OMG… it’s another way I can eat kale.
Ugh. I know. This is just so… not me.
But don’t you want to bite into that cherry?
I swear it has nothing to do with the fact that I’ve been in California all week and has no correlation to the quinoa and bean burgers and other stuff that happened in the last four days. I knew I’d be traveling until late tonight, and a few days after I first made this kale salad last Tuesday? I made those bean burgers which I’m contemplating putting on my table tonight the instant I return home. They are THAT good. That might end in divorce, but whatever. Do you even KNOW who I live with?
[p.s. I sort of feel something giggly inside about sharing quinoa, kale and lots of beans in the same week. It’s like I’m playing a major major trick on myself. And you. I don’t even know me anymore.
Oh and it’s definitely the same kind of giggly I felt all day yesterday when my phone decided to consistently auto-correct “totally” to “orally.” Like “OMG, I orally want to hug you right now.” And “I orally love you.” Or “I’m going to orally kill you!” And “are you orally serious?”
I don’t know. Am I? Apparently my phone was,]
So yeah.
Anyway, I’ve made no bones about the fact that I can only eat kale in chip form. Like roasted to a crisp and seriously salty. But but but… I’ve WANTED to be able to eat it in other ways. I mean, I’ve always wanted to eat vegetables, it’s just that I… find them utterly disgusting. Just the sight of raw kale scared me away for ages, so I knew I needed to add something incredibly addicting on top. And I’m reallllly obsessed with a local restaurant’s strawberry vinaigrette, so I figured it was a good place to start. It was.
Plus avocado. Plus crunchy toasted almonds. And then I massaged the kale with the strawberry dressing and let it sit… and sit… and then tossed everything else on top. AND THEN I ATE IT. Like, really ate it. Actually, I ate it twice. This.is.huge.
Triple Berry Kale Salad
serves 4
1 head of curly kale, leaves removed from stem and torn
1 cup fresh tart cherries, pitted and sliced
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh blackberries
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1 avocado, chopped
2/3 cup chopped toasted almonds
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
Place kale in a large bowl, and add about 1/4 cup of the strawberry vinaigrette. Massage and rub dressing into kale with your hands, then let the kale sit for 5-10 minutes.
Add in salt, pepper, cherries, berries and avocado, then add a few more tablespoons of dressing and toss. Finish by topping with chopped almonds.
Fresh Strawberry Vinaigrette
3/4 cup sliced fresh strawberries
3 tablespoons olive oil
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
1 teaspoon honey
1 pinch salt
1 pinch pepper
1 pinch cinnamon
Combine all ingredients together in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
The end. [I mean it’s sort of a fairy tale, right?!]
130 Comments on “OMG… it’s another way I can eat kale.”
This is huge – and looks incredibly delicious. I think it could convert the masses to the dark side! ;)
I’m weird about kale – I tried making my own kale chips – salted, cheezed up, the works – but didn’t like them. I thought it tasted similar to what I’d imagine a dead leaf tasting like. But I always thought maybe uncooked kale might be a winner. I love the berry additions on this!!!
You know… you’re sort of right, they do kind of taste like dead leaves. And look like it too.
Love this! I really want to make it soon. I love kale, but I haven’t made a kale salad yet. This one looks like a winner!
You must have the California vegan bug in you right now – next thing I know, you’ll be going gluten free! (okay, no, I know that statement was quite a stretch.)
I almost always eat kale in chip form so I’m always looking for new ways to try it (other than soaked in oil). This looks great.
that strawberry vinaigrette needs to get in my belly now!
Your salad looks amazing!! I wish I liked Kale, but I just can’t get into it. I can make this salad with romaine lettuce!!
I ADORE massaged kale salads, but kinda sorta got burned out from eating a version with mango, avocado, and toasted coconut day after day. This amazing berry version will bring kale salad back into my life!
That version sounds delish though!
Yes! Yes! Yes! This looks perfect. I’m going to cheat and add goat cheese. Because fruit needs goat cheese, or something like that.
I haven’t made massaged kale salads but this looks like one I could start with. Thanks for sharing!
This looks so pretty! Have you tried kale in omelettes yet? Just sautee it a little with your other veggies before adding in the eggs. It’s delicious! You could even add cheese and.. maybe…. a some bacon crumbles? ;) With all this quinoa, beans and kale business of yours, I imagine Mr How Sweet isn’t too happy. But I’m enjoying these recipes so keep ’em coming!
I haven’t… but I should!
I’m so proud of you eating your veggies. It’s like you’re growing up right before my eyes! This looks delicious Jessica!
What a gorgeous looking salad! I normally love kale but choked down an overpriced kale salad last night and WAY more inspired by this beautiful creation!
We call Kale “boerenkool” here, translated that would be farmer’s cabbage. We boil the crap out of it,then mash it with potatoes and put a smoked sausage on top. It’s grose.(period). I am inclined to try your version though :D
Yesssss! I love Kale. They only time I ever eat it though is usually with lemon and olive oil. This looks completely delicious.
one of my favorite italian restaurants in new york has this raw kale caesar that is salty and cheesy and tangy and UNREAL. and you can eat the whole thing and then be like ‘”What the what? kale? WHERE?”
sounds like something potentially up your alley.
That sounds AMAZING!
I could orally get behind this salad. ;)
What a great way to get to know kale!
Wow! I’m so impressed and proud of you! Thank you for eating a kale salad…b/c now that means that I don’t have to. Whew! But, I’ll orally eat this with romaine any day ;) Have a safe trip!
I really only like kale in a chip form too I find to be kind of off tasting just raw….but maybe I need to try this. I mean if you like it….haha!
Holy God. Nooooo this is another way for ME to eat Kale. It’s my fave green of all time. What’s lettuce? I haven’t seen that in ages. Must make this asap!
we have so much kale at home for our rabbits. I just never think to eat any of it myself! great salad!
Hmmm….you’re eating kale, beans and donuts….you’re feeling giggly all the time…. are you pregnant?!? :P
Ha, definitely not pregnant.
I love vegetables, but I’ve never liked raw kale. It always seemed kind of “gaggy” to me. But if you, our bacon, cheese, frosting guru, like this, I feel compelled to give it a try.
This is huge!!! Are you changing right before our eyes??!! Awesome, but I still want to see your awesome dessert creations.
Looks great, Jessica and I love the idea of the strawberry vinaigrette! It think I want it for breakfast. Glad you’re posting these kinds of recipes as of late, I’ve been on more of a health kick myself since I’ve become addicted to exercising again.
Keep it up, girl!
P.S. And OMG!!!! Can I just tell you that a fellow blogger friend sent me some Cookie Butter from Trader Joe’s yesterday because I hadn’t yet tried it. OMG!!!!!! That stuff is KILLER!!!! Going to have to decide what to do with it before I eat everything out of that darn jar!
this looks fabulous! i have only ever had kale in “chips” form too… never in a salad. it makes me nervous. this salad makes it a little less frightening. ;)
I hear the massive head of kale in my fridge calling to me, asking to be bathed in berries, avocados, and almonds. And maybe bacon.
I for one love the “new you”. Not that I don’t also love the old you, it’s just that the new you is better for my waistline. :)
You’ve almost convinced me to try kale…almost. But I think it’s more likely I’ll try your glazed blueberry cake donuts first…
I can confirm, kale massaged with a sweet strawberry dressing is utterly addicting and makes me easily go through entire 1lb bags very quickly by myself :)
I’m wish you on the kale chips, but THIS looks fantastic! :)
Thanks for such an awesome dressing recipe!
I can neither confirm nor deny what I am about to tell you but, iii’vvvee hheeaarrrdd…that but mushing up avacados and mixing it with kale that it softens the kale to edible. Let me know when you find out, will you?!
I’ve heard this! I’ve wanted to try buuuuut… afraid it would till taste too vegetabley to me.
You are hilarous! :)
Ha! I’m totally with you on the kale chips! Thanks for expanding my kale repertoire.
oh my god drooling! can you please deliver this to me for lunch, thank you!
Looks incredible. I have yet to really delve into the kale department, but if this was how it was served to me, I most definitely could. And I can’t really look at a cherry these days and NOT want to bite into it…so yes. Yes I do want to. :)
Look at you with all this kale eating! Love it :)
Kale and berries are a match made in heaven! I’ve been topping mine with a blueberry kiwi salsa inspired by your blueberry peach salsa. It’s sweet and spicy and full of veggies! Delish! These photos are all spectacular, love the cherry one!
Love that idea.
i can get on board with kale covered in berries and almonds – and strawberry dressing? yum!
For the first 30 yrs of my life, kale was always the inedible leaf they put next to the orange slice on my plate at Denny’s. You know, the pretty garnish that immediately went on the napkin when it attempted to touch my meal. I know you know. Then, my mom get all organic on me during her trip thru menopause and made me try it in salad form. I chewed on it for.ev.er. until I urped it into a napkin, never to be tried again. Then, not so long ago, I “stumbled upon” you and your kale chips. Ok, delish. I can do THAT kale. I will try THIS salad as my final attempt at raw leaves. This truly looks amazing!
I was always that girl with kale too!
I’m kind of a kale hater, I can’t even do the chips. But THIS. I can do.
This looks amazing!
Yes you absolutely read my mind! I do want to bite into that cherry. Your pictures look fantastic! May I ask what type of camera you are using? Sorry if you posted it somewhere on here and I did not see it yet.
-Milynn
Love-And-Whimsy Blog
I use a Nikon D5000!
I love this dressing! It looks super fabulous. And anytime you add that many wonderful berries to a salad, you’re bound for a winner! :) Yeah!
I really feel like I’m missing out on this whole Kale Bandwagon…After my first, only and most disastrous of Kale chip baking experiments went completely awry – I feel apprehensive about the whole thing – but clearly it is something I have to get over – quickly.
glad you’re turning over to the dark side with your kale salads and bean burgers. The Fresh Strawberry Vinaigrette looks awesome and need to hear more about the CA adventures!!
omg i orally want to drink that dressing :) (wait, that actually made some sense…whatevs)
how delicious! i love all the colors on there! gorgeous photos too!
I misread the headline… I thought it was a new way to eat CAKE. I was so stoked. :(
Does the kale texture get less… weird… once you massage it and let it sit? In my mind, kale is like, a supervegetable. If I eat kale one day, I feel like I’ve fulfilled an entire day’s healthy eating quota. And that vinaigrette sounds SO GOOD!
I totally feel the same way. It definitely gets sort of… *softer* and less chewy and bitter – but it is still chewy. In order for me to really enjoy it (as well as ANY salad I ever eat), I have to chop the kale into very small pieces or strips, almost like a slaw or chopped salad. For some reason, I can only do salad that way.
Thank you! I will have to try this then… and maybe wash it down with some PB Drizzle Milk Chocolate Cookies.