Melissas Kale Salad Recipes

KALE SLAW

Steps:

• Place the kale into a salad bowl. Toss with the carrot, orange juice, lemon juice ,and salt, and using your hands, rub the acid into the kale. Let the kale sit a few minutes while you shock the onion. Prepare a large bowl of ice water and a saucepan with boiling water. Place the thinly sliced onion into the boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds, and then shock them in the cold water, stopping the cooking immediately. Drain the water and blot the onions with a paper towel. Add the onion, bacon, olive oil, salt and pepper and toss well. Add the mayonnaise and mix the slaw well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made several hours in advance.

LEMON-GARLIC KALE SALAD

Steps:

• In a toaster oven or skillet, toast almonds until golden brown and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
• In a bowl, combine lemon juice and 1 heaping teaspoon salt. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Add garlic cloves and set aside to steep.
• Working in batches, cut the kale into thin ribbons: gather a large handful of leaves, bunch together tightly, and use the other hand to slice into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. This need not be done very precisely or neatly; the idea is to end up with a kind of slaw. (Recipe can be made up to this point 1 day ahead. Keep kale and dressing refrigerated separately.)
• Place chopped kale in a very large bowl. Sprinkle surface with almonds and then with cheese, if using. Remove and discard garlic cloves from dressing. Pour half the dressing over the salad and toss. Taste for dressing and salt and add more as needed, tossing to coat thoroughly. Serve within 1 hour.

MELISSA'S KALE SALAD

Steps:

• Stir kale, apples, avocados, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro together in a bowl.
• Whisk olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until dressing is smooth and thickened. Pour dressing over kale mixture and toss to coat completely.

MELISSA'S KALE SALAD

Steps:

• Stir kale, apples, avocados, tomatoes, red onion, and cilantro together in a bowl.
• Whisk olive oil, cider vinegar, garlic, oregano, salt, and black pepper together in a bowl until dressing is smooth and thickened. Pour dressing over kale mixture and toss to coat completely.

CHILE AND GINGER-FRIED TOFU SALAD WITH KALE

Steps:

• Arrange the tofu on a plate or baking sheet. In a blender, combine the soy sauce, chile sauce, chile halves, cilantro, garlic, and ginger; puree until smooth.
• Using a pastry brush, coat the tofu on both sides with two-thirds of the chile mixture (reserve the rest for serving). Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 1 hour and up to 6 hours.
• Fill a 12-inch skillet with ½ inch of peanut oil and heat it over medium-high heat. Dip the slabs of tofu in the cornstarch, coating both sides, and tap off the excess.
• Working in batches, add the tofu to the hot oil and cook, turning it over once, until it is golden brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer the tofu to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain off the excess oil.
• In a large bowl, toss the kale with the olive oil and fine sea salt to taste. Add the tofu and toss. Some of the kale will wilt, which is what you want. Serve hot, topped with sliced scallions and cilantro leaves, and with the reserved chile marinade alongside for drizzling.

TUSCAN KALE SALAD

Steps:

• Trim bottom 2 inches off kale stems and discard. Slice kale, including ribs, into 3/4-inch-wide ribbons. You should have 4 to 5 cups. Place kale in a large bowl.
• If using bread, toast it until golden on both sides. Tear it into small pieces and grind in a food processor until mixture forms coarse crumbs.
• Using a mortar and pestle, or with the back of a knife, pound garlic into a paste. Transfer garlic to a small bowl. Add 1/4 cup cheese, 3 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper flakes and black pepper, and whisk to combine. Pour dressing over kale and toss very well to thoroughly combine (dressing will be thick and need lots of tossing to coat leaves).
• Let salad sit for 5 minutes, then serve topped with bread crumbs, additional cheese and a drizzle of oil.