I admit: I was late to jump on the kale salad bandwagon. I mean, it just didn’t sound that great to me. But I kept seeing it everywhere, and I finally gave it a try. I’m SO glad I got on board with kale salads- they’re delicious, and such a great way to enjoy a healthy, cheap, dark green leafy vegetable!
How to make kale less bitter
Kale has a reputation as being healthy, yes, but also bitter and tough. Which can be unappealing when you think about it being served raw in a salad. But I promise- if you get to know kale a little better, you’ll find it’s a deliciously sweet vegetable, as long as you know a few tricks!
Buy kale seasonally. If kale is grown when it’s too hot, it can turn bitter. Kale grown in cooler weather is sweeter. Cut the kale into small pieces. This means it will be easier to chew and more dressing will stick to it (like in coleslaw- you wouldn’t want huge chunks of cabbage in coleslaw for the same reason). Soak the kale in cold water. This is not only a trick to wash very dirty kale (see recipe notes), but the cold will help sweeten the leaves a bit. Wash the kale AFTER cutting it up. First of all, it’s going to be easier to wash the kale thoroughly when it’s cut up, since the dirt can hide in the crevices of the leaves. Second, when you cut kale, you release some of the bitter compounds. Washing it after cutting the kale ensures you wash away this bitterness after it’s been released. Pair it with sweet ingredients. This kale salad recipe includes sweet sliced fuji apples, and the dressing includes pure maple syrup. Both of these ingredients help balance the bitterness of the kale. Don’t skimp on the fat. Pairing fat with bitter ingredients helps the flavor mellow out a bit. That’s the reason why the dressing for this salad has 1/4 cup of extra-virgin olive oil, PLUS creamy goat cheese that covers every bite. As an added bonus, eating olive oil with leafy greens helps your body absorb their nutrients better! Massage, massage, massage! Massaging the salad dressing into the kale is vital. The oil in the dressing is absorbed by the leaves, leaving them softened and more flavorful.
I should also note: if this list feels overwhelming, please know that these are a LOT of suggestions, and you can pick and choose the ones you have time for. Here’s more on how to prep kale!
How to massage kale
Massaging kale is the best way to prepare raw kale for a salad. You just use your hands to mix the salad dressing and chopped kale together, rubbing the dressing in as you go. For this recipe… FYI, massaging doesn’t work for softer greens, like mixed baby greens, but because kale is such a tough leafy green, it’s perfect in this situation. It also works well for mature spinach or collard greens.
Looking for something yummy to go with this massaged kale salad? Try this Roast Chicken or this Bacon Wrapped Pork Loin. This salad is also great on its own for a light lunch or dinner. Don’t like the “bite” of raw red onion? Try using pickled red onions instead.
Other kale recipes:
Slow Cooker 15-Bean Soup with Kale Crispy Bacon and Kale Pizza Creamy Potato, Caramelized Fennel, and Kale Soup Zuppa Toscana (Olive Garden Copycat) Garlic Butter Rice with Kale (from Recipe Tin Eats)
And here’s a link to all my salad recipes! Did you make this massaged kale salad recipe? Please comment below and Rate this Recipe!
