Summer Kale Salad (Printable)
Hearty kale with summer fruits, crisp vegetables, and a bright lemon-honey vinaigrette for warm-weather meals.
# Ingredient List:
→ Vegetables & Greens
01 - 1 large bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 small cucumber, sliced
04 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced
→ Fruits
05 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
06 - 1/2 cup blueberries
07 - 1 ripe avocado, diced
→ Cheese & Nuts
08 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (optional)
09 - 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds
→ Dressing
10 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon honey
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Directions:
01 - Place the chopped kale in a large salad bowl, add a pinch of salt, and massage the leaves with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes until they become tender and vibrant green.
02 - Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, strawberries, blueberries, and diced avocado to the kale and toss to distribute evenly.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until the dressing is fully emulsified.
04 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently using salad tongs until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle the crumbled feta cheese and toasted sliced almonds over the top and serve immediately for the best texture.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The massaged kale trick transforms tough leaves into something silky and almost buttery without any cooking
- You can throw whatever ripe fruit you have sitting on the counter and it works every single time
02 -
- Serving this salad more than thirty minutes after dressing it turns the kale mushy and the berries weepy
- Massaging the kale is not optional, skipping it leaves you chewing on what feels like landscape material
03 -
- Toasting almonds in a dry skillet over medium heat until they smell fragrant and turn one shade darker takes under three minutes and changes everything
- Make the dressing in a mason jar so you can shake it, store leftovers in the same jar, and avoid washing an extra bowl