The "kale hater's" kale salad
My sweet fella is an avid kale-hater. You know the type. You might even be one yourself. I've spent the past several years trying to convince him that kale is a wonderful thing that doesn't need to be cooked down in bacon fat or covered in cheese in order to be good (though those are very good things). So when I made him this Creamy Kale Salad with Raspberries and Feta for the first time and packed it in his lunch, I expected some less than enthusiastic feedback. Instead, I got this lunchtime text: "The kale salad is seriously delicious, which is something I thought I would never say."
Lacinato kale is massaged with olive oil and salt until tender, then tossed with red cabbage, carrots, and green onions in a lightly sweet, zippy, and creamy dressing. To finish, the tender greens are treated to a generous sprinkle of crunchy sunflower seeds, fresh sweet raspberries, and salty feta cheese. You can call it by its proper name, or as we affectionately have dubbed it at our house -- "The Kale Hater's Kale Salad." Either way, this salad is bound to turn a few kale haters into kale-lovers!
Tenderize kale by massaging it first
The way you prepare kale completely dictates whether you're going to eat green, leafy cardboard or whether you're going to eat a bowl of super tasty and tender greens worth adding to your dinner plate. The key to taking kale greens from cardboard to delicious is to massage them. I know this sounds a little odd, but trust me, this 2-minute trick will make your greens tender and soft -- perfect for building a super tasty Creamy Kale Salad with Raspberries and Feta.
All you need is a little oil, Kosher salt, and very clean hands. I prefer to use garlic-infused olive oil, but classic olive oil or good neutral avocado oil will work really well too. Simply toss the oil and salt into clean, torn kale greens and start kneading and squeezing those greens! Within a few seconds of doing this, you should notice that the kale has already begun to soften. As you continue to massage, the kale will darken in color and become super tender and perfect for eating raw in a salad.
What to serve this Creamy Kale Salad with Raspberries and Feta with
- Grilled Skirt Steak with Avocado Chimichurri Sauce
- Crispy Oven-Fried Fish
- Greek Lamb Meatballs with Tzatziki Sauce
- Pressure Cooker Barbacoa Beef
- Pressure Cooker Boneless Beef Ribs
- Mediterranean Turkey Burgers
- Grilled Chicken Wings with Chipotle Peach BBQ Sauce
What tools do I need to make this recipe?
- A cutting board
- A chef's knife
- A kitchen scale - OR - Measuring cups (for less accurate measurements)
- Measuring spoons
- A large mixing bowl (to toss the salad in)
- A small mixing bowl or mason jar
- A small whisk or a fork
- 2 wooden spoons or spatulas (to toss the salad)
Are you looking to upgrade to your cooking tools or replenish your pantry? Check out my kitchen tools shop page and pantry staples shop page to find my must-have kitchen tools, pantry items, and other Whip & Wander favorites.
Looking for more salad inspiration?
Love this Creamy Kale Salad with Raspberries and Feta? Here are some additional salad recipes to add to your menu:
- Tuna Nicoise Salad
- Radicchio Salad with Green Olives, Blue Cheese, and Candied Walnuts
- Smoked Salmon adn Citrus Salad with Cucumber and Avocado
- Strawberry Peach Summer Salad with Basil Walnut Pesto
- Shaved Brussles Sprouts Salad with Blue Cheese, Cranberries, and Pecans
- Creamy Cucumber Radish Salad
A note for special diets
This Creamy Kale Salad with Raspberries and Feta is friendly for gluten-free diets. If you omit the feta cheese, this salad can also accommodate dairy-free and Paleo diets.
Print
Creamy Kale Salad with Raspberries and Feta
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 15 minutes
- Yield: 1 large salad 1x
- Category: Salads & Dressings
- Method: No-Cook
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Gluten Free
Description
Lacinato kale is massaged with olive oil and salt until tender, then tossed with red cabbage, carrots, and green onions in a lightly sweet, zippy, and creamy dressing. To finish, the tender greens are treated to a generous sprinkle of crunchy sunflower seeds, fresh sweet raspberries, and salty feta cheese.
Ingredients
For the dressing:
- 5 tbsp mayo
- 2 tbsp red wine vinegar
- 2 tbsp Dijon mustard
- 1 tbsp honey
For the salad:
- 2 heads (about 331 g) Lacinato/Italian kale, de-veined and roughly chopped
- 2 tbsp garlic-infused olive oil (may sub for traditional olive oil, then add 2 cloves minced garlic after greens are massaged)
- 1 tsp Kosher salt
- ½ head red cabbage (about 354 g), thinly chopped
- 111 g (about 1 cup) carrots, shredded
- 32 g (about ¾ cup) green onions, chopped
- 3 tbsp sunflower seeds
- 154 g (about 1 cup) fresh raspberries
- 4 oz (just under a cup) feta cheese, crumbled
Instructions
For the dressing:
- Add mayo, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey to a medium bowl. Whisk until fully combined then reserve to the side.
For the salad:
- In a large mixing bowl, add the chopped kale and top with olive oil and salt. Massage by hand (kneading and gently squeezing the kale) for about 2 minutes. The kale should shrink in volume substantially as it tenderizes and the leaves will darken. If utilizing traditional olive oil instead of the garlic-infused olive oil, you can add the minced garlic in after the kale has been massaged.
- Add red cabbage, carrots, and green onions, and the reserved dressing. Toss to combine.
- Add sunflower seeds, raspberries, and feta cheese and gently fold in.
Notes
Nutritional information on Whip & Wander is provided as a courtesy and is approximate only. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the nutritional information given for any recipe on this site.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: ⅙ of salad
- Calories: 266
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 624 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 4 g
- Carbohydrates: 20 g
- Fiber: 5 g
- Protein: 8 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
I'm a huge kale fan and even bigger fan of sweet and savoury combos so I know this beautiful salad with kale and raspberries would be right up my alley. So perfect to bring to a summer bbq 🙂
Elizabeth says
I quite like kale, it's the addition of raspberries that has got me curious! I've never thought about adding them to a salad like this but it sounds incredible!
Kristy Bernardo says
You are spot-on about the importance of massaging your kale! Great recipe, thanks!
Marlynn | Urban Bliss Life says
Yes to massaging kale -- I agree that it's key for salads! What a beautiful summer salad!
This Messy Season says
Okay, this looks like the perfect summer salad!
Corinne says
this sounds so good! It's been so hot outside lately, so this would be fantastic to eat on our back patio 🙂
Mimi says
Cardboardy-kale is the worst! Thanks for all the great tips to prepare it correctly 🙂 I can't wait to try this. I love everything with raspberries.
Paula @ I'm Busy Being Awesome says
Oh my goodness, just look at all those bright colors! This looks absolutely DELICIOUS! My husband is a kale-hater, so I can't wait to try this recipe out on him 🙂 Also, thanks for the tip about massaging the kale; I had NO idea!
Whip & Wander says
It's a game changer for sure! My fella is an avid kale hater and loves this salad, so I hope your husband does too!
Angela says
kale & red cabbage are two of my favorite salad ingredients so I'm sold! I'll be trying this salad next!
celeste says
oh my goodness I love all the colors of this salad. this would be perfect to bring to a summer bbq!
Sheenam says
Definitely giving this a try. Looks so good.
Johanna says
I have never been tempted to try kale until now when I see your salad recipe. I must give it a try, I'm sure it is delicious!
Whip & Wander says
I hope you do. The massaging trick is a game changer!
Aditi says
This seems like such a refreshing summer salad. I do enjoy kale and think this is going to be a great addition to my salad menu. thanks for sharing.
Jay says
Sounds pretty good. I'm not a huge fan of kale but I'm also not a hater. I'd have to find a substitution for the raspberries, though, if making it for my family (my fiancee is allergic).
Whip & Wander says
Strawberries and blueberries are great alternatives if your fiancee is able to eat those instead.
Catherine @ To & Fro Fam says
Yum yum yum. I'm the opposite of a kale hater! Either way, this salad looks delicious.
Danielle says
We love a kale salad and usually have some apple with it. But berries sound like a great alternative!
Whip & Wander says
Apple is fantastic in kale salads! I hope you like the berries too!
Allison - Celebrating Sweets says
I can't wait to try this. When prepared the right way kale can be SO tasty!
Alina | Cooking Journey Blog says
Lovely raspberries on top! I think it's a great idea to combine raspberries and kale! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Nancy | Flavorpalooza says
Ha! Love the title! I'm not a kale hater, but a tasty dressing always helps. Like the sound of the honey-mustard one for this! Beautiful photos.
Vicky says
I am very excited to try this as I have yet to jump on the kale bandwagon. I know it is supposed to be good for me so I am excited to find a yummy way to do it.