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Home » Make Ahead Salads

Kale Lemon Parmesan Salad

Made by Anastasia Papapetros - Serves 6 Filed Under: Best Winter Salads, Green Salad Recipes, Low Carb Salads, Make Ahead Salads, Salad Index, Salad Recipes By Ingredient, Salads by Diet, Salads by Season, Salads for Autumn, Salads with Cheese, Vegetarian Salads

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Who says eating healthy has to be boring? Our Kale Lemon Parmesan Salad recipe is proof that you can make a delicious and nutritious salad in no time! This quick and easy salad is full of flavour and texture, and with just a handful of ingredients and a creamy Parmesan dressing, it's sure to be a hit.

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Kale lemon parmesan salad in white bowl on dark grey round board & kale leaves on the side.

The star of the show is kale, which we all know can be a bit intimidating to cook with. But with our Lemon Parmesan Kale Salad, we've made it taste amazing!

To top off this delicious salad, we have a creamy and flavourful Parmesan dressing to bring out the flavour of the kale and add a boost of nutrition.

If you are looking for a nutritious salad, try our Healthy Kale Coleslaw or our Kale Avocado Salad.

In This Post:
 [hide]
  1. Why Make This Salad?
  2. Ingredients and Substitutions 
  3. Step-by-Step Instructions
  4. Serving Suggestions  🍽
  5. Tips and Questions 
  6. You May Also Like...
  7. Recipe Card

Why Make This Salad?

It is an amazing way to get a delicious and nutritious meal that you can whip up in no time at all!

  • Versatile: It's a great base to add whatever veggies you have on hand or your favourite protein.
  • Nutritious: It's the perfect way to get your daily dose of greens in a delicious and nutritious way.
  • Easy: It's an easy-to-make weekday salad that will not disappoint, with only a handful of ingredients.

Ingredients and Substitutions 

  • Kale - well, and truly the star of the show, you can choose from curly or lacinato kale or even replace it with chard or silver beet (no need to massage it for these).
  • Lemon zest and juice - adds some citrusy flavour and tang 
  • Almonds - roasted to add some crunch and for some added protein and an antioxidant boost. You can substitute with any of your favourite nuts, such as walnuts, pecans, or pine nuts, or even with seeds, such as sunflower or pepitas. 
  • Semi-dried tomatoes - to add a pop of colour and make great little flavour bombs. You can replace it with finely diced sun-dried tomatoes. If you prefer fresh tomatoes, try some diced, or even halved cherry tomatoes. 
  • Parmesan flakes - for a creamy garnish and sharp, salty flavour. You can try some pecorino here instead.
  • Parmesan dressing- honestly, this is what really blasts this simple kale salad into out-of-this-world deliciousness. If you are really and truly looking to save some time, then I would replace it with some good quality store-bought Caesar dressing instead.  
Labelled ingredients needed to make a kale lemon parmesan salad.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Step 1 - Prepare the Kale

Wash your kale leaves under cold running water to remove any dirt, then either rip the leafy parts of the kale from the ribs or cut them off with a sharp knife and discard them. 

Hands stripping kale leaves from stems in a sink.

Shake your kale leaves dry and then shred them using a sharp knife.

Hands shredding kale leaves with a knife on a wooden board.

Place the shredded kale in a large bowl with two tablespoons of olive oil, two tablespoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of sea salt.

Hands massaging kale in a bowl with dressing.

Then gently rub the leaves together for approximately 3 minutes. Don’t overdo it, as you don’t want your kale to turn to mush.

Step 2 - Blitz the Dressing

Add all the dressing ingredients into a high-speed blender or small food processor, season, and then blitz until well combined.

Taste and adjust seasonings according to your taste.

Blitzed parmesan dressing in a blender.

Step 3 - Assemble Your Lemon Kale Salad

Put all your ingredients in a large mixing bowl, and season with sea salt and cracked black pepper.

Prepared kale lemon parmesan ingredients in a glass bowl.

Pour over the Parmesan dressing and mix well until the kale is well coated with the dressing.

Mixing kale lemon parmesan salad in a glass bowl with tongs.

Arrange the salad in a large salad bowl, garnish with some Parmesan flakes and serve.

Kale lemon parmesan salad in white bowl on dark grey round board & kale leaves on the side.

Serving Suggestions  🍽

This kale salad recipe is a great side dish to any weekday meal, but it can easily be transformed into dinner simply by adding your favourite protein.

  • As a Dinner Side: Try it with Piri Piri chicken for a spicy kick, crackled pork rack for a smoky flavour, lamb kofta for a Middle Eastern twist, spicy spaghetti with mushrooms for an Italian flavour, and sesame-crusted tofu for a vegan option!
  • Make It A Meal: Turn this recipe into a satisfying dinner with just a few easy additions!
    Grill up some chicken tenders, sear some lamb fillets, pan-fry some salmon, throw in some chickpeas or beans, grill some tofu, or even add some pulled pork.

Tips and Questions 

Why is Kale Good for You?

  • Kale is highly praised in the media as being a superfood, and rightly so because of its nutrient density.
  • Not only is it rich in antioxidants, and packed with vitamins A, E, K, and B, especially folate with a good amount of protein, and iron and high in fibre.
  • It contains more vitamin C than other leafy greens with more calcium than a glass of milk!
  • For those with thyroid problems, limit your intake to a cup a day of raw kale as, like most cruciferous veggies, it contains substances that can affect thyroid function.

How Long Does Kale Salad Last in the Fridge?

Pop it in an air-tight container, and it should last 4-5 days in the fridge.

Why Do You Need To Massage Kale?

Massaging kale is a great way to make it easier to chew and digest. It also helps mellow out the bitterness so that you can enjoy a much tastier salad.

Make Ahead Tips for Kale Lemon Parmesan Salad

  • The Parmesan dressing can be made a week in advance and kept in a sealed glass container in the fridge.
  • The kale can be prepped the day before, kept covered and chilled in the fridge. All you need to do is add the remaining ingredients, pour over the dressing and toss the salad on the day.
  • The salad can be made several hours in advance and kept covered and chilled in the fridge.

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KALE BROCCOLI SALAD

Recipe Card

Kale lemon parmesan salad in white bowl on dark grey round board & kale leaves on the side.

Kale Lemon Parmesan Salad

Our Kale Lemon Parmesan Salad recipe actually makes kale taste good! Quick and easy with just a handful of ingredients and a creamy Parmesan dressing to die for. ?
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Rate this Recipe
Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 0 minutes minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes minutes
* Times are an estimate and will depend on your skill level
Course: Salad
Cuisine: Australian, Italian
Keyword: kale, parmesan, simple
Difficulty: Easy
Diet: Gluten free, Keto, Low Carb, Vegetarian,
Servings: 6 as a side
Calories: 255kcal
Author: Anastasia Papapetros
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Ingredients
For the salad
  • 6 cups shredded kale (1 bunch approx. 6 stems, 170 grams, 6 ounces)
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
  • 2 tablespoons lemon zest
  • ⅓ cup almonds roasted
  • ⅓ cup semi dried tomatoes
  • 2 tablespoons Parmesan flakes to garnish
  • Sea salt and cracked black pepper
For the dressing
  • ⅓ cup freshly grated parmesan cheese (Parmigiana Reggiano)
  • ⅓ cup olive oil
  • ¼ cup white wine vinegar
  • 1 small garlic clove minced
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon Mustard
Metric - Imperial
Instructions
1 - Prepare the Kale
  • Wash your kale leaves under cold running water to remove any dirt then either rip the leafy parts of the kale from the ribs or cut them off with a sharp knife and discard them.
  • Shred them and place them in a large bowl with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and a teaspoon of sea salt then gently rub the leaves together for approximately 3 minutes. Don’t overdo it as you don’t want your kale to turn to mush.
2 - Blitz the Dressing
  • Add all the dressing ingredients into a high-speed blender or small food processor, season then blitz until combined.
  • Taste and adjust seasonings according to your taste.
3 - Assemble Your Lemon Kale Salad
  • Put all your ingredients in a large mixing bowl, season with sea salt and cracked black pepper, pour over the Parmesan dressing and mix well until the kale is well coated with the dressing.
  • Arrange the salad in a large salad bowl, garnish with some Parmesan flakes and serve.

Video

Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.
Calories: 255kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 6g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 6mg | Sodium: 134mg | Potassium: 428mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 2941IU | Vitamin C: 41mg | Calcium: 146mg | Iron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Mention @salads_with_anastasia or tag #salads_with_anastasia!

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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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