Thanks, Mabeldingeldine. Raw kale is one of the few veggies I can get my DIL to eat. I bet she'd eat and enjoy this salad. I would too!

Sally

That's going into my need-to-make file. Thanks!

-Grainlady

I just love cooked kale and I want to try some kind of kale salad. I keep seeing them and drooling over them but don't get around to eating them. This sounds very good and has two of BF's favorite things--almonds and dates.

I got a couple of big bunches of kale at the farmer's market this morning, and I'll be making this tomorrow for dinner. I hope you all enjoy it.

I've never eaten kale in a salad, only cooked in the same way as turnip greens or mustard greens, so I have a hard time wrapping my head around eating it as a salad. I guess I'm missing out on a lot but it doesn't seem it would be tender enough for salads. But....what do I know?lol

jude

Yum, clipping this...I have a pot of kale started in my greenhouse. We're having the thinnings in a salad tonight (thinnings = microgreens, lol).

Jude, I've found that if you marinate the kale in the dressing it's tender.

Our favorite last fall (until the snow got too deep to get to the kale) was chopped kale dressed with balsamic, dijon, maple syrup and olive oil. Apples, fennel bulb, and candied pecans and a little lemon juice added after the kale sat in the fridge for a couple of hours.

I never would have thought of dates. Yum.

I am definitely trying this. Dates are a favourite of mine. Kale is also going in my garden this summer.

I made it for dinner yesterday. It's good (except to those 12 and under). Can't wait to try it with bacon added.

Thanks!! This is going to accompany pork and rice for dinner this evening. I already bought the kale, but hadn't decided what to do with it. Have the rest of the ingredients.

Perfect!

Thank you again. I took half of the salad to neighbors with whom I share experiments. We both liked it a lot. DH, who usually just eats what is in front of him, liked the salad and the Mei Ploy sauce on the left-over sous vide pork and jasmine rice. The sauce is also a first for us.

I really like the salad. Will do it again. Loved the idea of shaving the Parmesan instead of grating it.

I've only eaten kale like Jude described with lots of vinegar! Added kale to this week's grocery list. I'd like to try this salad! Thanks for posting.

(Not to hijack, but...Bellsmom, tell me a little about your sous vide pork...did I miss that on another thread? And the Mei Ploy sauce! Thanks!)

Jude, the lemon juice serves to tenderize the kale. If your kale is more mature, allow it more time to marinate. Baby kale is tender in 30 minutes.

I'm glad you all enjoyed the salad. I am astonished my DH asked me to get more kale today at the Farmers Market! We'll be having it again tomorrow.

Thanks for sharing what does sound like a fantastic kale salad, mabeldingeldine. I'll be trying it very soon.

I have been making this one that gellchom posted in 2011 (notes are hers).

KALE SALAD WITH PINE NUTS AND GOLDEN RAISINS
Makes 4 servings (sez she; I think more)

2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 teaspoons maple syrup
1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
Scant 1/2 teaspoon red-pepper flakes
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
6 to 8 ounces kale (I use more; there's plenty of dressing)
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup toasted pine nuts

Whisk together olive oil, lemon juice, syrup, mustard, salt, red pepper flakes and black pepper in a nonreactive bowl. (The dressing can be prepared 1 day ahead; cover and refrigerate. Bring to room temperature 30 minutes before using.)

Remove and discard the tough stems and center veins from the kale leaves. Then cut the leaves crosswise into 1/2 inch-wide strips to yield 6 cups well-packed kale. (I often just chop up the leaves rather than worry about pretty strips; it's a LOT quicker.)
Place the dressing in a salad bowl and whisk well. Add the kale and toss to coat greens thoroughly with dressing. Divide salad evenly and mound on 4 salad plates. Garnish each serving with raisins and pine nuts. (I like to serve it in a big bowl instead of on individual plates, so I just put the raisins and nuts on top and eventually it all gets tossed together.)

Mabel- I made this today with a bunch of lacinto kale.. It was brilliant. I let the kale marinate for a few hrs. I did not have dates but substituted with cranberries and a couple scoops of pomegranate. My DD8 loved it as well. DH commented that this would probably a good salad to pack for lunch. Thanks for posting this recipe.. Will now be part of my permanent collection.

I'm glad you liked it! I had it again yesterday with the leftover salad today, so delicious!

Ruthanna, I'm gonna try that other salad.

Well, I finally got around to making
This salad tonight.
It is so-o-o-o-o-oo good!
Definitely a keeper!
I used the baby kale,
Because that's what I had on hand.

I've only eaten the baby kale mixed
in with 'spring greens' before.
It doesn't seem to need any tenderizing at all.
Thank you for posting the recipe, mabeldingeldine!

Ruthanna, I'll be trying the recipe you posted,
Soon! !
I do love kale!

Rusty

So glad you enjoyed it, Rusty. I bought golden raisins for Ruthanna's recipe, but DH and I have the Flu so my cooking enthusiasm is low right now, but I'll be trying it soon, I hope.