Easy Kale Salad With Balsamic Dressing
Looking for a new power salad recipe to try? This easy kale salad with balsamic dressing is perfect for family get-togethers, BBQs, or a quick clean-eating meal!
I have always been a, “caesar salad from a bag” kind of girl. Growing up, I didn’t hate salad, but I stuck to really basic stuff slathered in creamy, fat-filled dressings.
I definitely wasn’t into kale, so it’s funny that today I bring you a kale salad recipe.
Can you eat kale like a salad? What kale is best for salad?
These are legit questions I asked myself when I first discovered kale. When I became a mom, I went into full research mode. I wanted my kids to have the healthiest upbringing humanly possible, as many first-time moms do.
I studied the chemicals that are abundant in the home, making changes to the everyday products I used (think cleaners and personal care). And of course, I made changes to my diet.
When I found out that most salad dressings are full of high-fructose corn syrup, sodium, fat, and preservatives, I was disgusted.
I decided to make the switch to all organic, vinaigrette based dressings. This was especially important to me in pregnancy, but I got pretty used to “the good” stuff by the time I became a personal trainer.
It’s just healthier!
Enter my easy kale salad with balsamic dressing!
Basically, now I only buy dressings that are in the refrigerated section right next to the greens at the grocery store. (A relatively easy switch since I love balsamic!)
But even though I’d converted to a healthier salad dressing, I didn’t know how to make some of the delicious salads I’d had at barbecues and parties.
I wasn’t sure how to make a proper salad, let alone one packed with nutrients instead of my typical iceberg or romaine salads.
Related Reading: Is A Low-Carb Diet Really The Best Way to Go?
I remembered back to a party I’d gone to where I thought the salad was amazing. My aunt had made it, and she was known for dumping things together and somehow managing to make the best salad ever.
So, for this power salad, I did just that. I dumped things together and they came out delicious. The result was this simple but delicious kale salad recipe!
Kale salad with cranberries = yum!
So delicious that I’ve made this Easy kale salad recipe three days in a row this week!
I started with the baby kale I had on hand for my smoothies. While I don’t normally like kale, I try to eat it.
I discovered that baby kale is much softer and milder and completely delicious compared to regular kale. (In my opinion!) I’m usually a spinach girl, so this was a nice discovery.
Then, I added some organic balsamic vinaigrette, just enough to give the salad some flavor. I always try to keep my dressings light.
Next, I found a clementine orange in my fridge. It was promptly cut up and mixed into the salad. The juiciness added to the coating, so I was glad that I’d only added a little vinaigrette. (You can probably already guess just how yummy this kale salad recipe is going to be!)
What else could I add to my easy kale salad recipe?
I had some grapes that were soon to go bad. I cut up about 7 of those babies and threw them in. More juicy goodness. Then I added some unsalted sunflower seeds and hemp hearts. I topped it off with a few organic dried cranberries. Strangely delicious!
You can see how this kale salad recipe got its tanginess, yes?
Also see: The Best Weight Loss Diet For Lasting Change
Healthy & Easy Kale Salad Recipe Nutrition
While I don’t have the exact caloric value for this recipe (I ate a huge bowl to myself so I don’t know what a serving would be), I thought it would be interesting to see what nutrients it could provide. Here’s the basic breakdown:
Kale: Full of fiber, Vitamins A, K, and C, folate, omega-3s, lutein, zeaxanthin, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and zinc. Basically, good on many fronts, but especially good for your eyes.
Clementine orange: Fiber, thiamin, folate, potassium, vitamin C.
Grapes: Known for supporting heart health, grapes provide antioxidants, vitamin K, copper, and several B vitamins.
Cranberries: Full of antioxidants, potassium, manganese, vitamin C, fiber, vitamin E, and more.
Sunflower seeds: Tons of vitamin E, copper, vitamin B1, manganese, selenium, phosphorus, good fats! These guys fight free radicals!
Hemp Hearts: Full of protein, omega-3s, iron, vitamin E, and the omega-6 GLA. Good for your brain, skin, joints, heats, hair, and bones!
Related Reading: 5 Easy Ways to Get Your Kids to Eat More Vegetables
That’s a ton of nutrients in one little bowl!
I’ve decided to give you a general recipe for this yummy healthy kale salad below, but keep in mind that I never measured anything. I’m kind of a “toss it in” kind of person when it comes to salads, and this just so happened to be delicious.
Kale salad with cranberries is my go-to. If you like fruit, add more fruit! If you like sunflower seeds (yum) add more sunflower seeds! You get the idea – make it your own! The more variety you add, the greater the variety of nutrients.
Also see: Easy Turkey Feta Egg Muffin Cups
Healthy Kale Salad Recipe Instructions
Fruity, nutty, and oh-so yummy. The perfect summer salad.
Prep Time 5 minutes
Total Time 5 minutes
Servings 2
Ingredients
- 4 cups baby kale
- 1 clementine orange chopped
- 8 grapes chopped
- 3-4 tbsp balsamic vinaigrette
- 1/4 cup dried cranberries
- 2 tbsp sunflower seeds
- 2 tbsp hemp seed hearts
Instructions
- Mix all together and enjoy!
I hope you enjoy my easy kale salad with balsamic dressing. What’s your favorite “throw together” salad? Tell me below!
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