This winter we have had such an abundance of kale that I didn't really plan for.
Last fall, I grabbed a pack of organic heirloom kale seeds at a local store for $1.29 as my summer garden was coming to a close. I started seeds indoors and haphazardly planted about 80 kale seedlings right after pulling out my zucchini plants and cucumber vines. I didn't know what to expect and just went with it. As of right now I probably have about 40 plants! They are not at all spaced out like they should be for optimal growth, but one thing is for sure -- I haven't purchased kale in months!
Salad is my favorite way to enjoy this delicious green. I take my basket to the garden and pick 1-3 leaves off multiple different plants. Bringing them inside, I pull the greens off the stems, rinse thoroughly, and dry in the salad spinner. Then I tear or cut up each piece until they are bite sized. The volume of the kale will quickly diminish as you do this and you'll realize a basketful is really only equivalent to one personal salad!
Lastly, I massage the kale to make it tender and easy to chew. Drizzle olive oil and lightly sprinkle salt over the kale. Use your hands to squeeze and rub the kale together until it gets a lightly translucent color and appears much darker. This will be the best way to consume raw kale in your salad and you won't be left chewing each bite for 10 minutes.
Here has been one of my favorite salad combinations - measurements are loose, as I usually assemble salads to taste. Whip this one up, pour yourself a glass of iced tea, and you'll feel like you're eating lunch at a spa! Enjoy.
Kale Salad with Goat Cheese and Beets
- 2 cups of massaged kale
- 1-2 tbsp of organic sprouted pumpkin seeds (or any chopped nut or seed of choice)
- 2 tbsp of organic goat cheese, crumbled
- 2 tbsp of beet sauerkraut (I like this one: https://www.clevelandkitchen.com/products/beet-red)
- 1/2 organic pear, sliced
-top with organic balsamic vinaigrette (homemade or store-bought like Tessamae's or Primal Kitchen)
Serves one for a delicious lunch!