Easy Kale Salad With Lemon Dressing

Name: Easy Kale Salad With Lemon Dressing
Prep time: 10 min
Total time: 10 min
Yield: 10
Cuisine: Mediterranean
Ingredients: 2 Bunches dark leafy kale or curly kale (thinly sliced) – about 5-6 cups; 1 teaspoon olive oil; kosher salt; black pepper; 1/2 cup pistachios or pumpkin seeds; 1/2 cup golden raisins or dried cranberries; 1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese; Zest of 1 lemon (about 1 tablespoon); 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about the juice of 2 lemons); 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar; 1/4 cup olive oil; 1-2 tablespoon maple syrup or honey – to taste; 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

April 15, 2018 by Amy Estes 60 Comments

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This Easy Kale Salad will quickly become your new go-to salad. The intense combination of flavors will make you want to enjoy it over and over again. Made with tenderly massaged kale, crunchy pistachios, salty, creamy parmesan cheese, and sweet, plump golden raisins. Masterly finished with a freshly whisked, bold lemon dressing that ties it all together.

Mixed kale salad in a white salad bowl with wooden serving spoons in the bowl.

When people think of a kale salad they don’t necessarily get too excited about it, mostly because kale is not usually adventurous and exhilarating in the realm of food experiences. But I am here to tell you that once you try this easy kale salad it will change your mind about kale forever. As well as the minds of anyone you happen to share it with.

It is that GOOD! A close competition to this kale quinoa salad that you may also love.

It starts with the star of the dish which is a bed of crisp, sweet massaged kale kissed with a bit of olive oil and salt to help tenderize and soften it. Then we add a pop of crunchy, salty elements by piling on some pistachios and grated parmesan cheese. The addition of the plump, sweet golden raisins gives this kale salad bursts of sweet jewels tangled in the long ribbons of kale.

The final crowning moment is the bright, bold, fresh lemon kale salad dressing that makes this salad sing in your mouth from the first bite to the last.

Why you’ll love this recipe

Packed with flavor – It is just so fresh, bright, and flavorful and has this amazing tangy, sweet combination that is hard to resist.
Quick and easy – I would say it is kind of the head honcho of all kale salads since it is just so quick and easy and packed with fantastic flavor and crunch.
Healthy – loaded with healthy ingredients like kale, lemon, pistachios, and raisins.
Great meal prep recipe – this salad can be made ahead and it is even better the next day, which makes it great for meal prep.

Plus, it goes with EVERYTHING.

Chopped kale on a cutting board with a knife on the board next to it.

Chopped green kale in a white serving bowl with olive oil behind it and a bowl of salt and pepper in front of it.

How to prepare kale for salad

One of the most important things to mention when it comes to prepping raw kale is that you must wash it first and then massage it. Kale can be gritty and full of little bits of dirt, especially curly kale, so it is important to rinse it first. Check out this post on how to store kale so you can do this step in advance and have it ready to go!

Tear the kale leaves off of the stems of the kale and add the leaves to a bowl of cold water. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes. Then strain and rinse it.
Chop the kale into ribbons by rolling up bunches of the kale and running your knife through it.
Add the chopped kale to a salad spinner and spin it to remove extra moisture.
Then you are ready to massage it. See below for the best way to do this.

How to massage the kale

Taking the time to massage your kale will help soften those rough leaves and make them easier to eat and digest.

After you wash and chop the kale place it into a salad bowl, add a drizzle of olive oil or lemon juice, and a pinch of salt.
Use your fingers to massage it for a few minutes then let it rest for about 10 minutes. This will tenderize the kale and allow it to turn beautiful, dark green, and delicious.

I promise this will get it sweet and tender, and make it easier to work with and digest.

Kale, lemon, bowl of nuts, bowl of raisins, oil and vinegar on a white surface with labels over the top of each ingredient.

Kale Salad Ingredients

Kale – fresh kale is the main character of this kale salad which is the most essential ingredient. You can find it at almost any grocery store and will likely come across two types of kale: curly kale or dark dinosaur kale. Either one will work fine in this recipe.
Pistachios – salted, pistachios (the meat of the nut) add the perfect nutty, salty, crunch you will love in this kale salad recipe. I like to buy the shelled pistachios to save me the work of shelling them myself. You will pay a bit more but it is totally worth it.
Grated parmesan cheese – The cheese adds an amazing balance of saltiness and a slight hint of creaminess to this salad. Leave it out if you need to keep this recipe dairy-free. Or you can use dairy-free parmesan cheese.
Golden raisins – plump, sweet golden raisins round out the sweet notes and add a nice surprise to each bite. You can also use dried cranberries or brown raisins.
Kale salad dressing – this dressing is the show-stopping element that is wonderfully bright, bold, fresh, and citrusy and adds the most incredible mind-blowing flavors to this recipe. Made with olive oil, apple cider vinegar, lemon juice, dijon mustard, maple syrup, salt, and pepper.
Lemon zest – the use of the zest is optional but really ties in that bold lemon flavor that makes this salad really stand out. Just make sure to zest the lemons before you squeeze out the fresh lemon juice.

The kale salad dressing

The lemon dressing is the final touch that takes this incredible salad from earthy and bitter, to bold and refreshing. Made with simple ingredients whisked together in nearly minutes to make it beautifully bright and enticing.

How to make the best kale salad with lemon dressing

This easy kale salad comes together in about 10 minutes or less with only a few simple ingredients. It is perfectly tangy, bright, satisfying, and filling and makes the best healthy side dish or main meal topped with chicken or salmon.

*Get the complete list of ingredients and recipe instructions in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Mason jar with lemon dressing in it with a spoon next to it and sliced lemon behind it. — Mix up the dressing

Chopped kale salad in a bowl with nuts, shredded cheese, raisins and lemon zest in the middle of it with sliced lemon behind it and wooden serving spoons in front of it. — Mix up the dressing

Make the dressing. Add all dressing ingredients to a bowl or mason jar and mix or shake well to emulsify.
Wash the kale. See my comments above or in the recipe card on how to do this. It is very easy and so worth the effort.
Chop and massage the kale. Use a sharp kitchen or vegetable knife to chop the kale into thin strips. To do this just take a good bunch of the kale, roll it up like a cigar and run your knife through it. Then add it back to the salad bowl, drizzle it with olive oil or lemon juice and some salt and pepper, and use your hands to massage it for a few minutes.
Add the remaining ingredients. Top the sliced kale with the rest of the salad ingredients: Golden raisins, pistachios, parmesan, and lemon zest.
Dress, toss, and serve the salad. Pour the tangy bold lemon dressing onto the salad and toss well to season all of the ingredients in the dressing and serve.

This is literally the perfect make-and-prep easy kale salad ever. You will love it!

Mixed kale with pistachios, shredded cheese and raisins in a white salad bowl with wooden spoons in the bowl with a block of parmesan on a board and a bowl of pistachios behind it.

Recipe Tips and Variations

Wash and prep the kale. You want to make sure to wash the kale really well first since it can hold a lot of dirt and become gritty (nobody wants that). Then either add the rinsed kale to a clean kitchen towel, close it up, and shake it a little to remove excess moisture or use a salad spinner to do this. This will keep the greens nice, crisp, and bright.
Always massage the kale for salads. This will allow the kale to break down and become softer, which makes it easier to eat and digest. See the section above for tips on how to massage the kale.
Not a fan of lemon? Swap the lemon zest and juice with the zest and juice of an orange or switch up the dressing altogether and try this Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette instead.
Make this salad dairy free. You can make this massaged kale salad dairy free and just leave out the parmesan cheese or use vegan parmesan cheese.
Use different nuts. Mix up the nuts and use pecans, walnuts, or pumpkin seeds.

Serving suggestions

Here are some great ways to serve this healthy kale salad.

Serve it with some protein such as Turkey Burgers, Healthy Turkey Meatloaf, Turkey Chili, or this Veggie Chicken Pizza Bake.
Enjoy it alongside some Chicken Pad Thai, Butternut Squash Mac and Cheese, or Creamy Cauliflower Gnocchi.
Pair it with a comforting soup such as Creamy Tomato Soup, Roasted Butternut Squash Soup, Lentil Soup, or Creamy Asparagus Soup.
Top it with some crispy chickpeas, hard boiled eggs, or air fryer coconut shrimp! So good!

Close up of wood salad spoons mixing a kale salad in a white bowl.

Make Ahead and Storing tips

Make it ahead: prepare the salad ingredients and the dressing. Store the salad ingredients in an airtight container, and the dressing in a mason jar fitted with a lid in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to serve it, just remove it from the refrigerator, dress it, toss it, and serve it!

Storing: transfer it to an airtight container and keep it in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. When you are ready to eat it just mix it up and enjoy! I like to add a little squeeze of lemon to freshen it up a bit after it has been sitting in the refrigerator.

More Kale Recipes to try

If you are looking for more quick and healthy kale recipes, here are some of my favorites.

Other Healthy Salads

Close up of mixed greens with golden raisins and parmesan cheese mixed in.

Did you make this easy kale salad recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. You can also tag me on Instagram @pinchmegoodfood so I can see your creation.