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    Pinch Me Good! » Dressings And Sauces » The Very Best Kale Salad Dressing

    The Very Best Kale Salad Dressing

    June 15, 2021 by Amy Estes 6 Comments

    4312 shares
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    Please note that some of the links are affiliate links and I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links.

    Kale Salad Dressing is simple, light, and fresh and is the very best way to dress up that kale and take it from good to great! It is packed with tangy and sweet flavors from the vinegar and lemon mixed with some honey and all blended into an incredibly healthy salad dressing that pairs perfectly with any kale salad. This is a dressing for everyone and it is Vegan, Gluten-Free, Paleo, and Whole30-friendly.

    Glass measuring cup with dijon dressing in it with a whisk sticking out of the cup on top of a small wooden cutting board with kale salad in a bowl behind it.

    This is such an incredibly simple and easy salad dressing that is literally so perfectly drizzled on top of any kale salad. It tastes fancy and is such a light and bright dressing that everyone will love!

    The mix of tart and sweet flavors is amazing in this kale salad dressing really brings out the vibrant ingredients like lemon and apple cider vinegar that are the stars of this recipe.

    This dressing truly brightens up any type of kale and actually makes you want to eat some salad, TRUST ME! Once you make this recipe everyone will want it!

    Close up of chopped kale salad with creamy dressing on it with walnut and berries on the salad.

    Why this is the best kale salad dressing recipe

    • It has the perfect balance of tangy + sweet flavors
    • You can make it in minutes
    • It is made from pantry ingredients that you likely always have on hand
    • Creamy, light and so good!
    • Vegan, Gluten-Free, Paleo, and Whole30-friendly

    Ingredients needed to make this recipe

    Small white bowls filled with mustard, vinegar and honey spread out on a white surface with a sliced lemon next to one of the bowl and a wooden bowl filled with salt and pepper in front of it.

    How to make kale salad dressing

    You can make this healthy salad dressing in minutes and keep it all week for quick and easy salads for lunch or dinner that your whole family will love.

    1. Mix up the dressing. Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk well. You can also add all ingredients to a mason jar, secure the lid and shake well to emulsify (which means get it super creamy)
    2. Store or serve. Once you mix up this salad dressing you can either store it or pour it onto your favorite kale salad right away.

    You just cannot go wrong with this amazing homemade healthy salad dressing. It is packed with flavor, is super easy to make, and stores great for easy salad assembly all week long.

    Tips for making homemade salad dressing

    • Use good quality ingredients. I like to use good quality olive oil as well as good vinegar like apple cider vinegar (with the mother – good bacteria, enzymes, and strands of proteins). Gluten-free dijon mustard and fresh organic lemons all make this amazing kale salad dressing shine for sure.
    • Mix up the ingredients really well. Mix up this dressing in a bowl with a whisk or in a mason jar fitted with a lid. A mason jar is a great option for taking this dressing on the go or storing it for later use.
    • Use it within a few days. Although this dressing stores great, you really want to use it within 3 days of making it or it can get gloppy and clumpy. Make sure to shake it up well before using it too.
    Small wooden board with a glass pitcher filled with yellow salad dressing with a small whisk sticking out of the pitcher with kale leaves around it and a bowl of kale salad behind it

    Kale Salads that go great with this dressing

    • Kale Brussel Sprout Salad
    • Chopped Kale Salad
    • Crispy Chickpea Kale Caesar Salad
    • Simple Kale and Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
    • Kale Quinoa Salad

    More amazing salad dressings to try!

    • 5 Minute Creamy Avocado Ranch Dressing
    • Healthy Caesar salad Dressing
    • Simple Homemade Cilantro Lime Dressing
    • Creamy Green Goddess Dressing
    • 4 Easy Healthy Salad Dressings
    • The BEST Balsamic Salad Dressing
    Round white plate with a pile of chopped green kale on it with berries and nuts in it.

    Recipe variations

    • Use orange juice in place of the lemon for an orangey twist on this kale salad dressing.
    • Mix up the vinegar by adding a splash of balsamic vinegar.
    • Skip the dijon mustard and add a little extra squeeze of lemon
    • Add a little garlic for a more savory flavor to this dressing.
    • To make this dressing Whole30-friendly simply leave out the maple syrup and it will still be crazy good. If you need a little sweetness, you can blend it up in a blender with some chopped dates or use a little fruit juice (about 1 tablespoon) in place of the maple syrup.
    Round white bowl filled with yellow dressing with a metal whisk in it.

    Did you try this recipe? If you did, then please leave a rating and comment below. I would love to hear from you!

    Print
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    The Best Kale Salad Dressing


    ★★★★★

    5 from 2 reviews

    • Author: Amy
    • Total Time: 5 minutes
    • Yield: 6 1x
    • Diet: Vegan
    Print Recipe
    Pin Recipe

    Description

    This simple, fresh and light kale salad dressing is the very best way to dress up that kale and take it from good to great! It is packed with tangy and sweet flavors from the vinegar and lemon mixed with some honey and all blended into an incredible healthy salad dressing that pairs perfectly with any kale salad. This is a dressing for everyone and it is Vegan, Gluten-Free, Paleo and Whole30-friendly.


    Ingredients

    Scale
    • 1/4 cup olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 
    • 1 tablespoon dijon mustard
    • 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice 
    • 1 tablespoon maple syrup
    • 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
    • 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

    Instructions

    1. Mix up the dressing. Add all dressing ingredients to a small bowl and whisk well. You can also add all ingredients to a mason jar, secure the lid and shake well to emulsify (which means get it super creamy)
    2. Store or serve. Once you mix up this salad dressing you can either store it or pour it onto your favour kale salad right away.

      Equipment

      mason jar

      Buy Now →

      Notes

      • Use good quality ingredients. I like to use a good quality olive oil as well as good vinegar like apple cider vinegar (with the mother – good bacteria, enzymes and strands of proteins). Gluten free dijon mustard and fresh organic lemons that all make this amazing kale salad dressing shine for sure.
      • Mix up the ingredients really well. Mix up this dressing in a bowl with a whisk or in a mason jar fitted with a lid. The mason jar is a great option for taking this dressing on the go or storing it for later use.
      • Use it within a few days. Although this dressing stores great, you really want to use it within 3 days of making it or it can get gloppy and clumpy. Make sure to shake it up well before using it too.
      • Store this dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. 
      • To make this dressing Whole30-friendly simply leave out the maple syrup and it will still be crazy good. If you need a little sweetness, you can blend it up in a blender with some chopped dates or use a little fruit juice (about 1 tablespoon) in place of the maple syrup. 
      • Prep Time: 5
      • Category: healthy dressings and sauces
      • Method: mixed
      • Cuisine: Mediterranean

      Did you make this recipe?

      Tag @pinchmegoodfood on Instagram and hashtag it #pinchmegoodfood

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      Filed Under: Dairy Free, Dressings And Sauces, Favorite Summer Recipes, Gluten-Free, Healthy Spring Recipes, Kid-Friendly, Meal Planning and Prep, Vegan

      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Lou

        August 4, 2021 at 9:12 am

        This dressing is delicious. Will be making this again. Yummy!

        Reply
      2. Kim

        September 19, 2022 at 8:44 pm

        I love your site and your recipes!! I tried to pin this recipe and the Kale Quinoa Salad recipe that you emailed today and I get this message:

        Sorry something went wrong. Please make sure the URL is correct and try again.

        I also tried to Pin it from the Pinterest side and that didn’t work either!

        Just thought you would want to know in case it’s something on your end!!

        Thanks for all you do! I haven’t tasted the salad yet as I prepped it in 3 ball jars to take on a work trip tomorrow so I’ll have a great lunch to look forward to every day!!

        Reply
        • Amy Estes

          September 29, 2022 at 7:38 pm

          Thank you, Kim! That was a glitch that is now fixed. I appreciate your support so much! Enjoy that salad! It’s one of my favorites!

          Reply
      3. Olga

        January 30, 2023 at 10:40 pm

        Love this kale dressing, definitely one of the best, turns out so yummy.

        ★★★★★

        Reply
      4. Eve

        March 10, 2023 at 8:47 pm

        This really is the best kale salad dressing I’ve ever had!

        ★★★★★

        Reply
        • Amy Estes

          March 13, 2023 at 11:51 am

          Hi Eve, I am so glad you liked it!

          Reply

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      Recipe rating ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆ ★☆

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      I'm Amy and I'm so excited to share my best healthy recipes and tips with you. I hope I can inspire you to eat better, feel better, and get back in the kitchen. Read More…

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