Honey Mustard-Dressed Kale Salad Recipe
In the cooler months, a hearty and flavourful kale salad can be a delightful addition to your meal. This recipe, perfect for eight, offers a tender and palatable twist on the often chewy raw kale.
Preparation begins with washing and drying the kale leaves, followed by tearing or chopping them into bite-sized pieces. The leaves are then placed in a large bowl and dressed with olive oil, a splash of lemon juice, salt, and pepper.
The secret to this salad's success lies in the massage. Using clean hands, gently squeeze and rub the leaves for about 1–5 minutes, until they wilt, soften, and reduce in volume. This process breaks down tough cellulose fibres in the leaves, making them more enjoyable to eat raw.
Once massaged, the kale salad is ready for its assortment of flavourful toppings. Sliced red pears, crumbled goat cheese, dried cranberries, and crispy bacon create a harmonious blend of sweet, tangy, and savoury flavours. For added crunch, glazed honey almonds are sprinkled on top, coated in a savoury-sweet goodness with Madagascar vanilla bean, sea salt, organic honey, and sesame seeds.
A simple honey mustard dressing, made with Dijon mustard, honey, apple cider vinegar, salt, pepper, and extra virgin olive oil, is drizzled on top to tie the salad together.
This salad is not only delicious but also versatile. Kale can be sautéed, added to soups, stews, pasta sauces, or used as a salad base. The salad can be stored for leftovers and travels well, making it a convenient option for busy days.
Kale is considered a winter green and can be found at local farmers' markets even during cold weather, making it a suitable choice for fall season gatherings and holidays. Enjoy this tender kale salad as a healthier alternative to traditional salad greens!
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Each serving contains approximately 304 calories, 20g total fat, 28g carbohydrates, 2g fiber, 23g sugar, 6g protein, and 450mg sodium.
This hearty kale salad, as part of a health-conscious food-and-drink lifestyle, provides a tender twist on the raw kale, making it a delightful addition to your home-and-garden meal preparation. The salad's unique cooking method involves massaging the kale leaves to soften them, contributing to a more enjoyable eating experience. This cooking process, combined with an assortment of flavourful toppings such as red pears, goat cheese, dried cranberries, crispy bacon, glazed honey almonds, and a simple honey mustard dressing, makes this salad a delightful and nutritious choice for your recipe book.
