Skip to main content

Kale Salad

A simple sweet and savory salad that is a great make-ahead meal.
Wooden bowl holding a large Kale Salad.
Prep time: 15 minutes
Chill time: 1 hour
Makes: 10 cups
Nutrition Facts: View label

Ingredients

8 cups chopped kale (about 1 large bunch)
1 can (15 ounces) fruit in 100% juice, drained and juice reserved (any type)
½ cup 100% fruit juice, reserved from canned fruit
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
¼ teaspoon each salt and black pepper
¼ cup unsalted sunflower seed kernels (optional)

Directions

  1. Wash hands with soap and water.
  2. Rinse fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.

  3. Place kale in a large bowl. Chop fruit if pieces are large and add to the kale.
  4. In a small bowl, combine fruit juice, oil, salt, pepper and sunflower seed kernels, if desired. Mix well.
  5. Add dressing to the kale and fruit and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
  6. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours.

Notes

  • To soften the kale and improve the flavor, rub the torn leaves together until the kale becomes dark green and fragrant, about 3 to 5 minutes, OR prepare the salad a day ahead and refrigerate.

Comments

Great way to use kale fresh from the garden and love the note about softening it!  Today I was able to taste this salad along with tons of elementary students at a school lunch tasting table.  Yummy and it looked great too!

The mandarin oranges I had in my pantry were packed in light syrup. I drained the oranges and discarded the syrup. To make the dressing, I used 100% OJ from concentrate instead.  The grocery store where I usually shop does not carry a full line of canned fruit in 100% juice, so using the breakfast juice is a good option.  I also felt the dressing needed a little tartness, so I added a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar.

I love making kale salads. This is a great base recipe. I would also suggest a variety of vegetables that go great with this salad like roasted butternut squash, or sweet potatoes, avocado, dried fruit, and other types of seeds and nuts. The honey mustard dressing is great on kale salad too. The sweetness of the honey helps "mask" the bitterness of the kale leaves. I also love this recipe because you can make ahead and serve all week for dinner or lunches. The leaves don't get wilted even when you add the dressing. 

You might also like...

Recipes A to Z (without photos)

Savory Yogurt Dip
Small bowl of creamy dip with a plate of sliced vegetables and served in a veggie wrap.

Savory Yogurt Dip

A thick and creamy herbed yogurt dip that is great on wraps or for dipping veggies and pita.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
½ cup
Breakfast Banana Split
A bowl with halved banana is topped with yogurt, pineapple chunks and a sprinkle of granola.

Breakfast Banana Split

Try this kid-approved recipe for a healthy and fun breakfast. Whole-grain cereal is topped with yogurt, pineapple and a drizzle of honey.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 Banana Splits
Breakfast Burritos
Flour tortillas are filled with beans, eggs, tomato and cheese and baked for a crispy outside.

Breakfast Burritos

A quick and easy recipe for healthy a breakfast or any meal. Easy to customize however you like!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
4 Burritos
Microwave Pear Sauce
Bowl of chunky textured mashed pears topped with spices.

Microwave Pear Sauce

Enjoy this easy-to-make pear sauce as a fruit snack, or as a topping for pancakes or French toast.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Sautéed Zucchini
Bowl of zucchini spears.

Sautéed Zucchini

This 4-ingredient recipe is a simple and delicious way to enjoy fresh summer zucchini. Customize by adding your favorite spices!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
10 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Bruschetta Salad
Flavorful salad of tomatoes, basil and croutons is shown in a serving bowl.

Bruschetta Salad

Fresh tomatoes and herbs combined with crunchy croutons make the perfect summer salad.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
5 Cups