Citrus Kale Salad
Festive and slightly sweet, this Citrus Kale Salad is also easy, with my simple prep tips. Make the holidays healthy again!
When I think of the holiday season, what comes to mind first is the beautiful variety of sweet treats and desserts. I love them all dearly, but life’s about balance too. And truthfully, healthy holiday food can be just as much fun!
Lately I’ve been making a Citrus Kale Salad with a honey (or maple) cardamom dressing. (You can use ginger if you don’t like cardamom). It’s super tasty and, even better, the prep is super easy. ‘Cause who isn’t busy around the holidays!
Topped with mandarins, pomegranate seeds and pecans, it’s still got a hint of sweet. Just in case your sweet tooth needs appeasement!
Why You’ll Love This!
Flavorful. The dressing has honey (or maple) and cardamom (or ginger) to compliment the beautiful flavors of mandarins, pomegranate seeds and pecan.
Easy. If you chop your kale in the food processor, it is super easy. And it even pre-tenderizes the kale—no massaging!
Festive. Especially over the holidays, I’m big into pretty food! And I love how the greens, reds, and oranges remind me of a woodland scene!
Step by Step Overview
Remove stems from the kale, then chop into small pieces (I use a food processor). Divide among four serving bowls.
Mix the dressing ingredients until emulsified (I use the same food processor).
Pour the dressing over the salad, then top with mandarin slices, pecans and pomegranate seeds.
How easy is that!
Tips & FAQs
As I alluded, I now chop all my kale in my food processor. I still remember the first time I did this. I had just read an admonishment not to, but I was in a hurry. So I threw caution to the wind–and it was fine. I have done this with both curly kale and lacinato kale. So, I think it’s likely that other types of kale would work too.
To chop in the food processor, working in batches, I remove the kale leaves from the stem and put them in the bowl of the food processor. I run it for about 5-10 seconds, then pulse a few times, repeating the run/pulse cycle until it is nicely chopped.
Then to make things even faster, I then put all the dressing ingredients in the same food processor without even rinsing. After another quick whir that’s ready too.
Easy Peasy!
Citrus Kale Salad
Ingredients
Salad:
- 1 bunch kale 8 large leaves
- 2 mandarins peeled and sectioned
- 1/3 cup pecans toasted if desired
- 1/2 pomegranate arils removed, pulp discarded
Dressing:
- ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 Tablespoons orange juice or any other citrus juice
- 2 Tablespoons honey or maple syrup
- 2 Tablespoons red wine vinegar or other flavorful vinegar
- ½ teaspoon cardamom may sub ginger
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- Salt pepper to taste
Instructions
- Remove stems from the kale, then chop into small pieces (I use a food processor). Remove to 4 serving bowls.
- Mix the dressing ingredients until emulsified (I use the same food processor).
- Pour the dressing over the salad, then top with mandarin slices, pecans and pomegranate seeds.
Kale is seriously underrated. And it is perfect with citrus! This is a beautiful holiday salad, Inger.