A simple sweet and savory salad that is a great make-ahead meal.
Kale Salad
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
- Wash hands with soap and water.
-
Rinse fresh vegetables under running water before preparing.
- Place kale in a large bowl. Chop fruit if pieces are large and add to the kale.
- In a small bowl, combine fruit juice, oil, salt, pepper and sunflower seed kernels, if desired. Mix well.
- Add dressing to the kale and fruit and stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.
- 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.
You might also like...
Chicken Cabbage Stir-Fry
Chicken Cabbage Stir-Fry
Quick dinner idea combining crisp-tender veggies with ginger, garlic and soy sauce. You can change the veggies and proteins to fit what you have on hand.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
6 Cups
Peach and Carrot Smoothie
Peach and Carrot Smoothie
A sweet and refreshing smoothie that's perfect for adding more veggies to your day.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
3 cups
Three Sisters Soup
Three Sisters Soup
Warm and comforting easy-to-make soup with squash, beans and a savory broth.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
30 minutes
Makes:
8 Cups
Cucumber Yogurt Dip
Cucumber Yogurt Dip
Quick and flavorful dip with Greek yogurt, mint and garlic. Perfect for snacks and party appetizers!
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
1 ¼ cup
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
Slow Cooker Pulled Pork
This easy Pulled Pork recipe is made with pork shoulder and spices from your pantry. Slow cooking is a simple way to create tender and juicy pork for many different meals.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
7 to 9 hours
Makes:
5 cups
Mexican Adobo Sauce
Mexican Adobo Sauce
Mexican adobo sauce is an all-purpose marinade made of dried hot peppers, spices and vinegar. This sauce gives big flavor to a wide variety of dishes. Thanks to the OSU Latin Heritage Work Group for this tasty recipe.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Cook:
25 minutes
Makes:
2 ½ cups

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.