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Nutritional Info
  • Servings Per Recipe: 8
  • Amount Per Serving
  • Calories: 50.0
  • Total Fat: 3.2 g
  • Cholesterol: 23.3 mg
  • Sodium: 52.6 mg
  • Total Carbs: 4.1 g
  • Dietary Fiber: 1.3 g
  • Protein: 1.9 g

View full nutritional breakdown of Massaged Kale Salad calories by ingredient
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Massaged Kale Salad

Submitted by: CHEF_MEG
Massaged Kale Salad

Introduction

Even kale needs some love. Massaging an acid-based dressing into the fibrous green leaves tenderizes them, making the healthy vegetable more palatable in its raw form. Even kale needs some love. Massaging an acid-based dressing into the fibrous green leaves tenderizes them, making the healthy vegetable more palatable in its raw form.
Number of Servings: 8

Ingredients

    2 bunches Lacinato (dinosaur) kale*, leaves stripped from stems, about 1 pound
    4 tablespoons Chef Meg's Garlic Dijon Vinaigrette (pictured above)
    juice and zest of one lemon
    1/2 teaspoon black pepper
    1 hard-boiled egg, finely chopped (optional)


    * For this recipe, I prefer Lacinato (also called dinosaur) kale, which has a flat leaf and fewer tough "veins," which are fibrous and hard to chew. You could also use curly red or green kale.

    Bonus: The lacinato kale leaves can be stripped from the stems easily by hand, a great job for young chefs that you might have in the house.



Tips

This dish ages beautifully. Make it a day ahead.


Directions

Chiffonade your kale: Roll 5-6 leaves into a tight roll on a cutting board. Using a chef's knife, slice the kale into thin strips. Repeat until all the kale is shredded.

Place the shredded kale in a large mixing bowl. Pour dressing and lemon juice over the greens, then massage the dressing into the kale for 5 minutes. This will help break down tough fibers in the kale. Cover and refrigerate for 4 hours or overnight.

Just before serving, add the egg, black pepper, and lemon zest.



Serving Size: Makes 8 cups, 1 cup per serving






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Member Ratings For This Recipe

  • MEMOM22

    Very Good
    9 of 9 people found this review helpful
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    let it sit overnight, ate it with soft boiled egg - 4/7/12

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  • PERSEPHONE82

    Very Good
    5 of 5 people found this review helpful
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    A very yummy lunchtime recipe! I added some other raw veggies (cucumber, carrots & red onion) to bulk it up a bit. I love kale in all forms so this was perfect. As suggested I used lacinato kale, it worked great. - 4/2/12

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  • KGWINDER


    4 of 4 people found this review helpful
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    I used garbanzo beans instead of eggs for a vegan change and this was very good. - 7/15/12

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  • LEANJEAN6

    Very Good
    4 of 5 people found this review helpful
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    A great way to eat Kale---=- love it! - 4/8/12

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  • CONIFERA


    2 of 3 people found this review helpful
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    I'm interested in this recipe. But, since I cannot abide boiled egg, am wondering what substitutions might work. Crumbled tofu, perhaps? - 4/8/12

    Reply from CHEF_MEG (6/4/12)
    Yes, that would be lovely.


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  • MSMOSTIMPROVED

    Very Good
    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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    I addded a little more garlic, red onions, and roasted redp peppers to liven up the color. Overnight is the best way to enjoy this. - 11/10/12

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  • MRPEABODY

    Incredible!
    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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    I liked the original. But I added a diced red serrano pepper & onion and liked it even more on my taco. - 11/7/12

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  • MRSKATEDUVALL


    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
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    I loved it. I got two types of kale in my CSA box. I plumped up the salad with radishes and kohl rabbi- also in my CSA box. Couldn't wait till overnight before I ate my salad for dinner. I had a side of tuna with the salad - 6/8/12

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  • 60SIXTY

    Incredible!
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    My kale is from local, organic farm, & may be more than 1 variety. Young & tender. Loved finding this recipe using it fresh.
    I marinated over night. - 5/14/13

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  • GAILHE


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    Tried kale salad before, did not soften. Maybe overnight will work better. I did talk to a chef who had a great kale salad w/ asian dressing and shitake (sauteed) mushrooms. Wash and cut up kale. Drain in colander,salt heavily, mix by hand and allow to sit 1-6 hours. Rinse, pat dry and proceed. Yum - 4/26/13

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  • PEGJW111

    Incredible!
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    I omitted the hard boiled egg (dietary restrictions) and made this on a Sunday. It lasted the whole week and was better every.
    - 3/17/13

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  • CLEMENCE1116

    Incredible!
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    Kale is soooo good for you. This recipe is delicious. I did not want to massage with my hands and tried the dough hook on my stand mixer. Worked great! - 3/5/13

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  • VIRGILIAK


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    Marinated kale is wonderful. I cut it in 1/8" strips so the marinade can do its magic. The leaf in the illustration does not show a smooth leaf. I'm pretty sure dinosaur leaves are not smooth. Even your illustration shows a very rough surface. - 2/25/13

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  • DUTCHONEY


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    Will try this weekend! - 1/16/13

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  • NYMORNINGGLORY

    Incredible!
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    I made this with kale, thinly sliced red onion, and mango chunks instead of egg - just a teaspoon of olive oil and salt and pepper - delish! - 1/10/13

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  • NORASPAT


    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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    Thanks for more Kale recipes, I can never get it to be tender, Maybe i should cook it in lemon juice or vinegar,I must try that Thanks Pat in Maine. - 10/4/12

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  • NIMUAE

    Very Good
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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    Wonderful ~ - 7/27/12

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  • 5GRANDS48

    Incredible!
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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    Kale is my new favorite veggie ... great recipe! - 4/23/12

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  • PATRICIAANN46

    Incredible!
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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    Yummy!!!!! - 4/8/12

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  • AUSSIEFLOSS


    0 of 4 people found this review helpful
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    I've never had raw kale before, besides a little mixed into hot creamy soup. I'm willing to experiement with it since my everyday salad is getting a bit monatonous! Adventures in veggie land is exciting! - 4/8/12

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  • MISS_VIV


    0 of 2 people found this review helpful
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    i don't recall seeing this type of kale in my produce shops (northern california). I will be trying the 'massage' on some fresh kale soon. - 4/8/12

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  • GRUTAN


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    I love kale... and i love this way of preparing it. I also salt and pepper it and bake in over on 250 for 20 min for a kale chip... much better than potato chips....the laciento kale doesn't work well for chips as it is more tender - 4/8/12

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  • EGRAMMY

    Incredible!
    0 of 1 people found this review helpful
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    Shared this on Facebook and emailed to my daughter. - 4/8/12

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