Best Warm Kale Salad Recipes

WARM GRILLED PEACH AND KALE SALAD

Steps:

• Combine red bell pepper, vinegar, onion, oil, honey, ginger, and garlic paste in a jar with a lid. Cover jar, shake, and refrigerate dressing 8 hours to overnight.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Place peaches and kale on the preheated grill. Toss kale continuously until softened and lightly charred on the edges, about 5 minutes. Cook and turn peaches until grill marks appear, about 3 minutes per side.
• Place cooked kale in a serving bowl and toss with dressing. Top with cooked peaches and goat cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

RAW KALE SALAD WITH WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Lay the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat and cook to your desired crispness, 5 to 10 minutes. Transfer the bacon to a paper towel-lined plate, reserving the drippings and leaving any crunchy bits in the skillet.
• While the bacon cooks, remove the stems from the kale and discard. Roll up the leaves lengthwise and slice crosswise into thin strips. Transfer to a large bowl; add the nuts, chickpeas and Parmesan.
• Return the skillet to medium heat and add back 3 tablespoons of the reserved bacon drippings. (If you don't have 3 tablespoons, make up the difference with olive oil.) Add the shallots and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Whisk in the vinegar, brown sugar and mustard, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Remove the vinaigrette from the heat and season with salt and pepper.
• Chop the bacon and add it to the bowl. Drizzle in the warm dressing and toss to coat the salad. Serve immediately.

WARM MILLET, CARROT AND KALE SALAD WITH CURRY-SCENTED DRESSING

Steps:

• Separate the kale into two unequal bunches, with about two thirds in one bunch. Wash and dry the smaller bunch, roll the leaves in paper towels and set aside. Blanch the rest in a pot of boiling salted water for 1 to 2 minutes. Remove from the pot with a slotted spoon or skimmer, transfer to a bowl of cold water, drain and squeeze out excess water. Cut the squeezed bunch of kale crosswise into thin slices and set aside. Measure out 2 cups of the blanching water.
• Heat 2 teaspoons of oil over medium-high heat in a heavy 2- or 3-quart saucepan. Add the millet and toast, stirring, until it begins to smell fragrant and toasty, 3 to 5 minutes. Add the 2 cups of kale water. If not using the kale water add 2 cups water and salt to taste, and bring back to a boil. Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer 25 to 30 minutes, until the liquid in the saucepan has evaporated and the grains are fluffy. Turn off the heat, place a clean dish towel over the pot and return the lid. Let sit for 10 to 15 minutes, then transfer the cooked millet to a baking sheet or a shallow pan and spread out in an even layer to cool. This helps prevent clumping.
• Meanwhile, make crispy kale with the remaining kale. Heat the oven to 300 degrees. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. Make sure that your kale leaves are dry. Tear them into medium-size pieces and toss with the olive oil. Gently knead the leaves between your thumbs and fingers to make sure they are coated with oil. Place in an even layer on the baking sheets. Do this in batches if necessary. Place in the oven and roast for 22 to 25 minutes, until the leaves are crisp but not browned. If some of the leaves crisp before others, remove them to a bowl or sheet pan and return the remaining kale to the oven. Watch closely as once the kale browns it will taste bitter. Once the kale is crisp, season to taste with salt. Allow to cool.
• Whisk the dressing ingredients together in a small bowl or measuring cup, then transfer to a wide skillet. Add the millet, blanched kale, carrots, and nigella seeds and heat everything together over medium heat, stirring to combine well, until sizzling. Stir in the cilantro just before serving. Serve with the crispy kale crumbled over the top.

WARM KALE SALAD

Steps:

• Whisk olive oil, balsamic vinegar, mustard, honey, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes together to make the vinaigrette.
• Place bacon in a large skillet and cook over medium-high heat, turning occasionally, until evenly browned, about 10 minutes. Drain bacon slices on paper towels. Reserve 3 tablespoons bacon fat in the skillet.
• Cook shallots in the bacon fat until golden, 3 to 4 minutes. Drain on a paper towel.
• Add kale and red peppers to the skillet and saute until warmed through but not wilted, 2 to 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Add garlic; cook and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
• Place kale, red peppers, and garlic in a serving bowl. Top with the vinaigrette, diced bacon, shallots, walnuts, and Parmesan cheese.

KALE AND BUTTERNUT SQUASH SALAD WITH WARM BACON VINAIGRETTE

Steps:

• Whisk the vinegar, honey and a pinch of salt and pepper in a large bowl. Add the kale, red onion and squash and toss. Massage with your fingers until everything is evenly coated and the kale softens slightly.
• Heat the olive oil in a small saucepan over medium-high heat. Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally, until crisp, 10 to 12 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the rosemary. Let sit until it stops sizzling, about 1 minute.
• Using a slotted spoon, transfer the bacon pieces to the salad. Pour the bacon drippings into a small bowl; you should have about 5 tablespoons (if you don't, add more olive oil to make up the difference). Add the warm bacon drippings to the salad and toss well; season with salt and pepper. Top with the pomegranate seeds.

BEST WARM KALE SALAD EVER!

Steps:

• In a large non-stick skillet, melt butter and saute onions, pepper, and mushrooms until browned around edges.
• Add balsamic vinegar to skillet, and let it cook out the vinegar a bit, just a good 5 second.
• Reduce heat to low, and add in big bunch of fresh, chopped kale and garlic. Mix the contents until the kale is fully coated with the butter, balsamic, and veggies. The kale should just be slightly warm, not wilted.
• Transfer the contents of the skillet onto a plate. Grate fresh asiago (I prefer the big shreds) over the top, if desired.
• Enjoy.

WARM KALE SALAD WITH ALMONDS & SERRANO HAM

Steps:

• Heat oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Toss the shallots with 1 tsp oil on a large non-stick baking tray. Separate the rings a little as you turn them in the oil. Roast for 10 mins, stirring halfway, until starting to soften and turn golden here and there.
• In a large bowl, whisk the vinegar, oil, mustard, sugar and some seasoning together to make the dressing, then tip in the raisins and leave to soak. In a smaller roasting tin, toss the almonds, oil, paprika and a pinch of sea salt. Rub the kale all over with 1 tsp vegetable oil and some seasoning.
• Remove the shallot tray from the oven, mix in the kale (it's fine if it mounds a bit), then return the tray to the oven and put the almonds on the shelf below. Roast for 7 mins, giving the kale a turn halfway through, until crisp in some places, wilted in others.
• Ruffle the ham onto serving plates. Tip the kale, shallots and celery into the dressing bowl, make sure it coats the kale well, then mound on top of the ham and scatter with the almonds and the cheese, if using.

WARM KALE, COCONUT AND TOMATO SALAD

Steps:

• Heat oven to 425. Rinse the tomatoes well, dry with paper towels and cut them in half, then place on a sheet pan. Dress with 1 to 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, pepper, the zest of 2 limes and the juice of 1 of them. Roast the tomatoes until just blistered and beginning to take on color, approximately 15 to 20 minutes.
• Meanwhile, mix together the kale, coconut shavings and soy sauce, and place on another sheet pan. Roast these in the oven next to or below the tomatoes for approximately 5 to 10 minutes, or until the kale has begun to crisp at its edges.
• Make the dressing in a small bowl, combining the grated ginger root, the miso, the tahini, the honey, the pepper, the juice of the second lime and the remaining olive oil. Adjust seasonings to your liking - you may wish to increase the amount of lime juice with a third lime, to thin the dressing.
• Put the tomatoes and kale into a large serving bowl, and drizzle the dressing over the top, a few tablespoons at a time; you may not need all the dressing if the tomatoes are particularly juicy. Serve warm.

WARM LENTIL AND KALE SALAD

Steps:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, warm the olive oil. Add the carrots and onion, 1/4 tsp. of the salt and several grindings of pepper. Sauté until the onion is very soft and lightly caramelized, about 15 minutes. Add the kale and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 6 minutes. Scrape the contents of the pan into a bowl and set aside. Wipe out the pan. In the same pan over high heat, combine the lentils, thyme, garlic, broth, 1/2 tsp. of the salt and the 1/4 tsp. pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium and simmer, uncovered, until the lentils are tender but firm to the bite, 15 to 20 minutes. Drain the lentils in a colander, and remove and compost the thyme and garlic. Return the lentils to the saucepan, and stir in the kale mixture, vinegar and the remaining 1/2 tsp. salt. Taste and adjust the seasonings with salt and pepper. Transfer the lentil mixture to a serving bowl, top with the prosciutto and serve immediately.

WARM THAI KALE SALAD

Steps:

• Heat a heavy-bottom skillet over medium heat; add olive oil and swirl around in skillet. Cook and stir onion in the hot oil until softened, 3 to 4 minutes. Add garlic, ginger, and red pepper flakes; cook and stir until garlic and ginger are slightly browned and fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Stir carrots and celery into onion mixture; cook and stir for 1 minute. Add kale and cilantro; cook and stir until kale is slightly wilted, about 45 seconds. Stir lime juice, fish sauce, and lime zest into kale mixture until kale is evenly coated in lime juice.
• Serve kale salad topped with cucumber, peanuts, and mint.

WARM GRILLED PEACH AND KALE SALAD RECIPE

Steps:

• Combine red bell pepper, vinegar, onion, oil, honey, ginger, and garlic paste in a jar with a lid. Cover jar, shake, and refrigerate dressing 8 hours to overnight. Preheat an outdoor grill for medium-high heat and lightly oil the grate. Place peaches and kale on the preheated grill. Toss kale continuously until softened and lightly charred on the edges, about 5 minutes. Cook and turn peaches until grill marks appear, about 3 minutes per side. Place cooked kale in a serving bowl and toss with dressing. Top with cooked peaches and goat cheese. Season with salt and pepper. Serve warm.

WARM BALSAMIC KALE SALAD

Steps:

• In a large skillet over medium heat, melt one tablespoon of butter. Add the onions and peppers; saute for several minutes until softened. Add the mushrooms and one tablespoon butter; saute for several minutes until browned. Add the kale, garlic, and balsamic vinegar. Saute until the kale is deep green but not yet wilted. Remove from heat and serve topped with Asiago or Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Notes You can also add a protein for a more filling "meal" salad, like grilled salmon, chicken, white beans, etc. I also liked having this over a brown rice/ancient grain blend.