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Massaged Kale Salad with Parmesan cheese and lemon dressing is so tasty you'll forget it's good for you. A simple recipe with tender kale leaves.

Massaged kale salad topped with shaved Parmesan and lemon dressing in a brown bowl on a orange checkered background.

Do you have a strong opinion about kale? Maybe it wasn't prepared properly if you're in the never camp.

My feelings changed long ago when my dd (darling daughter) and I visited a local grower. They handed out samples of irresistibly soft kale leaves with fresh lemon juice and olive oil massaged into them.

I immediately bought a bunch, and I've been making kale apple slaw and this kale salad topped with feathery Parmesan cheese ever since.

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Ingredient Notes
Directions with Pictures
Top Tips
Serving Ideas
Storage
More 15-Minute Salad Recipes
📋 Recipe

Ingredient Notes

Only a few simple ingredients are needed to make a delicious kale salad with a simple lemon vinaigrette.

Ingredients to make recipe on butcher block background: bunch of curly kale, lemon, olive oil and honey cups, and a triangle of Parmesan cheese with some missing.

Below are my recommendations for the best variety of kale to use:

Curly kale is commonly found in grocery stores. It has a peppery, bitter taste that disappears when it's massaged. The salad pictured has this type of kale.
Lacinato kale has smooth leaves that are slightly sweet and more delicate.

Please refer to the recipe card below for the full list of ingredients and detailed instructions.

Directions with Pictures

Below are the steps to massage kale leaves, make the lemon dressing, and assemble the salad:

Hand removing kale leaves from the stalk.

Step 1. Remove leaves from the woody stems by holding the stem in one hand and pulling down to remove the leaves. Tear kale into bite-sized pieces.

Hand holding half of a lemon over kale leaves.

Step 2. Squeeze the juice from half a lemon over the torn leaves and drizzle them with olive oil. Sprinkle a little salt over the leaves, if desired. I sometimes skip this step to avoid extra salt.

Hand massaging a kale leaf over a pan with more leaves.

Step 3. Using your fingers, gently massage the kale leaves for 3 to 5 minutes or until softened to your liking.

Lemon dressing being poured over massaged kale leaves.

Step 4. To make the lemon dressing, combine olive oil, lemon juice, honey, a pinch of salt, and the zest from the lemon in a small bowl. Drizzle over the salad and toss to coat.

Massaged kale salad topped with finely grated Parmesan cheese and lemon dressing in a white bowl on a orange checkered background with a lemon and serving bowl with more behind it.

Step 5. Top the kale salad with shaved or grated Parmesan, and enjoy!

Top Tips

Spread kale leaves out on a large sheet pan to work with them!
Don't skimp on the time spent massaging the kale. Five minutes is ideal. As you massage the leaves, they will wilt and turn darker, and it will seem like you have less kale!

Serving Ideas

Take Parmesan kale salad with lemon dressing to the next level by adding a variety of tastes and textures. Nuts and seeds, such as slivered almonds, pine nuts, and sunflower seeds, work well. Dried cranberries or fresh berries are also nice additions.

Add lemon pepper chicken or blackened cod to turn this kale salad into a main course.

Storage

Unlike regular salad greens, kale leaves are hearty enough to eat the next day! So go ahead and make a big bowl of massaged kale salad so you'll have plenty to enjoy the next day.

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.

More 15-Minute Salad Recipes

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📋 Recipe