Easy Kale Salad with Fresh Lemon Dressing
User Reviews
5
Easy Kale Salad with Fresh Lemon Dressing
Description
The Easy Kale Salad begins with massaging the chopped kale using olive oil and a pinch of salt, which tenderizes the tough leaves and results in a more palatable, silky texture. The salad is then combined with chopped broccoli florets, sliced almonds for crunch, optional feta or shredded cheddar cheese for creaminess, shredded carrot, finely diced red onion, sunflower seeds, and dried cranberries for bursts of sweetness.
The lemon dressing balances bright acidity from lemon juice and red wine vinegar with a touch of honey for sweetness, combined with Dijon mustard for emulsification and minced garlic and oregano for depth of flavor. The dressing is shaken vigorously to blend and then added gradually to the salad, allowing adjustment of flavor intensity.
This salad presents a variety of textures from crisp vegetables and crunchy nuts to chewy dried fruit and creamy cheese. It can be served as a healthy side or light main dish. The components offer balance between fresh, tangy, crunchy, and savory notes.
The original notes suggest adding poppy seeds to the dressing to create a lemon poppy seed variation if desired. Nutritional information excludes optional cheese additions.
Ingredients
- 5 cups kale chopped
- 1-2 teaspoons olive oil
- ⅛ teaspoon salt
- 2 cups broccoli chopped, florets
- ½ cup almonds sliced
- ½ cup feta cheese optional, or shredded cheddar, crumbled
- ¼ cup carrot shredded
- ¼ cup red onion finely diced
- ¼ cup sunflower seeds
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
Lemon Dressing
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice fresh
- 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
- 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
- 1 teaspoon honey or sugar, adjust plus add to taste
- 1 clove garlic minced
- ½ teaspoon oregano dried
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ⅛ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
Dressing:
- Combine dressing ingredients in a lidded mason jar and shake well to emulsify. Dip a kale leaf in the dressing and adjust sweetener, salt, and pepper to taste. You can make this dressing as sweet or tart as your heart desires!
Salad:
- Massage the chopped kale with olive oil and a pinch of salt. Rub with your fingers until leaves begin to darken and tenderize. This makes it taste great and gives the kale a silky texture!
- In a large bowl, combine massaged kale, broccoli, almonds, cheese, carrots, onion, sunflower seeds, cranberries. Shake your dressing once more and pour about ⅓ of the dressing over the salad. Toss to coat and add extra dressing, to taste.
Notes
- Massaging kale with olive oil and salt softens the leaves for a tender texture.
- Add poppy seeds to the lemon dressing to achieve a lemon poppy seed flavor variation.
- You may substitute feta cheese with shredded cheddar or omit cheese according to preference.
Nutrition Information
Show DetailsNutrition Facts
Serving: 4servings
Amount Per Serving
Calories 334 kcal
% Daily Value*
| Calories | 334 | 17% |
| Carbohydrates | 19g | 6% |
| Protein | 9g | 18% |
| Fat | 26g | 40% |
| Saturated Fat | 3g | 15% |
| Sodium | 315mg | 13% |
| Potassium | 744mg | 16% |
| Fiber | 4g | 16% |
| Sugar | 4g | 8% |
| Vitamin A | 9985IU | 200% |
| Vitamin C | 146.3mg | 163% |
| Calcium | 192mg | 19% |
| Iron | 2.7mg | 15% |
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
User Reviews
Overall Rating
5
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