So that other half of the bag of kale I used for the Roasted Pumpkin and Kale Gratin was sitting in my frig looking forlorn and abandoned, so I decided to put it out of its misery and let it be enjoyed as it was meant to be! Having read kale salad recipes all afternoon after running across a Pinterest “27 kale salad recipe” link, I walked into the kitchen recipe-less and ready to go!
That’s how it goes with me and reading recipes, especially from my kajillion cookbooks — read a bunch of on-topic recipes and notes, then put them all away and go do it my way. You?
Kale and Apple Salad
4 c. coarsely chopped Lacinato (Tuscan, dinosaur) kale, stems removed if you prefer
(equivalent to half of a Trader Joe’s 10 oz bag of chopped Tuscan Kale)
1/4 tsp. salt (Real Salt brand tastes wonderful on vegetables, and that’s what I used here)
2-3 Tbsp. olive oil
2 Tbsp. almond butter or tahini
1/2 very large lemon, juiced (2-3 Tbsp)
1 med clove garlic, freshly pressed/minced
1/2 large apple, cored, partially peeled, and in bite-sized slices
(defer this task until it is time to mix it into the kale, so it doesn’t brown while waiting)
1/4 c. sliced almonds, toasted in a dry frying pan
Sprinkle salt over kale then drizzle with about a tablespoon of olive oil. Mix and knead in by hand, “massage” it for 3 minutes or so. Let stand at room temp 30 minutes. Mix remaining oil, almond butter, garlic, and lemon. Add apple and dressing to kale and stir (smash) to mix — the lemon made my almond butter sieze, so it was a bit thick! Just keep mixing; it gets spread around. Sprinkle with toasted sliced almonds.
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My husband, a professed non-kale-lover, went back for seconds and asked what I did to it! That’s proof enough that I need to make this again :)
Salt and oil massaged kale is much easier to eat raw. You are still getting the full dose of vitamins and minerals which this food is PACKED with. There are so many variations to be found on the internet. My advice?
Google it to find one with all your fave ingredients. Or just make this one!
… and …
Eat healthy! (and remember to put the almonds in the salad ;) )
Gail
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