Easy Lemon Kale Salad | 21 Day Fix Approved

This lemon kale salad is perfect for a quick lunch, or fancy enough to bring to a summer BBQ. The kale is hearty enough to hold up against the tangy dressing and the walnuts make for the perfect level of crunch. Super simple to make and ready in less than 15 minutes. Pair with grilled chicken or salmon for the perfect mid-week dinner.

How to prepare kale

Kale is a very tough green which is good in the sense that it stands up well to any dressing and won’t wilt. However that same heartiness makes it kinda tough - until you know how to soften it up.

The ultimate kale massage

Yes - I want you to gently massage your greens into submission. By massaging a small drizzle of olive oil into your washed kale (with your hands), you will soften the texture and brighten the color. People will be amazed by your ability to make kale look appetizing, and you’ll probably end up with at Food Network show, so be warned - massaging kale will change your life.

It will also make your salad taste extra good.

How to make a lemon kale salad

I love this recipe because it’s super simple and yet, so satisfying and tasty. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 4 cups of kale (approximately one large bunch, or 4 handfuls of pre-cut kale)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil + a little extra for the pre-salad massage (about 1 tsp)
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice (or the juice of one whole lemon)
• ¼ cup shaved parmesan (or grated is fine, too)
• 3 tablespoons of chopped or whole walnuts (you can swap for any nut you like)
• Salt and pepper

Step one

• Wash and dry kale (or used the bagged stuff and skip this step). Remove stems.
• Before cutting kale, put the leaves in a large bowl, drizzle a tsp of olive oil on it, and with clean hands, gently rub the oil into the leaves for a few minutes until fully covered.
• Then rip the leaves into small, bite-sized pieces. Leave it in the bowl.

Step two

• In a separate bowl, mix lemon juice, olive oil, sat and pepper. Now add to kale and toss.

Step three

• Portion kale into two bowls and garnish with parmesan cheese and walnuts.

That’s it! Super simple and perfect to serve alongside a piece of grilled salmon or chicken.

What's the best green for this lemon kale salad?

That depends on you, but I would say that any kale would work. Personally, I love red kale as it has a great texture and color. It’s very similar to dinosaur kale (otherwise known as tuscan). Use what you have.

How long will it keep in the fridge

Even though kale salad will hold up a lot longer than a regular lettuce salad, I still wouldn’t give it longer than 24 hours in the fridge unless you leave the dressing off. The acid in the dressing will eventually start to break it down.

What goes well with kale salad?

Anything! My food philosophy is always to pair veggies with healthy fats and a clean protein to make a complete meal. This salad covers the veggie and the fat, so a grilled chicken breast or salmon fillet is all you really need to make this a perfectly balanced dinner.

Is kale healthy to eat every day?

There is some controversy around the consumption of raw kale because it contains a lot of indigestible fiber that can cause gas and other digestive issues. However, if you’re not eating every single day, this isn’t something that’s going to be detrimental for you. If you LOVE kale and want to eat it every day, try steaming it very lightly first, so it will be easier to digest.

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