Sunday, January 08, 2012

A very simple Kale Salad

Kale Salad
This is my latest obsession, an uber simple salad made of raw kale and onions tossed with a dressing made from soy sauce, lemon juice and olive oil.  It's absurdly easy to make and pretty good for you.


Kale is packed with nutrients, and most recipes have you boiling or sauteing until soft, but not this one!  Most salads eventually become limp once tossed with the dressing, but the kale just relaxes, losing its tough fibrous texture, becoming soft and crunchy and almost sweet.  This recipe is from the Esalen Cookbook, a legendary workshop and retreat center in Big Sur, California.  Note:  you can get a kindle version for under $10, looks amazing on the ipad...

The original recipe includes toasted sunflower, pumpkin and sesame seeds which give the salad additional texture and crunch, but the salad is awesome without them.

Serves 4-6

35 minutes

1/4 cup tamari soy sauce
1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
½ medium red onion
1 pound fresh kale

optional:
¼ cup sunflower seeds
¼ cup pumpkin seeds
¼ cup sesame seeds
½ cup sunflower sprouts ½ cup alfalfa sprouts
1 avocado diced


Whisk the soy sauce and lemon juice in bowl. Slowly dribble in the oil as you whisk vigorously. Slice the onion into half moons and marinate in the dressing as you prepare the rest of the salad.

De stem the kale. Slice kale leaves into ¼ inch ribbons (very important!)



If using seeds, toast in a heavy-bottomed pan (cast iron is the best) over medium heat until seeds are just golden and fragrant.  Toast each seed type separately as their size requires varying roasting times.  Cool to room temperature.

Toss everything with the onions, and as much dressing as necessary to lightly but completely dress the kale.  A few grinds of fresh ground black pepper is good



From the Esalen Cookbook

5 comments:

  1. Kim B.9:52 PM

    I love the new layout of your website and your blog. I enjoy reading your reviews and best of all I love viewing your photographs of the food. My Mother who frequently views your blog has a blog on blogspot of her own. You should check it out. It's www.lemonchiffoncake.blogspot.com. I think you would enjoy it as much as she enjoys yours.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hi Kim B, thanks for visiting and for the kind words! I went over to your Mom's site and left a comment, thanks for the introduction I will need to peruse later at leisure!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kim B.9:44 PM

      Thanks for visiting her blog. By the way... This kale salad recipe looks delicious. I can't wait to try it.

      Delete
  3. Your taste in food is fantastic! I love that you have a balance of decadent guilty pleasure recipes, and delicious, fresh healthy stuff.

    I'll be making this salad in the near future. I love the combination of soy and citrus in the dressing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice Collection..keep it up

    ReplyDelete