Garlicky Orange Kale Salad Recipe (2024)

FAQs

When should you dress a kale salad? ›

Use your hands to toss the greens, massaging/rubbing the vinaigrette into the kale a bit as you toss. Taste and correct the seasoning with salt and pepper. Let the salad sit for at least 10 minutes before serving. Even better—if time allows, cover the salad, and let it sit in the fridge for 30 minutes to an hour.

Kale salads hold up particularly well to larger amounts of dressing because kale is tougher than other greens such as lettuce or spinach. In addition, dressing can be an asset to the texture of the salad, making the leaves softer and easier to chew.

The point of massaging is to infuse the kale with the lemon juice and oil, and also to break down some of the tough, fibrous characteristics of kale. This makes it easier to chew and digest, and makes for a more tender salad. Season with salt, massage/toss once more, then set aside.

Massaging Kale – massaging kale with a little oil and/or lemon juice for just a few minutes makes it more tender and easier to chew. Plus, it adds an extra boost of flavor.

RELATED: Believe It Or Not, Kale Actually Lives Up To All Of Its Hype—Here's Why. Manganiello says you can eat kale every day, just don't overdo it. She recommends one to two servings maximum of kale per day, leaving room for other healthy foods that provide an assortment of nutrients.

They include kale, mustard greens, collards, turnip greens, broccoli rabe, radicchio, chicory, and endive. The bitterness comes from chemical compounds called glucosinolates that can be found in the Brassica family.

Adding kale to your meals

Kale holds its texture well when cooked, and it can be steamed, stir-fried, roasted or eaten raw. You can blend it into smoothies, roast it to make kale chips, wilt it into soup, mash it with potatoes or turn it into pesto.

Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar. Add a pinch of salt if desired. Massage the kale in between your hands by picking up the leaves and rubbing them. Do this for 2 to 3 minutes until the kale is noticeably softer.

How to Store Kale Salad. You can store this salad in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 7 days. This is an easy recipe to make in advance whenever it works best for you. Lunches for days!

Why does kale make you feel so good? ›

Kale can be good for adding fiber and antioxidants to the diet in many savory dishes, salads, and smoothies. Various health benefits include managing blood pressure and boosting digestive health. Kale is a leafy green cruciferous vegetable that is rich in nutrients.

Both kale and romaine lettuce can be healthy choices for Caesar salads, but they offer slightly different nutritional profiles. Kale is considered a superfood due to its high nutrient content. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as folate and calcium.

Store massaged kale in an airtight container in the fridge for 2 to 3 days. You can skip massaging if you are using the kale in a salad with an acidic dressing. Just let the salad sit for a half hour or more before eating so the kale has time to soften.

Raw kale is fibrous, bitter and can be tough to chew. Blanching it helps soften its fibers and bitterness while making it easier to chew.

Cover with a lid and allow the water to come back to a boil. Then reduce the heat slightly and allow the kale to boil for five minutes. After five minutes, use a fork to retrieve a piece of kale and test it for tenderness. The kale should be soft and smooth.