A raw kale salad sounds pretty healthy, right? But would you believe it’s also super tasty? Filled with kale, broccoli, carrots, radishes, cabbage–all the good stuff, baby. Add a gorgeous tahini and maple syrup dressing and you might even forget how you’ve always said you don’t like kale.
This raw kale salad could be one of the most health-packed salads I’ve ever made, and that’s saying a lot. It’s also delicious as well as colorfully appealing.–Catherine Walters
LC Sexy Salad Note
Hey, raw kale is sexy, right? Because not only is it one of the most sulfurous-containing greens around (c’mon, soooo sexy!), it’s actually really quite lovely when the leaves are simply massaged with oil and become just a touch relaxed and limp (uh, maybe sorta sexy?). As for the seaweed in this raw kale salad recipe [Editor’s Note: Please don’t tell David. We’re hoping he doesn’t notice.], the author of this recipe reassures, “Don’t be intimidated. It’s very mild tasting and full of iron and calcium.” Still, if you’d rather not venture to the seaweed aisle in the grocery store, we understand. No pressure. But hey, perhaps next time?
☞ Contents
Raw Kale Salad
Ingredients
For the kale salad
- 4 cups very roughly chopped kale
- 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 pinches sea salt
- 2 cups small broccoli florets (optional)
- 1 large carrot peeled and cut into matchsticks or shredded
- 2 cups red cabbage sliced as thinly as you can
- 4 red radishes sliced thinly and then cut into half-moons, or 1 daikon radish, peeled and cut into matchsticks
- 1/2 cup dried arame seaweed (optional)
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds toasted
For the dressing
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons tahini
- 2 teaspoons pure maple syrup
- 1/2 teaspoon very finely chopped fresh garlic
- 4 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce (optional)
- 1 tablespoon water
- Sea salt
Directions
Make the kale salad
- Rinse and dry the kale. Rip or cut the leaves from the stalk into bite-size pieces, discarding the stalk or reserving it for another use. Toss the kale in a large bowl. Sprinkle with the olive oil and salt. Using your hands, massage the kale for 2 to 3 minutes, until the kale is glistening. (If it seems too oily, use a paper towel to blot up some of the moisture.)
- Mix in the broccoli, if using, carrot, cabbage, and radishes.
- If using the arame, place it in a small bowl and cover with 1 cup hot water. Let it soak while you make the dressing, then drain and pat it dry with a paper towel. Cut the long strands into bite-size pieces and toss into the salad.
Make the dressing
- Whisk together the lemon juice, tahini, maple syrup, garlic, olive oil, soy sauce, if using, water, and salt to taste in a small bowl. Add additional water if it’s too thick. Try a bit of the salad in a small bowl with the dressing to see if you need to make any adjustments.
Assemble the salad
- Just before serving, dress the salad and toss. (You may not need all the dressing.) Sprinkle with the sesame seeds.
Notes
Raw Kale Salad Variation
Raw Kale Salad Recipe, Hold The Tahini If tahini—a thick paste made from ground sesame seeds—is unavailable, add 2 additional tablespoons olive oil to the dressing and omit the water.Show Nutrition
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Recipe Testers’ Reviews
I was already a big fan of kale salads, but this raw kale salad really checks all the boxes for me. I loved the combination and colors of the vegetables and the dressing was the perfect complement for the kale greens. Massaging the kale with the olive oil and salt took a little over 4 minutes, but it was the last of this season’s kale from the garden and was a little tougher than what one would have bought at the store. The greens didn’t seem too wet, so there was no need to blot it with paper towel. The dressing whisks together very quickly in just a couple of minutes, and I added just a pinch more salt than I’d added in the beginning. Next time, I might not add this, as the kale had been seasoned at the beginning, and I did notice a slightly salty taste. Just before serving, I sprinkled the salad with toasted black sesame seeds, as that is what I had on hand. I opted not to use the arame seaweed but one day will be brave enough to try it. The family raved, and there was just enough salad left over for me to take for lunch the next day. The kale had not wilted nor had the salad become soggy. I will be making this recipe on a regular basis, as it was a big hit, and it’s very good for you. I missed the bite of onion in the salad so will probably add a sweet onion next time.
Just looking at this raw kale salad makes me feel healthy and virtuous. It’s a beautiful combination of fresh flavors and crunchy texture, and it was easy to put together. There’s a lot left to the imagination in determining the quantities of ingredients for the recipe. I used radishes as I think they add a beautiful color as well as crunch. Definitely massage the kale, as that is what takes it from leaves to tender delicious salad greens. We dressed the salad that was to be eaten immediately and stored the leftovers separate from the dressing. Admittedly, I didn’t care for the dressing, as I’m not a fan of tahini, but my tasters liked it, and I easily substituted the non-tahini dressing variation for myself. The leftover salad was still quite good and crunchy the next day. Suffice to say that despite the cutting and chopping, this is a simple recipe that can be thrown together easily.
Originally published January 05, 2015
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If you make this recipe, snap a photo and hashtag it #LeitesCulinaria. We'd love to see your creations on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
A crisp and healthy delight. The dressing worked perfectly and was very well balanced. I used toasted pine nuts instead of sesame seeds which seemed to work well.
John, I love your addition of pine nuts.
I’ll remember this one when my kale is growing next Spring!
Superb, Quinn!