Best 5 Melissas Kale Salad Recipes

**Melissa's Kale Salad: A Refreshing and Nutritious Medley of Flavors**

Melissa's Kale Salad is a delightful fusion of textures and flavors, offering a symphony of health benefits. This vibrant salad features an array of wholesome ingredients, including nutrient-rich kale, sweet apples, crunchy almonds, tangy cranberries, savory Parmesan cheese, and a delectable homemade dressing. With its perfect balance of sweet, sour, and savory notes, this salad is a feast for the senses. Whether you're a health-conscious individual, a vegetarian, or simply seeking a refreshing and flavorful meal, Melissa's Kale Salad is an exceptional choice. This article provides two variations of the recipe: the classic Melissa's Kale Salad and a Vegan Melissa's Kale Salad, catering to different dietary preferences. Get ready to tantalize your taste buds and nourish your body with this exceptional salad.

Let's cook with our recipes!

WINTER KALE SALAD

Winter Kale Salad image

Provided by Melissa d'Arabian : Food Network

Categories appetizer

Time 15m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

Ingredients

1 small bunch of kale, stems removed, cut or torn into small pieces
1/4 cup pecans, toasted and chopped
1 green onion, chopped
1 pear, peeled and sliced
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
Crumbled blue cheese, for garnish

Steps:

Toss kale, pecans, green onion, and pear together in a medium bowl. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Drizzle vinegar then oil over the top. Toss and serve with a sprinkling of cheese.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 248 calorie, Fat 18.5 grams, SaturatedFat 3.5 grams, Cholesterol 6 milligrams, Sodium 277 milligrams, Carbohydrate 18 grams, Fiber 4 grams, Protein 5 grams, Sugar 6 grams

KALE SLAW

Kale Slaw image

Provided by Melissa d'Arabian : Food Network

Time 20m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 head kale, stems removed and thinly sliced
1 large carrot, grated
1/2 an orange, juiced
1/2 a lemon, juiced
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon olive oil
1/2 red onion, sliced very thinly
1 slice bacon, cooked crisp and chopped
1 rounded tablespoon mayonnaise

Steps:

Place the kale into a salad bowl. Toss with the carrot, orange juice, lemon juice ,and salt, and using your hands, rub the acid into the kale. Let the kale sit a few minutes while you shock the onion. Prepare a large bowl of ice water and a saucepan with boiling water. Place the thinly sliced onion into the boiling water for 15 to 30 seconds, and then shock them in the cold water, stopping the cooking immediately. Drain the water and blot the onions with a paper towel. Add the onion, bacon, olive oil, salt and pepper and toss well. Add the mayonnaise and mix the slaw well. Refrigerate until ready to serve. Can be made several hours in advance.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 136 calorie, Fat 8 grams, SaturatedFat 1 grams, Cholesterol 3 milligrams, Sodium 245 milligrams, Carbohydrate 15 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 4 grams, Sugar 2 grams

LEMON-GARLIC KALE SALAD

Lemon-Garlic Kale Salad image

Here's a snappy, fresh side dish or a light supper: a lemony green salad, rich with tang and crunch. The dressing is nothing more than lemon juice, olive oil, garlic and salt. Its simplicity makes it perfect.

Provided by Julia Moskin

Categories dinner, lunch, quick, salads and dressings

Time 25m

Yield 8 to 12 servings

Number Of Ingredients 7

Ingredients

2 cups sliced almonds
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (from 2 to 4 lemons)
Kosher salt
1 1/2 cups extra-virgin olive oil
4 cloves garlic, crushed with the flat side of a knife, peeled and left whole
10 to 12 ounces washed and dried kale leaves, thick stems removed (weight after trimming)
1 1/2 cups freshly grated Parmesan (optional)

Steps:

In a toaster oven or skillet, toast almonds until golden brown and fragrant. Set aside to cool.
In a bowl, combine lemon juice and 1 heaping teaspoon salt. Slowly whisk in olive oil. Add garlic cloves and set aside to steep.
Working in batches, cut the kale into thin ribbons: gather a large handful of leaves, bunch together tightly, and use the other hand to slice into 1/4-inch-thick pieces. This need not be done very precisely or neatly; the idea is to end up with a kind of slaw. (Recipe can be made up to this point 1 day ahead. Keep kale and dressing refrigerated separately.)
Place chopped kale in a very large bowl. Sprinkle surface with almonds and then with cheese, if using. Remove and discard garlic cloves from dressing. Pour half the dressing over the salad and toss. Taste for dressing and salt and add more as needed, tossing to coat thoroughly. Serve within 1 hour.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 412, UnsaturatedFat 35 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 42 grams, Fiber 3 grams, Protein 5 grams, SaturatedFat 5 grams, Sodium 212 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams

KALE SALAD WITH APPLES AND CHEDDAR

Kale Salad With Apples and Cheddar image

For a kale salad to be successful, use the most tender kale you can find and cut it into very thin filaments or chop it very finely (or both). Curly kale and Russian kale are more tender than black leaf kale. This is inspired by a wonderful salad I tried recently at the New York restaurant Northern Spy.

Provided by Martha Rose Shulman

Categories easy, weekday, salads and dressings

Time 5m

Yield 4 to 6 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

4 cups very finely chopped or slivered curly kale or Russian kale (about 6 ounces on the stem, or half of a 3/4-pound bunch, stemmed and washed in two rinses of water)
2 tablespoons coarsely chopped toasted almonds
1 apple, sweet, like a Fuji, or a sweet-tart, like a Gala, Braeburn or Pink Lady, cored and cut in 1/4-inch dice
1 ounce sharp Cheddar cheese, cut in 1/4-inch dice
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
Salt to taste
1 very small garlic clove, puréed
5 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
2 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan

Steps:

Combine the kale, almonds, apple and Cheddar in a large bowl.
Whisk together the lemon juice, salt, garlic and olive oil. Add to the salad, and toss well. Sprinkle the Parmesan over the top, and serve.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 177, UnsaturatedFat 11 grams, Carbohydrate 6 grams, Fat 16 grams, Fiber 1 gram, Protein 4 grams, SaturatedFat 3 grams, Sodium 161 milligrams, Sugar 4 grams, TransFat 0 grams

TUSCAN KALE SALAD

Tuscan Kale Salad image

Kale salad may someday go the way of other clichéd salads of yore - the bean salad, the chef's salad, the beet salad with goat cheese. But like all those other venerable mixtures, its ubiquity is due in large part to how good it can be. Take a bunch of raw Tuscan kale (also called lacinato or black kale), which is more delicate than other varieties, and slice it into ribbons. Toss those ribbons with a thick bright dressing of garlic paste, pecorino, lemon juice, olive oil and a pinch of red pepper flakes. Top with freshly toasted bread crumbs and a flurry of pecorino. The leaves are sturdy enough to stand up to the bold flavors and varying textures, but tender when you take a bite.

Provided by Melissa Clark

Categories easy, quick, salads and dressings

Time 20m

Yield 2 to 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 9

Ingredients

1 bunch Tuscan kale (also known as black or lacinato kale)
1 thin slice country bread (part whole-wheat or rye is nice), or 1/4 cup homemade bread crumbs (coarse)
1/2 garlic clove, finely chopped
1/4 cup finely grated pecorino cheese, more for garnish
3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil, more for garnish
Freshly squeezed juice of 1 lemon
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/8 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Steps:

Trim bottom 2 inches off kale stems and discard. Slice kale, including ribs, into 3/4-inch-wide ribbons. You should have 4 to 5 cups. Place kale in a large bowl.
If using bread, toast it until golden on both sides. Tear it into small pieces and grind in a food processor until mixture forms coarse crumbs.
Using a mortar and pestle, or with the back of a knife, pound garlic into a paste. Transfer garlic to a small bowl. Add 1/4 cup cheese, 3 tablespoons oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper flakes and black pepper, and whisk to combine. Pour dressing over kale and toss very well to thoroughly combine (dressing will be thick and need lots of tossing to coat leaves).
Let salad sit for 5 minutes, then serve topped with bread crumbs, additional cheese and a drizzle of oil.

Nutrition Facts : @context http, Calories 40, UnsaturatedFat 0 grams, Carbohydrate 8 grams, Fat 1 gram, Fiber 2 grams, Protein 3 grams, SaturatedFat 0 grams, Sodium 156 milligrams, Sugar 2 grams, TransFat 0 grams

Tips:

Choose fresh, tender kale for the best flavor and texture.
Remove the tough stems from the kale leaves before chopping.
Massage the kale with a little salt and olive oil until it becomes tender and slightly wilted.
Use a variety of toppings and dressings to create a salad that is both flavorful and visually appealing.
Store leftover kale salad in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Conclusion:

Melissa's kale salad is a delicious and healthy dish that is perfect for a light lunch or dinner. It is packed with nutrients and antioxidants, and it can be easily customized to suit your own taste preferences. With its simple ingredients and easy-to-follow instructions, this salad is a great option for anyone looking for a healthy and delicious meal. In addition to being a great source of nutrients, kale is also a very versatile vegetable. It can be used in a variety of dishes, including salads, soups, smoothies, and stir-fries. So next time you're looking for a healthy and delicious way to add more greens to your diet, give kale a try!