There’s something about a personalized recipe title that always makes me sit up and pay attention. It’s like saying, this recipe is so good we’re going to honor the genius that came up with it by naming the dang thing after him or her!
(Past honorees featured on this blog include Grandpa’s Pasta Salad, Grandma’s Holiday Salad, and Judy’s Baked Beans (still don’t know who Judy is, btw.))
To me it also indicates that a dish has been tested and perfected to the point where someone’s willing to attach a friend or family member’s name to it, and share the deliciousness with the masses. Shout about it from the rooftops, even!
Make Luann’s Kale Salad! ← Just like that.
Luann is a dear friend of my Mom’s whom I have known for years. She is incredibly sweet and supportive of my blog and thought her ultra-healthy and delicious recipe for Kale Salad screamed Kristin!, so she sent it my way to try. Luann usually makes it for parties where she says people inhale plate after plate. Um…sign me up!
One bite of the hearty kale salad tossed with crispy apples, sweet dried cherries, salty peanuts, and zesty red onions, and I screamed Hallelujah! Luann’s Kale Salad is a MUST. TRY!
Start with a big bunch of kale. Give it a rinse and pat or spin dry, then tear the leaves off the thick steam and into bite-sized pieces. Did you know kale is one of the most nutritious foods on the planet? It’s true. Very high in antioxidants, calcium, and fiber. All the more reason to love Luann’s Kale Salad!
Place the kale into a big bowl, then add a sprinkling of salt and start massaging the leaves (ooh la la!) For real, you need to massage kale when eating it raw to break the leaves down a bit, making them easier to chew.
Two minutes(ish) later, the kale will be tender, dark green, and reduced by about 1/3 in volume.
Topping time! First add 1/4 cup minced red onion, then1/2 cup dried cherries. Dried cranberries or craisins would also work if you don’t have dried cherries on hand.
Next add 1 chopped apple and 1/4 cup chopped peanuts. You could use almonds, walnuts, or even sunflower seeds here instead. I started adding peanuts to my salads a couple years ago though, and have never looked back. Try it sometime!
K. Salad’s done – time to make a 30 second vinaigrette to drizzle on top. Simply whisk together 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil (the best stuff you have) with 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar, and 1/2 teaspoon sugar in a small bowl.
Season with a little pepper (already have salt in the greens from the massage step) then pour over the kale, and toss everything to combine.
3 cheers for Luann!
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Luann’s Kale Salad
Description
Luann's Kale Salad is a crunchy, sweet, savory and delicious way to eat your greens!
Ingredients
- 1 bunch kale
- scant 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 cup minced red onion
- 1/2 cup dried cherries OR 1 cup fresh pomegranate arils
- 1 apple, chopped
- 1/4 cup peanuts, chopped (could use walnuts, almonds or sunflower seeds)
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- Pepper
Directions
- Wash kale, then tear leaves from tough stems and pat dry. Cut or tear leaves into bite sized pieces then add to a large bowl. Sprinkle with salt and massage with fingers for two minutes, or until kale is dark green and tender. Add red onion, dried cherries (or pomegranate arils,) chopped apple, and peanuts, then toss to combine.
- Combine olive oil, red wine vinegar, sugar, and pepper to taste in a small bowl or jar. Whisk or shake to combine then drizzle over kale salad and toss well.
This recipe is courtesy of Iowa Girl Eats, http://iowagirleats.com.
I just love the variety of textures – chewy to crispy – and flavors – sweet to spicy – in this dish. Honest to goodness, it’s one of the best salads I’ve ever had!
My only regret is that I didn’t get the recipe sooner! I would have eaten it all summer long using the kale from my garden, but luckily it grows well into the fall, which means this salad will definitely become a lunchtime staple for at least the next couple of months.
Hope you’ll give Luann’s Kale Salad a try – and pass it on!
[…] Luann’s Kale Salad, that is. […]
[…] Christmas Salad (from Iowa Girl Eats and […]
[…] I wanted big leafy kale for Luann’s Kale Salad this week and no one does big leafy kale like WF. BTW – my sister-in-law made Luann’s […]
This salad is all I’ve been eating for lunch the last few weeks! I’m obsessed!! Although I’ve been using a different homemade dressing; 3 parts canola oil to 1 part balsamic vinegar mixed with a little bit of salt and pepper. Thank you SO much for sharing this recipe – and introducing me to kale salads :)
Hi Kristin,
I’ve linked from my blog recipe page to your Kale Salad – I hope that’s okay? I’m building a recipe bank for people who are vegetarian and coeliac and have added yours under lunch.
Thanks, Jeni x
Of course! :)
what an extraordinary salad!!!!! Thank you for a wonderful introduction to kale!
[…] inclines are where it’s at. We came home, showered up, and kept it really light for dinner – Luann’s Kale Salad with Chicken. Seriously love this good – nay GREAT – for you salad!Antioxidant packed kale speckled […]
I recently learned of the massaging kale technique from Eating Well magazine. The article began by saying if you’ve always wanted to try kale for the health benefits but just couldn’t get past the bitter flavor (um, yes) then massage the leaves first breaking down the leaves and releasing an enzyme that reduces the bitterness. I tried it for our Labor Day celebration and everyone LOVED it. I have since paired it with goat cheese, nectarines and chicken. Now I must try this one too.
Made this last night with roasted chicken breasts and it was delicious! I can’t wait to make this throughout the fall. And, as an added bonus, it keeps really well in the fridge for lunch the next day :)
[…] Luann’s Kale Salad via Iowa Girl Eats […]
Now that looks healthy!!!
One word! No two!!! Soooo yum! I will probably have this on a weekly bases! This was my first time trying kale and I really enjoyed it! So good that I made a second bowl!! Thanks or dinner! :)
This was my first time with kale. I made it as part of a progressive dinner (I was soups and salads). It was easy. And it must have been good — I didn’t get a single bit of the double batch I made. Even my 11 year old son loved it!
I made a giant bowl of this tonight; addictive! Love kale salads because they stay crunchy; i sprinkled with a little goat cheese. Wonderful!
Nice mixing of items. You prepared it very nicely. I like more vegetables and vegetable related dishes.
Yum! Looks great! I always have a hard time eating raw kale though
[…] Salad: This kale salad is totally going to be on the menu next […]
Awesome recipe! I can’t want to try! Thanks, Luann! :-)
LOVE the tip about massaging the kale!! I use kale in smoothies, but don’t always love it in salads because it is so thick and strong. Definitely going to try massaging it!
What variety of kale did you grow? I grew some this year, but it isn’t like yours or the kind I buy in the store. I would love to try growing a different kind next year.
You know, I planted the little stake that came with the plant next to it so I would remember, but it blew away and I can’t remember the exact name! It was just “regular” kale – not red, dinosaur, or any other fancy name.
This was an amazing salad! I’m seriously gonna eat it every day for the next week! Your site rocks! Keep it up.
Sounds yummy! I’ve heard of massaging kale with the dressing beforehand but never with salt. Very interesting, I’ll have to try this technique!