massaged kale

Learn how to massage kale using oil or acid to make it more tender and less bitter for salads.

How to Soften Kale for Salad

curly kale

tbsp extra virgin olive oil (sub lemon juice

Wash the kale and pat dry. Tear the leaves away from the stems and discard the stems. Chop or tear the leaves into smaller pieces, and place them in a mixing bowl.

Drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice, or apple cider vinegar. Add a pinch of salt if desired.

Massage the kale in between your hands by picking up the leaves and rubbing them. Do this for 2 to 3 minutes until the kale is noticeably softer. Avoid over-massaging to prevent the kale from getting mushy.

Use in salads or other dishes. Enjoy!

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Watch and learn how to massage kale to make it more tender and less bitter for salads.

How to Soften Kale

How to make a simple massaged kale salad with lemon garlic dressing and dress it up with tons of different optional sauces and add-ins!

Simple Massaged Kale Salad With Lemon Dressing (+ Variations)

oz kale leaves (stems removed. Curly or Tuscan will work)

garlic

olive oil

lemon (juiced (fresh not bottled))

tsp salt

tsp pepper

Wash the kale well and dry it either in a salad spinner or pat it dry with a kitchen towel.

There are two main ways to cut kale and remove the thick stem (debone the kale).By hand: use two fingers to squeeze where the thickest part of the stem is, then slowly move your hands down the stem, and the kale leaves should fall off. By Knife: run the knife as close to the side of the stem to remove the leaves.If you prefer, you can chop the leaves into even smaller pieces or tear them by hand, though this isn&#039;t necessary.

Step 1: Cut the kale

Mince the garlic into a small bowl and add the juice of half a lemon. Then add the salt, pepper, and olive oil and mix well.

Step 2: Prepare the lemon dressing

Add the lemon garlic kale salad dressing to the bowl with the kale leaves and then use clean hands to grab handfuls of the kale leaves and squeeze, massaging (squeezing and pinching) them until the kale is soft and tender. This usually takes 2-3 minutes.

Step 3: Massage the kale

Once massaged, allow the kale to sit for just a few minutes while preparing any toppings and add-ins. This will allow it to macerate and further tenderize the kale.For the lemony kale pomegranate salad, I added some fresh pomegranate seeds, flaked almonds, and then topped with some Air Fryer baked cauliflower.

Step 4: Serve the massaged kale salad

Once prepared, any leftover kale salad with lemon dressing can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days - however, the leaves will become softer/more wilted as it sits, so it sometimes only lasts 1-2 days.If you want to make the kale salad 3-5 days in advance, then prepare the leaves in advance but only add the dressing the day before or on the day (the acid will break down the leaves without the need to massage the kale).

How To Store

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A quick and easy recipe for a massaged kale salad with lemon dressing. This recipe uses only 4 ingredients and is meat-free, dairy-free, gluten-free, and vegan!

Massaged Kale Salad with Lemon (+ Variations)

The perfect lunch salad with massaged kale for an extra tender bite, topped with chickpeas for protein and grilled plantains for good carbs. You won't get enough of this salad and you'll want to enjoy for every single lunch.

Massaged kale and plantain salad

water

rice vinegar

olive oil + 2 tbsp for frying

chillies

spring onion

agave syrup

lime juice

salt

paprika

ginger powder

tsp cumin

cup, chopped kale

chickpea (cooked, from a can)

tbsp olive oil + 1 tbsp for frying

plantain

cayenne pepper

brown sugar

tsp coriander

Pre-heat a non-stick frying

Pre-heat a non-stick frying pan over medium heat and add 2 tbsp of oil. Add the spring onions and sliced chilli. Add the paprika, ginger and cumin. Sauté for 3-4 minutes.

Add the rest of

Add the rest of the sauce ingredients to a blender. Add the sautéed onion and chillies to the blender and blitz until you have a smooth sauce.

Set aside. Store any

Set aside. Store any leftover sauce for 2 weeks in an air-tight container.

The sauce

Remove kale from the

Remove kale from the stems and chop. Add chopped kale to a large bowl and add olive oil. Use your clean hands to massage the kale for 3-5 minutes. Add a pinch of salt and set aside.

Open a can of

Open a can of chickpeas, drain and add the chickpeas to a frying pan. Add the coriander and paprika as well as some salt and pepper to taste. Fry for 3-4 minutes until you can smell the spices and chickpeas are warm. Transfer over the kale.

Peel the plantain and

Peel the plantain and slice. Heat up a little oil in a frying pan. Add the plantains, sugar and cayenne pepper. Gently fry the plantains for 2-3 minutes on each side until they become golden. Transfer over the kale and chickpea bowl.

Add the chilli sauce

Add the chilli sauce to taste and serve immediately. Any leftover salad can be stored in an air-tight container for up to 3 days.

The salad

Have you tried massaged kale salads yet? It's a great way to enjoy raw kale without feeling like you're chewing forever. This is one of my favorite ways to make it!

Massaged Kale Salad with Sesame-Lime Dressing

kale

tbsp toasted sesame oil

tsp coarse sea salt

red cabbage (shredded)

edamame

almonds

green onions (thinly sliced, or about 1/3 cup)

lime (juiced, or about 2 tbsp lime juice)

tsp honey or agave nectar

salt and pepper

After washing the kale and drying thoroughly, remove the stems and roughly chop or tear the leaves into bite-sized pieces. Measure approximately 6 cups, tightly packed. Transfer the chopped kale to a large mixing bowl.

Add the toasted sesame oil and salt. With clean hands, start to mix and squeeze the kale, gently massaging it and working it between your fingers. Continue for 2 to 3 minutes, or until the kale is reduced to about half its original volume and it becomes vibrant, dark green in color.

Add the lime juice and honey, and massage once again until well combined. Wash hands, then add the cabbage, edamame, almonds, and green onions and toss to mix evenly. Season with additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve immediately or chill in the refrigerator for 30 to 60 minutes before serving.

Top 4 massaged kale recipes from across the web

The most viewed massaged kale recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine

Top Tags

How to Soften Kale for Salad

Simple Massaged Kale Salad With Lem...

Massaged kale and plantain salad

Massaged Kale Salad with Sesame-Lim...

Top 4 massaged kale recipes from across the web

The most viewed massaged kale recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engineic_arrow_forward_48px

Top Tags

How to Soften Kale for Salad

Simple Massaged Kale Salad With Lem...

Massaged kale and plantain salad

Massaged Kale Salad with Sesame-Lim...

The most viewed massaged kale recipes by Recipe Cart users, saved from over 20,000 sites. Or, go to our Recipe Search Engine