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Photo of Kale Salad with Lemon.

Kale Salad with Lemon

Cheff Jenn
Fresh, tangy, and anything but boring—this kale salad is the one that converts skeptics. Massaged with a zesty lemon dressing, then finished with toasted almonds and Parmesan, it's a quick, no-cook recipe packed with bold flavor and crunch.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Course Salad
Cuisine American
Servings 6
Calories 642 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 1 large bunch kale stems removed and leaves chopped
  • 3 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup Parmesan cheese grated
  • ¼ cup almonds toasted
  • Lemon zest optional for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Place the chopped kale in a large bowl.
  • Whisk together the lemon juice, olive oil, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and pepper until smooth in a small bowl.
  • Pour the dressing over the kale. Using clean hands, massage the kale for 1–2 minutes until it softens and darkens in color. This is a messy but essential step. If you don’t want to get your hands in there, put plastic baggies over your hands before massaging the kale.
  • Toss in the Parmesan and toasted almonds. Mix well to combine.
  • Transfer to a serving bowl, garnish with lemon zest (if using), and enjoy!

Notes

Chef Jenn's Tips

  • Massaging the kale is key—it softens the leaves and reduces bitterness. You can skip this step if you use baby kale. If you use mature kale, freeze the stems for your next pot of vegetable broth. 
  • Swap out the almonds for walnuts, pecans, or sunflower seeds - or a bit of each of them!
  • Add sliced chicken or grilled shrimp to make it a protein-rich entree salad.

Nutrition

Calories: 642kcalCarbohydrates: 16gProtein: 15gFat: 60gSaturated Fat: 11gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gMonounsaturated Fat: 40gCholesterol: 17mgSodium: 1045mgPotassium: 295mgFiber: 4gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 1303IUVitamin C: 28mgCalcium: 395mgIron: 2mg

A Note on Nutritional Information

Nutritional information for this recipe is provided as a courtesy and is calculated based on available online ingredient information. It is only an approximate value. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site cannot be guaranteed.

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