Garlic Lemon Parmesan Kale Salad (Printable)

Fresh kale tossed with bright garlic-lemon dressing, topped with Parmesan and toasted nuts for a quick, nutritious meal.

# What You'll Need:

→ Salad Base

01 - 1 large bunch curly kale (approximately 8 cups), stems removed and leaves chopped
02 - 1/2 cup grated or shaved Parmesan cheese
03 - 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts or slivered almonds (optional)

→ Lemon Garlic Dressing

04 - 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
05 - 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
06 - 1 teaspoon lemon zest
07 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
08 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
09 - 1 teaspoon honey or pure maple syrup
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

# How To Make It:

01 - Place chopped kale in a large salad bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and massage leaves with clean hands for 1 to 2 minutes until softened and vibrant green in color.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, minced garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until thoroughly emulsified.
03 - Pour the prepared dressing over the massaged kale. Toss thoroughly to ensure all leaves are evenly coated with the lemon-garlic mixture.
04 - Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and toasted pine nuts or almonds over the dressed kale. Toss gently to distribute toppings evenly throughout the salad.
05 - Serve immediately or allow to rest for 5 minutes to let flavors meld together for enhanced taste.

# Expert Tips:

01 -
  • The massaging trick transforms tough kale into something impossibly tender and almost sweet
  • It keeps beautifully for days, actually getting better as the dressing works into the leaves
02 -
  • Skip the massaging step and your salad will be tough and bitter, but spend those two minutes rubbing the leaves and the texture transforms completely
  • The salad actually improves after sitting for 10 to 15 minutes, giving the kale time to soften and absorb all that garlicky lemon flavor
03 -
  • Use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan for a vegan version that still delivers that savory, cheesy flavor
  • Massage the kale earlier in the day and let it sit with just the salt, then add dressing right before serving for the freshest taste

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