The perfect holiday salad recipe, this Lacinato Kale Salad with Butternut Squash is healthy, sweet, crunchy, and pairs nicely with almost any holiday main dish.
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This Lacinato Kale Salad with Butternut Squash is for my friend, Ashley.
When she was in the hair studio the other day, she asked me if I had any holiday salad recipes on the site that she could make for Thanksgiving dinner.
Having just then started brainstorming holiday recipes-- and, feeling like there was a dish I was forgetting -- I had my answer. I had to get a great holiday salad recipe on the list.
Having just had a delicious salad from Ed's Cantina in Estes Park, complete with dates, pomegranate arils, pepitas, and an agave vinaigrette, I knew the type of flavors I wanted to re-create.
I also knew I wanted to work in roasted butternut squash and that I wanted to build a kale salad, making the most of the fall vegetable and having a salad that wouldn't wilt for thanksgiving leftovers.
So, I tossed the squash with salt and cumin and gave it a good, golden brown roast in the oven. I whipped together a simple, but flavorful citrus vinaigrette. And I got out my salad bowl, massaged my kale, crumbled the cheese, and sliced the dates.
What resulted was a salad we were glad to have around for the week to eat... and to have again with family during the holidays.
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This Holiday Kale Salad Recipe is...
- Made with fresh, seasonal ingredients
- Gluten-free & vegetarian
- Perfect for Thanksgiving and/or Christmas
- Full of good-for-you goodies
- Perfectly finished off with an agave dressing
If you're looking for a healthy kale salad that will be a hit at your next family celebration dinner, you've found your winner. With balanced flavors, satisfying cheese & nuts, and a naturally sweet finish, this salad will be popular with both the health-conscious and not-so-health-conscious in your crew.
Which kale is best for salads?
It depends somewhat on personal preference, but both lacinato or dinosaur kale and traditional kale are best for salads.
If you want a leafier green for your salad, traditional leafy kale is better. If you want a heartier, less harsh tasting kale, go for the dinosaur or lacinato kale. Either way, make sure to massage your kale thoroughly before putting your salad together.
What's good with kale?
There are so many good foods that go well with kale. It's a heartier vegetable, though, so you heartier nuts, fruits, vegetables, or cheeses tend to go well with it.
When I'm making a kale salad, I like to toss it with a cheese, nut or seed, dried fruit or fresh sweet fruit, and a vibrant & tangy dressing. In this case, I serve the kale with dates, pumpkin seeds, goat cheese, dried cranberries, and roasted butternut squash before tossing it with a lightly sweet and bright agave dressing.
How do you tenderize kale?
You tenderize kale by massaging it with your hands. Just place all the kale in a large bowl and then massage it for 1-2 minutes, or until the kale turns a darker color green and gets tender.
Other holiday and special occasion dishes:
- Citrus Dijon Pork Tenderloin
- Healthy Mashed Potatoes Without Butter
- Carrot Souffle
- Spiced Cumin Carrots
- Healthy Mashed Potatoes
- Pumpkin Spice Blender Muffins
- Easy Butternut Squash Soup
Other kale salad recipes:
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