This healthy and easy kale and almond salad is tossed with raisins and a simple homemade lemon dressing.
Kale and almond salad is amazingly easy and delicious.
Raisins can be a controversial ingredient, lol. Use cranberries in this kale almond salad if raisins are unwanted.
Kale almond salad tastes better after marinating or wilting for an hour but it can also be eaten right away. Marinating the kale will help with any bitterness.
Use Any Kind of Kale For Kale And Almond Salad
Curly Kale is pictured, but any variety of kale will work. Other options are Red Russian or Lacinato/Dinosaur Kale.
I like curly kale because all the ingredients and dressing can hide in the nooks and crannies of the leaves.
Remember to rinse Kale. It can have dirt or little bugs hiding in it.
Ingredient Substitutions For Kale and Almond Salad
- Nuts - pecans, walnuts, pine nuts, pistachios... toasted or not toasted
- Dried fruit - apricots, cranberries, mangos...
- Fresh fruit like chopped apples, grapes, oranges...
- Add cheese - a little Parmesan, feta, or goat cheese crumbles...
- Your favorite store bought dressing
Different Textures For Kale Almond Salad
Kale salad can be made finely chopped or roughly chopped. The difference is preference in texture.
Finely chopped kale marinates quicker and is a little easier to get forkfuls in the mouth :). Larger chunks has a more "salad feel". I eat it either way depending on mood.
For finely chopped kale salad throw the kale in the food processor and pulse a couple times.
If you like it leafy like a salad, make bigger knife cuts. Lastly, if you're tired then buy a big bag of pre - chopped and rinsed kale and save some time.
Can You Eat Kale Salad Raw?
Absolutely! Rinse it off and add salad dressing.
Eat it right away for a crispier kale salad or let it marinate in the dressing for a couple hours or even overnight for a wilted and more flavorful salad.
Choose young fresh heads of kale as older kale may be more bitter.
To Marinate Or Not Marinate Kale Almond Salad
Serve immediately if you like crispy kale salad or let the kale marinate for an hour if you like it more wilted.
The lemon dressing will marinate into the kale greens and make the salad softer and also less bitter if given more time to marinate.
Kale and Almond Salad with Lemon Dressing
EatSimpleFood.com
This easy kale salad with almonds, lemon, and raisins is addicting. Curly Kale is pictured but any variety of kale will work.
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 5 1x
Ingredients
- 1 medium bunch kale, chopped
- ½ cup sliced almonds, toasted
- ½ cup raisins
- 1 lemon, zested
- 1 lemon (¼ cup), juiced
- 2 Tbsp e.v. olive oil
- ¼ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- red pepper flakes to taste (optional for spiciness)
Instructions
- Make kale salad dressing: mix olive oil, lemon zest, lemon juice, salt, and pepper together in a small jar and shake.
- Place chopped kale in a large bowl.
- Add almonds and raisins to the kale.
- Toss kale salad with the dressing.
- Add lemon, olive oil, or salt to taste. Add crushed red peppers if you want to spice it up a bit. Happy eating! Beckie
Notes
- This kale salad tastes even better when marinated for at least an hour. I think it tastes even better the next day.
- Optional: Preheat oven to 350F. Line a baking sheet with parchment or aluminum foil. Toast nuts in a single layer ~5-6 minutes or until fragrant. Cool and set aside.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Salad
- Method: Oven
- Cuisine: International
- Diet: Gluten Free
Serving Suggestion
Serve this delicious Kale Almond Salad recipe, with these dishes to round out your meal:
Things In My Kitchen:
- Tongs - For tossin' the salad.
- Salad Spinner - Rinse kale, it can get dirty.
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