This Strawberry Kale Salad is a simple but delicious salad. I must be honest here, though. I’m not a huge fan of raw kale. I know that’s it’s insanely healthy. But somehow, eating kale has always felt, to me, like chewing grass. And I am one of the least picky eaters that I know. Especially when it comes to fresh and healthy produce.
Combine Kale with Strawberries
I want to like kale, I really do. It’s so incredibly good for us. So I keep trying new things with it. To my surprise, kale can be delicious if it’s treated right. While I find that adding kale to a smoothie overpowers all the other ingredients, I can compliment the bitter green, in your face taste with something sweet, tart, or spicy to get something yummy. Like this strawberry kale salad. The strawberries and peppers add sweetness and crunch, while the walnuts give it, well, nuttiness.
Kale Nutrition
Kale is high in fibre, potassium, antioxidants, Vitamin K, Vitamin C, iron, and B vitamins, to name a few. Here’s more information on the health benefits of eating it: What Are The Health Benefits of Kale?
A lemon & honey dressing; the perfect compliment.
And this sweet and sour dressing of lemon and honey takes kale to a new level for me. This salad is bursting with freshness and flavour, and the kale, while holding its own, does not overwhelm. Cutting the kale into very small pieces really helps to make it more palatable for me, too. So I don’t feel like I’m chewing forever.
Because kale is such a sturdy green, this strawberry kale salad holds up really well to being dressed and left in the fridge, or packed along for a picnic or lunch at work.
With kale being one of the most nutritious foods on the planet, I might just be changing my mind about kale after all. Do I love it? I won’t go that far, but I’m thinking it that maybe it can be in my life.
If you’re still wanting more kale after eating this delicious salad, try Kale & Sausage Pasta And, if you love strawberries in your salad, check out this one, too: Strawberry Caprese Salad
Strawberry Kale Salad
Ingredients
Dressing
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tbsp balsamic vinegar
- 2 tbsp honey
- 1/2 lemon juice of
- 1/4 - 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 tsp salt
Salad
- 1 bunch kale removed from stem & chopped quite small (bite sized) about 2 cups
- 1 cup strawberries hulled and sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper cut into short strips
- 1/4 cup toasted walnuts roughly chopped
- feta cheese crumbled (optional)
Instructions
- Toast walnuts over low heat in a non stick pan for about 10 minutes, tossing occasionally, making sure they don't burn. Allow to cool.
- Whisk dressing ingredients together in a bowl, or put into a jar with lid and shake.
- Put salad ingredients together in a bowl and toss with enough dressing to just coat the salad
- Sprinkle with feta cheese if desired
Notes
Nutrition
My first experience eating kale was in the form of cheesy kale chips, so it was love at first….bite. 🙂 I completely understand why people feel so indifferent about it though. It’s bitter on its own and needs some love to make your taste buds love it, and I’d say you gave it proper love with this salad.
Hi Nicole, I may have been more enthusiastic about kale if I first tried it in a cheesy chip, too! 🙂
Love your combinations–combining massaged kale with strawberries and feta is one of my favourite salads! Super nutritious! Thanks for sharing your recipe!
Thanks Elaine! Can’t wait for strawberry season!
I am like you Colleen… I know kale is healthy… but… I never thought of combining it with strawberries… maybe that’s what I’ve been missing. Will try this recipe when the Quebec strawberries are on the market. Thanks for sharing ♥
Hi Maria, Strawberries for sure make the kale much more palatable for me. 🙂
This salad looks so fresh and delicious! I feel the same way about raw kale, but love it in salads massaged with olive oil and citrus juice!
Thanks Leanne, It does make such a difference , doesn’t it?
Great salad, it was my guests favourite.