This satisfying and delicious kale salad is packed with sun-dried tomatoes, green olives, roasted nuts and sharp feta.
One of my favorite places to work remotely is the Downtown Market here in Grand Rapids. Just a few years old, it is packed with stalls of locally owned and operated businesses selling everything from tacos to pies to sushi and more. During a recent visit I grabbed a kale salad for lunch from Relish Green Grocer filled with green olives, nuts and feta. Immediately, I was inspired me to recreate it at home.
Of course, in true Liz fashion, I can never just let a nut be a nut so I tossed them in coconut oil and warm Indian spices and made a quick batch of my Indian-Spiced Mixed Nuts. They would be just as delicious toasted dry or with a little olive oil and salt. Feel free to mix and match with your favorite spices.
If you’re using high-quality, fresh nuts like these beauties I got to sample on my Diamond of California farm tour, there really is very little you need to do but I just couldn’t help myself. What can I say, I am a sucker for garam masala.
The secret to a good kale salad is taking a minute or two to massage the leaves in the olive oil and salt. Dry kale on it’s own is a little stiff and hard to chew. Massaged kale coated in silky olive oil and tangy lemon juice is food from the gods. There is a difference and your salad is worth the moment spent to take it to the next level.
As an added bonus, the sun-dried tomatoes and lemon juice provide a hefty dose of Vitamin C which help your body absorb the iron in the kale. Win win.
Your fork is waiting.
Kale Salad with Toasted Nuts and Feta
Ingredients
- 6 cups kale (chopped)
- 4 teaspoons olive oil
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
- 1/4 cup minced sun-dried tomatoes (oil-packed)
- 4 ounces feta (crumbled)
- 10 large green olives (thinly sliced)
- 1/2 cup Indian-Spiced Mixed Nuts (or dry-roasted Diamond of California Sliced Almonds)
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Place chopped kale in a large bowl and drizzle with olive oil, lemon juice and salt. Use your hands to gentle massage the kale until it is evenly coated with the vinaigrette.
- Toss in sun-dried tomatoes, feta, green olives and nuts.
- Check for seasoning and sprinkle with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
Joanne
One of the perks of knowing how to cook is definitely being able to recreate restaurant food that I love! The flavors in this salad are beyond awesome.
Liz DellaCroce
That is so absolutely true!!
Sue
I have one of their kale salads in my fridge right now! They are the best. I love Relish’s Date Lime Dressing with it usually but this time I tried their Spiced Turmeric Tahini Dressing, which is equally as good. I like your dressing idea as well!
Liz DellaCroce
Oooo I should try those flavors!!
Gaby
This salad looks yummy! Wish I this right now!
Susan
This sounds wonderful – as long as I leave out the olives. I love the idea of using Indian spices for the nuts. Since I’d leave out the olives, I might add some of those Palouse soft white wheat berries I just got… One way to keep up with the whole grains challenge. :-)
Liz DellaCroce
Ooo that’s a great idea!!
Ann
We both had kale salads on our mind today. Yours looks wonderful!
Liz DellaCroce
Too funny!! Great minds!
Ami@NaiveCookCooks
Love the idea of using toasted nuts!! Yummy!
Liz DellaCroce
Me too – so easy and so much flavor!
Brenda @ a farmgirl's dabbles
Why do I not think to put green olives in my salads? Love this!!
Liz DellaCroce
I need to do it more often – I adore green olives!
Aggie
You had me at olives. Oh and kale, feta and nuts. Um, yea pretty much the perfect salad!!!
Liz DellaCroce
You always inspire me with your salads!! You’d love this one!
Julia
Walnuts are one of my favorite nuts especially in salads. Love the combo of olives, kale and the nuts. Perfect!
Liz DellaCroce
Mine too Julia – so good!!