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Home Recipes Salads Balsamic Kale Salad Recipe

Balsamic Kale Salad Recipe

by Jennifer Debth January 22, 2016
25 Comments
5 from 18 votes
JUMP TO RECIPE
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.

This Balsamic Kale Salad Recipe is quick & easy, so healthy, & full of creamy feta, toasty pecans, & tart berries. All smothered in a balsamic vinaigrette.

Balsamic kale salad in bowl aboveKale. Yeah. That’s how I feel about this Balsamic Kale Salad Recipe. This kale salad will brighten up your dreary winter-y day, will make you feel so healthy, because, um, you’re eating k.a.l.e., and will satisfy your foodie loving self, because the combo of my easy homemade balsamic vinaigrette, creamy feta, toasty pecans, and tart berries is super good.

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Salads, for me, can go two ways.

1. It can be boring, texture-less, and just bleh.

OR

2. It can be so exciting, full of fun textures, and be so tasty that you forget you’re actually eating something ridiculously good FOR you.

This balsamic kale salad definitely fits in the second category.

Who else is excited for salad?! 😉

Close up of kale salad

Half view of bowl of saladNow. If I’m going to eat a salad and actually be happy about it, it needs to be full of different flavors and textures to keep me interested.

First, let’s talk flavor.

Tangy feta meets toasty pecans meets bright red onion <– yum.

But it doesn’t end there, with that goes tart raspberries and blackberries that really rounds out the salad.

My favorite part, however, is the dressing. It’s a homemade balsamic vinaigrette that I KNOW you’re gonna flip for. All you need to do is place olive oil, balsamic vinegar, honey, dijon mustard, garlic, salt, and pepper into a mason jar (or similar container), place the lid on, and shake it all together!

This vinaigrette may be simple, but it’s definitely not lacking in flavor.

Balsamic vinaigrette being poured into mason jarNow, let’s talk texture.

It all starts with the kale, because what’s a balsamic kale salad without the kale? 😉

Today, we’re using curly kale. Kale is definitely a heartier, kind of tough green, so to break it down a bit, we “massage” the kale with a little of the balsamic vinaigrette. You literally place bite sized pieces of kale into a bowl, pour on a little dressing, and use your hands to rub together the kale. This helps to break down the cellulose structure in the kale and make the kale go from tough –> soft. You’ll be able to see and taste the difference, as the kale will darken, shrink, and become silky.

I think that’s kinda cool. 😉

Now the kale may be the base of this balsamic kale salad, but the texture stars, for me, are the additional mix ins.

Kale salad toppings in bowlI love how juicy, soft, and plump the raspberries and blackberries are, how creamy the feta is, and how crunchy the pecans are. The combination with the kale is just salad perfection if you ask me!

Balsamic kale salad in bowlA lotta flavor, a lotta texture…I’m telling you, this balsamic kale salad is the least boring salad EVER. 😉

– Jennifer

This Balsamic Kale Salad Recipe is quick & easy, so healthy, & full of creamy feta, toasty pecans, & tart berries. All smothered in a balsamic vinaigrette. showmetheyummy.com #kalesalad #balsamicvinaigrette

Balsamic Kale Salad Recipe

5 from 18 votes
This Balsamic Kale Salad Recipe is quick & easy, so healthy, & full of creamy feta, toasty pecans, & tart berries. All smothered in a balsamic vinaigrette.
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes
Yield: 4 side salads
Print Pin Rate Recipe

Equipment for this recipe

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Ingredients

US Customary - Metric

Salad Ingredients

  • 4 cups curly kale packed (ribs removed) torn into bite sized pieces
  • 1 (6 oz) package raspberries/blackberries strawberries would also be great
  • 1/4 cup crumbled feta or goat cheese
  • 1/4 cup chopped toasted pecans*
  • 1/4 red onion thinly sliced

Balsamic Vinaigrette

  • 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
  • 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons honey
  • 2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
  • 1 clove garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Balsamic Vinaigrette

  • Place all ingredients into a mason jar, place lid on, and shake until well combined.

Balsamic Kale Salad

  • Place torn kale into a large mixing bowl.
  • Pour in a little bit of the dressing and massage the kale, using your hands, for a few minutes - this helps break the kale down and make it soft.**
  • Place the rest of the ingredients into the bowl with the kale and toss together.
  • Taste and add as much balsamic vinaigrette as you'd like.
  • Serve and enjoy!
  • Take 5 seconds to rate this recipe below. We greatly appreciate it!
Rate This Recipe
STORING
Room Temp:N/A
Refrigerator:1-2 Days
Freezer:N/A
*Storage times may vary based on temperature and conditions

Notes

Nutritional information includes ALL the salad dressing. 
*To toast pecans: preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Place pecans on an unlined, rimmed baking sheet. Roast in preheated oven until pecans are fragrant and golden, about 4-8 minutes. Stir halfway through to avoid burnt spots.
**This is a great make ahead salad, too, because kale is so sturdy! If you'd like, after you massage the kale, place in the fridge, covered. When you're ready to serve, add in the rest of the salad ingredients and toss with more balsamic vinaigrette, to taste.

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Nutrition Information

Nutrition Facts
Balsamic Kale Salad Recipe
Amount Per Serving
Calories 413 Calories from Fat 306
% Daily Value*
Fat 34g52%
Saturated Fat 6g38%
Cholesterol 8mg3%
Sodium 455mg20%
Potassium 446mg13%
Carbohydrates 25g8%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 14g16%
Protein 6g12%
Vitamin A 6745IU135%
Vitamin C 92.3mg112%
Calcium 166mg17%
Iron 1.8mg10%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

*Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on products used.

Keywords: balsamic vinaigrette, fresh, healthy
Enjoy this recipe?
Tag @showmetheyummy on Instagram and hashtag it #showmetheyummy
Course: Salad, Side Dish
Cuisine: American
Author: Jennifer Debth

Filed Under: Appetizers & Snacks, Gluten Free, Healthy, Lunch, Recipes, Salads, Vegetarian

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  1. Estela

    Franklin Park, Illinois

    January 28, 2023 at 7:18 pm

    5 stars Omg this volcanic vinaigrette is great. I used it on baby kale Salad an spinach salad as well. Is delicious 😋
    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      January 30, 2023 at 11:31 am

      So glad you like the dressing Estela!
  2. Estela

    Franklin Park, Illinois

    January 28, 2023 at 7:16 pm

    5 stars
    Reply
  3. Anonymous

    Claremont, California

    July 27, 2022 at 2:35 am

    5 stars
    Reply
  4. Elizabeth

    United States

    December 30, 2021 at 5:23 pm

    5 stars Yum! This is my second time making this salad. It is delicious made exactly as the recipe states. I prefer the feta in it instead of the goat cheese, but either is good. Thank you for a great recipe!
    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      December 31, 2021 at 9:16 am

      I’m so glad you enjoyed this!
  5. Anonymous

    St. Albert, Alberta

    October 5, 2021 at 9:40 am

    5 stars
    Reply
  6. Janet

    Olympia, Washington

    September 18, 2021 at 11:48 pm

    5 stars Awesome. Used raspberry vinagrette and skipped the berries and cheese. Ate it with pizza. WAS Excellent. EVERYONE HAD SECONDS.
    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      September 20, 2021 at 8:38 am

      Aw yay! Thanks Janet!
  7. kaleskeptic

    Novi, Michigan

    September 16, 2021 at 7:24 am

    5 stars great flavors in this easy, healthy salad
    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      September 16, 2021 at 8:17 am

      Thanks so much!
  8. Debbie

    St. Albert, Alberta

    August 6, 2021 at 2:41 pm

    5 stars Best kale salad ever, loved it
    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      September 8, 2021 at 8:30 am

      Thanks Debbie!
  9. Haley

    George Town, Cayman Islands

    July 7, 2021 at 8:54 pm

    5 stars Let me start by saying I hate kale .. and salads in general… but I LOVED this salad! The dressing is amazing and the fruits and cheese add great flavor! Such a great combination.
    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      July 7, 2021 at 11:11 pm

      Aw thank you, Haley! 🙂
  10. Anonymous

    United States

    April 24, 2021 at 5:56 pm

    5 stars
    Reply
  11. JP

    Barrington, Illinois

    August 28, 2020 at 10:10 am

    5 stars
    Reply
  12. Annette

    Endicott, New York

    July 11, 2020 at 2:50 pm

    5 stars I love kale salad and my husband does not. Well he loved this salad and had it for lunch the next day. We will be eating this a lot.
    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      July 13, 2020 at 1:13 pm

      Aw yay!! 🙂
  13. Anonymous

    High Point, North Carolina

    July 6, 2020 at 8:02 am

    5 stars
    Reply
  14. Anonymous

    Guatemala City, Departamento de Guatemala

    May 22, 2020 at 6:41 pm

    5 stars
    Reply
  15. Cpress

    Ocala, Florida

    April 3, 2020 at 8:03 pm

    5 stars Excellent dressing!
    Reply
    • Jennifer @ Show Me the Yummy

      April 4, 2020 at 7:37 am

      Thank you!
  16. Catia

    September 30, 2017 at 9:15 am

    Kale salad is always my favourite. Love the salad you’ve made!
    Reply
  17. NORMA

    Hermosillo, Sonora

    January 22, 2016 at 12:33 pm

    5 stars i liked it
    Reply

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Trevor and Jennifer HeadshotWe're Trevor and Jennifer, we live in Raleigh, North Carolina with our 70lb lap dog, Teddy. We love food and together, we are on a mission to find all things YUMMY!
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