What says summer dining more than a fresh salad? It’s light, healthy, and filling. We just happen to love kale, which is considered one of the healthiest vegetables around. It works really well for the vegetarians/vegans in the family, as it’s high in protein and vitamins A & C. You can buy kale these days in ready prepared bags, but we still prefer fresh and organic, if you have the time to prepare. So, we hope you enjoy this simple summer kale salad, both for its health benefits and its taste.
HOW TO SELECT AND STORE KALE
When buying kale, look for firm, deeply colored leaves with moist, hardy stems. The leaves should be fresh-looking and free of browning or yellowing. Smaller-sized leaves tend to be more tender and have a more mild flavor. To store, place kale in a plastic storage bag and keep in frig. It should last up to 5 days. Don’t wash before storing to keep moisture to a minimum.
RECIPE
This recipe makes 6 main dish servings.
Kale Salad ingredients.
INGREDIENTS
2 kale heads washed, devined, and torn into pieces
3 avocados
1/2 bunch of chopped parsley
3 shredded carrots
29 oz can of rinsed and drained Cannellini Beans
Juice from 2-3 lemons
1/8 cup olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste
PREPARATION
Put the kale into a very large salad bowl and using your hands, massage the kale for a few minutes.
Kale prep…
Cut each avocado in half, dice, and spoon into the kale
Add shredded carrots, parsley, and lemon juice and toss all together
Avocados added to the mix…
Pour in rinsed and drained beans, olive oil, and salt and pepper to taste
As a variation:
Dressing – 1/3 cup olive oil, 3 tbsp lemon juice, 2 tbsp white vinegar, and 1 tbsp honey (optional)
Place dressing in bottom of salad bowl and whisk; add kale, coat, and let sit for at least 1 hour – we like to either massage or let the salad sit for a bit to soften up the leaves. Then add:
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 cup rice of your choice such as red rice, farro, or wheat berries
The finished product – Kale Salad.
A good accompaniment to a simple summer kale salad is cornbread. The sweetness of the cornbread seems to be a good contrast to the taste of the kale. But, this is certainly a personal choice. Enjoy!
Sherry is one of the TriWivesClub and LifeDoneWell co-founders and contributes to multiple blogs. She is a former co-owner of the California Apparel News and had a career in the healthcare industry. Her passions include traveling, real food, the environment, and animal rescue/welfare. She lives a healthy lifestyle and has been a vegetarian since 1987. She and her husband are parents to two rescue pups and reside in Connecticut.
