. Best way to start the week!