Description
A fresh and vibrant Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing featuring crisp kale, tangy natural lemon juice, and wholesome ingredients like sunflower seeds and cherry tomatoes. This light yet satisfying salad offers a perfect balance of zesty, earthy, and refreshing flavors that energize your day and can be customized easily to suit your taste.
Ingredients
Scale
Salad Ingredients
- 4 cups fresh kale leaves, firm and dark green, chopped or torn into bite-sized pieces
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
- 1/4 cup red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 tablespoons sunflower seeds
Lemon Dressing
- 1/4 cup natural lemon juice (freshly squeezed)
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon maple syrup (natural)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Prepare the Kale: Wash kale leaves thoroughly. Remove the tough stems and chop or tear leaves into bite-sized pieces. Massage kale gently with a pinch of salt to soften the texture and reduce bitterness, making it more enjoyable to eat.
- Make the Lemon Dressing: In a small bowl, whisk together natural lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, maple syrup (natural), salt, and black pepper until well combined, creating a bright and balanced dressing with a hint of sweetness.
- Combine Ingredients: Place the massaged kale in a large bowl. Add halved cherry tomatoes, thinly sliced red onion, and sunflower seeds. Pour the lemon dressing over the salad and toss everything together until every leaf is lightly coated.
- Serve and Enjoy: Taste the salad and adjust seasoning with more salt or lemon juice if needed. Serve immediately for a fresh crunch or let it rest for 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld beautifully.
Notes
- Massage the kale to soften leaves and reduce bitterness, improving texture.
- Use freshly squeezed natural lemon juice for the brightest flavor.
- Adjust the maple syrup (natural) gradually to balance the lemon’s tanginess.
- Lightly toast sunflower seeds to enhance their nutty flavor and crunch.
- Dress the salad just before serving to keep kale crisp and vibrant.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 0 minutes
- Category: Appetizers
- Method: No-cook
- Cuisine: International
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup
- Calories: 150
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 120mg
- Fat: 12g
- Saturated Fat: 1.5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10.5g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 9g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 3g
- Cholesterol: 0mg
Keywords: kale salad, lemon dressing, healthy salad, plant-based salad, gluten free salad, fresh salad, easy salad recipe
