Summer Kale Salad (Printable version)

Hearty kale tossed with summer fruits, crisp veggies, feta, and toasted almonds in a bright lemon-honey vinaigrette.

# Ingredient List:

→ Vegetables & Greens

01 - 1 large bunch kale, stems removed and leaves chopped
02 - 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
03 - 1 small cucumber, sliced
04 - 1/2 small red onion, thinly sliced

→ Fruits

05 - 1 cup strawberries, hulled and sliced
06 - 1/2 cup blueberries
07 - 1 ripe avocado, diced

→ Cheese & Nuts

08 - 1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese
09 - 1/3 cup toasted sliced almonds

→ Dressing

10 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
11 - 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
12 - 1 tablespoon honey
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

# How to Make It:

01 - Place the chopped kale in a large salad bowl and massage with a pinch of salt for 1–2 minutes until the leaves soften and turn vibrant green.
02 - Add the cherry tomatoes, cucumber, red onion, strawberries, blueberries, and diced avocado to the kale.
03 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the extra-virgin olive oil, fresh lemon juice, honey, Dijon mustard, salt, and freshly ground black pepper until fully emulsified.
04 - Pour the vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently using tongs until all ingredients are evenly coated.
05 - Sprinkle crumbled feta cheese and toasted sliced almonds over the top and serve immediately.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • The kale massage trick transforms tough leaves into something silky and irresistible
  • You can swap in whatever fruit looks best at the farmers market that day
  • It holds up beautifully at picnics and potlucks without getting soggy
02 -
  • Skipping the kale massage step is the number one mistake that makes people think they dislike this salad
  • Serve it within thirty minutes of dressing or the avocado starts to soften too much
03 -
  • Use a fork instead of a whisk for the dressing because the tines break up the mustard more effectively
  • Let the dressed salad sit for five minutes before serving so the kale drinks in the flavors

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