I haven’t been eating as many salads lately since it’s been so chilly. This meant that I had a couple of bunches of kale sitting in my fridge, begging to be used. I finally decided I’d use them up on a warm kale salad.
After having such a delicious dish at The Savory Grain, I had a rough idea in mind of how I wanted to turn out. This actually turned out to be a simpler salad than I thought and I think this would be a lovely side dish, or a main dish if you added a little quinoa or protein.
Here are a few tips to help you make the perfect kale salad:
- Let me say it again: Kale is a tough green and it needs massaging to make it tender. After you’ve washed your kale, you want to literally massage it with your hands. I typically massage the dressing right in. Since this kale salad is served warm, it’s not as critical but it will still produce a better texture.
- Use the right dressing. Kale is a very bitter green and it needs something to help soften it a bit. An acidic dressing will help break down the fiber in the kale which will make it easier to chew.
- Remove the kale stems. The stems are extremely bitter and very hard to chew. Do yourself a favor and de-stem the kale. You can either fold the leaves in half and slice the stem off or you can just tear the leaves right off the stem.
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This warm kale salad is a simple side dish recipe that only takes a few minutes to make!
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 1 bunch kale
- 1/2 lemon
- 2 oz shredded Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese (about 1/2 cup)
- Pinch of red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Heat up the oil in a large saucepan, and add in the minced garlic.
- Tear the kale into small pieces, removing the stems.
- Add them to the oil and toss to coat.
- Cook the kale over medium heat for 2 minutes, just until it softens. It shouldn’t take long, and you don’t want it to get soggy.
- Juice half of a lemon, and drizzle over top.
- Toss with the shredded cheese and red pepper flakes.
- Add salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve warm.
Keywords: warm kale salad
Sometimes I add a few crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy flavor! It’s so simple but so delicious! I love serving this with my spaghetti squash lasagna but you could also add your favorite protein on top and make it a meal!
Looking for some other kale salad inspiration? Try this kale and quinoa salad!
I love kale cooked. I love spinach cooked too. Those are two greens I have a hard time eating raw. This looks like something I’d really like!
I’ve recently been getting into warm salads. I think kale and arugula is tied for my favorite greens actually.
I have totally been on a kale kick lately. Most days I have been eating raw kale in salads for lunch at work, but this cooked one looks even better!
Hey! I was JUST looking for a warm salad for dinner tonight since I’ve been freezing all day. This one sounds good – even if I’m skeptical about kale. I mean I enjoy it in my smoothies, but alone… eh i just don’t know? 🙁 Ha Ha!
I have been on a kale chip kick so I have plenty of kale in the house to use for a salad. Funny thing is, I was just thinking that maybe I would make one for lunch and then saw your post lol.
So jealous of that barre class, it looks so fun! I haven’t taken barre since the holidays and I miss it. I got in a good run while the weather was so nice yesterday!
Yes! I love what parmesan cheese and lemon do to kale. It’s also nice to toss in any leftover roasted veggies lying around!
ha! I had an avocado I wanted to add to a kale salad last week but it went bad too. Such a shame but glad you still could enjoy your salad
I swear, it is nearly impossible to time an avocado correctly!
Yuuuuum!
i had a pretty low key weekend and was able to get some meal prep done.
Ooooh what a lovely idea! This sounds wonderful! Love the flavor combination! I still have some kale left in my fridge. This may be its use!
I had a pretty busy weekend, my athletes competed in their track meet at the Armory all day Saturday, and then Sunday I had my 17 miler, which I ran mostly on snow….really took it out of my legs! It was a good weekend though 🙂
Oh wow! Good for you!!! 🙂 That’s amazing!
I’m still kind of a kale newbie, but this looks like such a simple way to add some kale as a side dish! Also, I had such a great time at the meet up!! Now if only I lived closer…
It was so good seeing you 🙂
Thanks for planning the Richmond Barre meet up! It was really fun. And, for the record, I’m still sore. haha.
bloggers barre class? that sounds like a ton of fun 🙂 and i think i might make this salad- with some quinoa 🙂
I’ve been reading so much about Barre classes lately, I need to check this out after the baby is born!
Definitely give it a try! I’m not a huge fan of jumping-around-cardio, so this class kicks my butt without making me do burpees 😉
I could definitely see how avocado would’ve enhanced this salad yum! I love avocados – kale is such a flavorful green! Happy Monday Liz! -Iva
we love making warm salads
yum! come to think of it, i haven’t made salads very often because this cold weather! i did order one at the restaurant yesterday though – itz always better when someone else makes it haha!
Oh wow – this looks good! I just started eating kale again (I took a hiatus and was eating mostly spinach.) Anyways, this sounds so good and perfect for a cold winter night!
★★★★★
I have only had a cold kale salad, so a warm one is definitely intriguing to me! Especially since its got parmesan in it 🙂
Fun! I want to take another barre type of class. I’ve only done one, and oddly enough I wasn’t sore at all afterwards… though I was def shaking the entire time!
Warm Kale + Garlic + Olive or Coconut Oil = The key to getting the green INTO MY MOUTH 🙂
★★★★★
mmmmmmmmmm kale salad, easy and no mess 😉 Doing it today for dinner!
So I have to admit – I’ve been strictly clean eating for the past 4ish months and kale is not something I have experimented with yet. I’ve done just about everything else… for some reason kale scares me. This looks delicious though! So next week! I’ll give it a go! 🙂
i had a pretty low key weekend and was able to get some meal prep done.
★★★★★