Garlic Lemon Parmesan Kale Salad (Printable)
Fresh kale massaged with zesty garlic-lemon dressing, topped with Parmesan and toasted nuts for a vibrant, satisfying dish.
# What You'll Need:
→ Salad Components
01 - 1 large bunch curly kale, stems removed and leaves chopped (about 8 cups)
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 maple syrup
10 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
# How-To Steps:
01 - Place chopped kale in a large salad bowl. Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and massage leaves with hands for 1-2 minutes until softened and bright green.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, lemon zest, garlic, Dijon mustard, honey, salt, and pepper until thoroughly combined.
03 - Pour dressing over massaged kale and toss thoroughly to coat all leaves evenly.
04 - Sprinkle Parmesan cheese and pine nuts or almonds over dressed salad. Toss lightly to distribute toppings.
05 - Serve immediately or allow to rest 5 minutes for flavors to meld together.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The magic happens when you massage the kale transforming tough leaves into something silky and tender
- That garlic lemon dressing makes everything taste bright and alive like sunshine on a plate
02 -
- The kale massage step is not optional it completely changes the texture from rough to luxurious
- Letting the dressed salad sit for 5 minutes before serving allows the flavors to really sink in
03 -
- Use a microplane for the garlic so it dissolves into the dressing instead of leaving harsh chunks
- Taste a dressed leaf before adding more salt the Parmesan is already quite salty