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Home » Kitchen Basics

How to Soften Kale for Unforgettable Salads

Made by Anastasia Papapetros - Serves Filed Under: Kitchen Basics

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We show you how to soften kale and make it tender and tasty instead of chewy and bitter. Get all the nutritious benefits of super food kale deliciously.

A close up of a kale.

You have to be living under a rock if you haven’t noticed how popular kale has become. You will find it in in a smoothie, in a frittata, in pies, in pasta as kale chips, in a salad and the list goes on!

Unfortunately, this Supergreen has a tendency to be unpalatable if not prepared correctly.

In This Post:
 [hide]
  1. Do I Really Need to Massage My Kale?
  2. How to Massage Kale
  3. What To Do Instead of Massaging Kale
  4. Ready to Try Some Kale Salads?

Do I Really Need to Massage My Kale?

While this may seem like an odd thing to do to this vitamin-packed leafy green it helps break down the tough structure and gives kale a smoother texture and softer flavour.

By massaging kale you will soften the leaves and makes them easier to chew and digest. It also helps release sugars to balance its bitterness for a much tastier salad.

How to Massage Kale


Carefully wash your kale to remove any dirt, and discard any damaged leaves.

WASHING KALE UNDER COLD RUNNING WATER

Either strip the leafy parts of the kale from the ribs.

STRIPPING KALE STEMS BY HAND

Or cut them off with a knife, then discard the ribs.

CUTTING KALE STEMS WITH A KNIFE

Shake and pat your leaves dry then gather your kale leaves shred them with a sharp knife.

Or you could pop them in your food processor, start by pulsing in small batches until they are finely chopped.

Be careful not to overdo it, as we want them chopped but not mushy. If you notice that they release too much water, simply give them a gentle squeeze with a paper towel to remove any excess moisture.

Cutting kale with knife on a chopping board

Place your kale leaves in a large bowl and add two tablespoons of olive oil and a teaspoon of sea salt on top and gently rub the leaves together for approximately 3 minutes.

Don’t overdo it as you don’t want your kale to turn to mush.

Hands massaging kale in a bowl with dressing.

What I prefer to do for my salad recipes is to make the dressing or vinaigrette and then use it to massage the kale.

This not only softens your kale so that it is more palatable but it also has the added benefit of letting the kale soak up the deliciousness of your dressing.

Pouring pomegranate dressing over chopped kale in a bowl.

What To Do Instead of Massaging Kale


If the thought of massaging your kale is unappealing, then you have three alternatives:

  1. You can shred the kale finely or chop it into small pieces and let the dressing take care of making it tender. But make sure you make your salad at least an hour or more in advance to allow the kale leaves to soften.
  2. You can just mix the raw kale leaves (ribs removed) with your dressing and let them soften overnight in your fridge.
  3. You can just make your salad well ahead of serving time and let the citrus and vinegar break down the leaves and make them softer.

Ready to Try Some Kale Salads?

MASSAGED KALE SALAD FEATURED IMAGE
MASSAGED KALE SALAD
KALE FATOUSH SALAD LANDSCAPE
KALE FATTOUSH SALAD
GRILLED-ASPARAGUS-&-KALE-SALAD-LAND
GRILLED ASPARAGUS & KALE
COLOURFUL KALE AVOCADO SALAD
KALE COLESLAW
CHOPPED KALE SALAD IN LANDSCAPE
CHOPPED KALE SALAD
KALE AND BROCCOLI SALAD IN LANDSCAPE
KALE & BROCCOLI SALAD

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About Anastasia Papapetros

Anastasia has been passionate about cooking since she was eight years old, and hasn't left the kitchen since! With over a decade of experience running her own coffee shop and catering business, Anastasia has developed a true love for salads - especially for family get-togethers and friends' functions. She's the go-to for bringing the perfect salad to any occasion!

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