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)

Black Bean Brownies (with flour)
Black Bean Brownies on a plate

Black Bean Brownies (with flour)

Surprise yourself and others with these chocolatey cake-like brownies made with black beans.
Prepare:
20 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
16 pieces
Yogurt Popsicles
Cylindrical yellow popsicles.

Yogurt Popsicles

Only 2 ingredients in this creamy and delicious snack.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
24 popsicles
Radish and Cucumber Salad
Platter of thinly sliced cucumbers and radishes with a seasoned yogurt sauce.

Radish and Cucumber Salad

Crisp cucumbers, radishes, creamy yogurt and flavorful garlic make this the perfect summer salad.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
5 cups
Baked Apple Chips
Slices of dried apples sprinkled with cinnamon are displayed on a platter.

Baked Apple Chips

Simple yet tasty snack or dessert recipe combining sweet apples and warm cinnamon spice. Only 2 ingredients!
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
2 hours
Makes:
2 Cups
High Protein Banana Split
Small bowls of yogurt topped with a cereal and a colorful fruit combination.

High Protein Banana Split

A protein-packed breakfast or snack recipe. Bananas are topped with Greek yogurt, cereal, fruit and honey.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
2 servings
Cream of Celery Soup
Bowls of textured celery with a smooth creamy soup base.

Cream of Celery Soup

This one-pot recipe is the perfect meal on a cold day or alongside a salad as a satisfying summer lunch.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
20 minutes
Makes:
4 cups