Whip up this vegan kale salad as a quick lunch or light side dish! Flavorful and easy to throw together this kale salad recipe is topped with a tangy tangy balsamic dressing.
A Quick Look At The Recipe
- ⏲️Ready In: 10 Minutes
- 👪Serves: 2
- 🍽 Calories and Protein: 399 kcals and 134 grams of protein
- 📋Main Ingredients: Kale, bell pepper, cucumber, pumpkin seeds, and dried cranberries.
- 📖 Dietary Notes: Dairy-free, gluten-free, vegan, plant-based, nut-free.
- ⭐ Why You'll Love It: This fresh kale salad is crunchy, colorful, and tossed in a tangy-sweet dressing for a quick, flavorful side or light meal.
SUMMARIZE & SAVE THIS CONTENT ON
This kale salad recipe comes together in a pinch when you need it and makes the perfect addition to any table. Likewise, you can prep it ahead of time for a nutrient-dense lunch or whip up a big batch as a family side dish.
Topped with both crunchy and sweet items, the kale salad is loaded with healthy fats. And though it does already have seeds and flavor, mix and match your favorite toppings to create a slightly new salad each time!
- Candied pecans
- Dried cherries
- Sunflower seeds
- Roasted cashews
Jump To
How To Prep Kale To Make It Less Bitter
Before you throw this salad together, take the time to prep your kale properly as seed in the video below (and if you have leftovers make something like spicy kale chips).
One of the common complaints I get as, is about the natural taste of kale- it’s bitter! Massaging it with olive oil, lemon juice, and a pinch of salt helps remove the bitterness.
However, you need to make sure you’re massing the kale until the leaves turn from a dull green to a bright green. That’s when your kale is prepped.
Not only does this remove the bitterness from the kale but it also ensures the kale lasts longer in the fridge.
Can You Eat Kale Raw?
Of course! Kale is a leafy green and thus it can be eaten raw.
However, it is a cruciferous vegetable. If you’re not used to eating cruciferous veggies may notice some gas. This is your body learning to break it down. Give this crispy kale- air fryer recipe a go to start just weaning into it.
Kale Salad Dressing
This vegan kale salad recipe is topped with a tangy balsamic dressing. Made with only three ingredients this salad dressing is on the tangy side.
Meaning, you definitely don’t need a lot of the salad dressing for maximum flavor.
However, this vegan kale salad is tasty with any salad dressing (I have a tahini maple one I love to pair it with or I use a different maple balsamic dressing). T
So, use what you’ve got on hand, and don’t be afraid to switch it up!
Protein Choices
Your protein for this kale salad depends on what you want the salad for! If using the salad as a side dish, no protein is needed.
However, if you’re planning to make this easy kale salad as a full-on meal, you may want to add something to it.
Furthermore, this kale salad tastes delicious with:
- Quinoa (though this voids the paleo and whole30 approvals)
- Roasted tofu
- Pan-fried tempeh
Likewise, it’s also tasty with non-vegan protein like a hardboiled egg, leftover chicken, or steak.
FAQ’s And Substitutions
Everything can be interchanged in this recipe. Use different dried fruits in place of the cranberry and blueberry for a new flavor.
Likewise, adding in some nuts gives a great crunch.
And of course, interchanging the kale salad dressing is alright too (so long as it meets your diet prerequisites)
The kale salad holds in the fridge with the dressing for 1-2 days. Without the dressing, the salad lasts 4-5.
More Easy Recipes You'll Love
If you tried this Easy Kale Salad Recipe or any other recipe on my blog, please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how it goes!
Easy Kale Salad
Video
Equipment
Ingredients
Salad:
- 4 cups kale prepped
- 1 bell pepper chopped
- ½ cucumber sliced
- ¼ cup pumpkin seeds
- ¼ cup dried cranberries
- ⅛ cup hemp hearts
Dressing:
- 2 tbs olive oil
- 1.5 tbs balsamic vinegar
- ½ tbs honey mustard
Instructions
- Place all salad ingredients into a bowl.
- Combine all dressing ingredients in a small dish and whisk them together
- Pour the dressing over salad just before serving.
Notes
- Just about anything can be interchanged in this recipe. Use different dried fruits in place of the cranberry and blueberry for a new flavor.
- Likewise, adding in some nuts gives a great crunch.
- And of course, interchanging the kale salad dressing is alright too (so long as it meets your diet prerequisites)
- The kale salad holds in the fridge with the dressing for 1-2 days. Without the dressing, the salad lasts 4-5.
Disclaimer:
Nutrition values are estimates only, using online calculators. Please verify using your own data"
Shelby S says
Such a classic and so easy to use for dinner or as a side dish!