Massaged Kale Greek Salad

A massage works wonders, be it on a human or kale. This Massaged Kale Greek Salad turns raw kale from tough and bitter into soft and sweet

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The making of Massaged Kale Greek Salad

Kale. We all know it's good for us, full of vitamins, minerals, antitoxins. It s a nutrient-rich food. One of the best sources of vitamin K, A, and C. It also has large amounts of magnesium and potassium. It can help lower cholesterol and Yada Yada Yada. We know this.

But, kale can be tough. Kale can be bitter. Especially in the raw stage. Much better cooked as far as the mouth goes, but more nutrient-rich when served raw. So how does one go from making kale into a raw star, other than throwing it into your morning smoothie? The answer I found is simple. Give it a good massage.

Why Massage?

Just as you might enjoy a good massage to loosen up your tense muscles, kale loves a good massage to break down the tough cellulose and fiber that makes it hard to chew, harder to digest, and just not so much fun in your mouth. It also turns it from being slightly bitter to being sweeter.

I mean a massage does that for you, so why not kale?

Turn this

Into this

Without all this

The art of the massage

Just like kneading bread, you want to use your hands and gently, but firmly, massage the leaves of the kale, using your fingers to separate the leaves from the tough stems. After about 2 minutes you will notice a distinct change in the look and feel of your kale. Keep massaging for a few minutes longer until your kale is as soft as you like it.

Don't over-massage. You want soft tender kale, not mushy kale.

Remove the hard stems as they become separated from the leaves. Unless, of course, you enjoy the hard stems. Then just leave them. Me, not so much.

The combination of massage, along with the oil, lemon juice, and salt is what works its magic.

Where's the dressing?

You might notice there is no recipe for any dressing. That's because by putting the lemon-flavored olive oil, lemon juice, and salt on the leaves before you massage them, you are actually making the dressing as you make the kale soft and tender. It's one reason I recommend you use a lemon-infused olive oil, although a good extra virgin olive oil will do the job. And with only 1 teaspoon of oil being used, you know that helps keep the fat and calories down too.

Not that I can claim this is low-fat. The olives, Feta, and pistachios all have fat. So use those ingredients as you see fit.

Make it in advance

This salad is so easy to make in advance. As a matter of fact, I think it's better when allowed to sit for a while, an hour or so before it's served to allow all of the flavors to blend.  The Feta melds into the kale, the meaty olives lend their brininess to the program, the thinly sliced red onion starts to soften and sweeten, and the tomatoes lend their juices to the mix. The only thing I would not add until the last minute is the pistachios. Keep them until just ready to serve so they maintain their crunch.

Refrigerated to hold - then remove the salad at least 15 minutes prior to serving so it's not ice cold. Better at almost room temperature.

So there you have it. Thinking outside of the shake. A new easy way to incorporate healthy kale into your life.

I hope you try giving your kale a good massage. It will make you, and your kale, so happy!

Want more hearty salads like this Massaged Kale Salad? Try one of these...

Tabouleh Salad

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad with Feta

Quinoa Salad with Dried Fruits