The Kale Recipe You NEED to Know

 

Kale has gotten quite the reputation as a super food, but if you don't know how to prepare it you might end up with something tough and bitter. In this video I'm showing you my favorite way to prepare and eat kale that can be the base for whatever kind of kale salad you want to make. You can eat it as is or dress it up however you like.Kale has gotten quite the reputation as a super food, but if you don't know how to prepare it you might end up with something tough and bitter. In this video I'm showing you my favorite way to prepare and eat kale that can be the base for whatever kind of kale salad you want to make. You can eat it as is or dress it up however you like.

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Massaged Kale Salad

Ingredients

2 bunches kale

1 teaspoon salt

1-2 tablespoons lemon juice (or other acid such as apple cider vinegar or red wine vinegar)

1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil

Directions

1. Remove kale from stems and rinse to remove any dirt. Allow kale to dry.
2. Add kale to a large bowl with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1 tablespoon of lemon juice.
3. Massage kale for about 5 minutes. The kale should wilt and become less bitter. Add extra lemon juice if needed (some tougher varieties of kale may require more acid to break down).
4. Add 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil to kale and toss to distribute.
5. Serve as is or add other toppings as desired.

Recipe: Massaged Kale Salad with Apples and Carrots

Kale can be a scary vegetable for a lot of people. It's quite tough and bitter, which aren't exactly crowd-pleasing traits. However, as massaged kale salads have become trendy in the past couple years, many have realized that this little step of rubbing the kale down can make a big difference in both the texture and flavor departments. Now, kale is never going to be like a spring green, because it isn't! Rather, it's hearty and much more substantial, which is exactly what we need this time of year. As a bonus, this salad holds up well in the fridge, unlike more delicate greens. At our house, we've been doing a lot of kale salads, so I thought I would share a recent creation with you. Strangely enough, Lisa Leake over at 100 Days of Real Food recently put up a similar recipe , so, if you want a slight variation on the same idea, be sure to check out her recipe for Kale and Apple Salad as well.

Massaged Kale Salad with Apples and Carrots

makes approximately 4 servings

Ingredients

1 large bunch kale, ribs removes and torn

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 sweet apple, chopped

1 large carrot, cut into matchsticks

1/4 cup chopped pecans

1/4 cup crumbled blue cheese

Directions

1. Add chopped or torn kale to a large bowl, along with the red wine vinegar and salt. Massage the kale until it is tender, about 5 minutes. You should see some liquid being released from the kale and it should also reduce in size.
2. Add the oil, apple, carrot, pecans, and blue cheese to the kale and toss to combine.