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)

Farmers Market Salsa
Colorful vegetable bean salsa.

Farmers Market Salsa

Fresh homemade salsa with the perfect hint of spice and lime.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
4 cups
Pineapple Carrot Protein Smoothie
Glass filled with a thick orange smoothie.

Pineapple Carrot Protein Smoothie

Enjoy this high-protein smoothie for a quick meal or to re-fuel after exercise. Make it your own with different fruits and vegetables.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Makes:
1 ½ cups
Hot Apple Orange Cider
Mug of steaming hot cider drink.

Hot Apple Orange Cider

Warm and flavorful drink that is comforting on a cold day and perfect for celebrating the holiday season.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Cook:
2 hours
Makes:
12 cups
Ranch Dip
Bowl of creamy dip garnished with parsley and served with raw carrots, cherry tomatoes and broccoli.

Ranch Dip

Try this tangy and flavorful ranch dip that's ready in 5 minutes.
Prepare:
5 minutes
Makes:
2 cups
Garlic Ginger Ramen with Beef
Bowl of ramen noodles and vegetables shown with a renge spoon.

Garlic Ginger Ramen with Beef

A dinner that is ready in under 30 minutes and packed with fresh ginger and garlic flavor.
Prepare:
10 minutes
Cook:
15 minutes
Makes:
6 Cups
Melon and Mint
Glass bowl of watermelon and honeydew cubes with mint.

Melon and Mint

Fresh and simple fruit salad with mint and lime.
Prepare:
15 minutes
Makes:
6 cups
Was this page helpful to you?
CAPTCHA
This question is for testing whether or not you are a human visitor and to prevent automated spam submissions.