Meet your new favorite salad: the massaged kale pomegranate salad. Massaged what? We know, we know. Massaging kale might sound strange (like something out of Portlandia). But the massage tenderizes the kale and removes the bitter taste, leaving soft and lightly sweet leaves that are delicious as salad greens! Pair the tender kale with apple, pomegranate seeds, and an apple cider vinaigrette, and it’s a tasty side salad for a cozy meal.
First step: massage the kale!
OK really: massage the kale? Yes, it’s exactly as it sounds. You take the kale leaves and you, well, massage them! The cool thing about massaging the kale leaves is that it makes them tender and sweet tasting instead of crisp and bitter tasting. If you’ve ever tried raw kale, you know what I’m talking about! A raw kale leaf isn’t something to write home about. But after it’s been massaged….well, it’s a different story! To massage kale:
Destem the kale and chop it into pieces. Sprinkle it with a pinch of kosher salt. Then, coat your hands with a few drops of olive oil and massage the kale leaves for 2 to 3 minutes until all pieces are tender. That’s it! It sounds mystifying but it’s actually very simple. And you can taste the difference right away.
How make this kale pomegranate salad
Once you’ve massaged the kale, this kale pomegranate salad is a breeze! Here’s what you’ll need to do to assemble the salad:
Massage the kale. See the notes above! Cut and seed the pomegranate. We’ve got a genius no-mess method for how to cut a pomegranate.Make the apple cider vinaigrette: Whisk together a dressing with apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, maple syrup, chili powder, and olive oil. The flavors together are fantastic! See the recipe below. Other homemade dressings that would work? Dijon Mustard Dressing or Citrus Salad Dressing.
What to pair with kale pomegranate salad
This massaged kale pomegranate salad is a fantastic component for a fall or winter menu. Are you planning a menu? Putting together dishes that complement each other is difficult. For me, this was the hardest part of cooking for me when I started. I would pour over books with menu plans trying to understand the art of putting together a cohesive menu. Here are a few menu planning tips we use
Create contrasts. Think about contrasting elements, both between recipes and within recipes. This bright and crisp kale pomegranate salad pairs well with mushy, savory comfort foods that are typical in fall or winter.Think in colors. This salad adds a well needed burst of color to a fall or winter tablescape. When planning a menu, we always think of the colors that are represented in all of the dishes: since we eat with our eyes first!Focus on nutrients. A crisp green massaged kale salad is a great way to bring in needed nutrients to a fall or winter meal, which can tend towards heavier comfort food.
A few timer saver tips for integrating this massaged kale salad into a meal: you can chop the kale in advance and massage before serving. In some grocery stores, you can also find seeded pomegranate, which can help with the prep time. And of course, you can whisk up the dressing in advance and refrigerate: just bring it to room temperature before serving.
More pomegranate recipes
Love pomegranates? Here are a few more pomegranate recipes that use these vibrant seeds:
Make a bright Shaved Brussels Sprout SaladShake up a Pomegranate Martini or blend a Pomegranate SmoothieMake fresh squeezed Pomegranate JuiceSprinkle over dips, like Yogurt Dip with Pomegranate
This kale pomegranate salad recipe is…
Begetarian, vegan, plant based, dairy free, naturally sweet, and refined sugar free.
Looking for entertaining recipes?
This massaged kale salad is a lovely idea for entertaining! Here are few more entertaining recipes on A Couple Cooks: No reviews
Pomegranate Cider SpritzerStuffed Delicata Squash with Wild RiceGarlic and Chive Mashed Sweet PotatoesRoasted Brussels Sprouts with Pecorino and PecansPoached Pears with Pecan Granola and Whipped Cream
Looking for more salad recipes?
Outside of this massaged kale salad recipe, here are a few more salad recipes on A Couple Cooks:
Strawberry Salad with Balsamic VinaigretteShaved Brussels Sprout Salad with PomegranateVegan Italian Pasta SaladVegetarian Cobb SaladBeet Salad with Blue CheeseApple Manchego SaladHealthy Superfood SaladBest Tossed Salad RecipeFrench Potato SaladNicoise SaladStrawberry Spinach Salad Homemade Croutons Recipe
Last updated: December 2020
