08 Mar Massaged Kale Salad

Everyone loves a good massage…even kale. Most people know kale is insanely good for you, but not everyone loves the taste. It has a bit of harsh bite that doesn’t appeal to all. A great way to get the benefits of kale without having to choke it back is to massage it. Yup; massaging kale breaks it down and softens the taste – much like sautéing would, which also makes it easier to digest.

My favourite way to massage kale is with good-fat friendly avocado. It’s a match made in heaven. And the act of massaging kale can be therapeutic as our hands love nature…that’s why gardening is so very good for you. But I digress; back to the recipe…

I must give credit to this idea from author Julie Morris. She has a terrific recipe for kale salad in her beautiful “Superfood Cuisine” cookbook.

In addition to improving the taste and adding nutrients, massaging kale with avocado also adds a density which makes it more filling and satisfying as a meal or side dish. When we eat nutrient-dense food with a hearty dose of “good fat”, we’re much less likely to feel hungry later on and less likely to snack on nutrient-bereft foods.

Avocado Massaged Kale Salad

Avocado – pitted and mashed
Garlic – minced
Fresh lime juice – approximately 1 tablespoon
Bunch of kale – washed and stems removed
Chopped veggies of choice
Toasted sunflower seeds – 2 tablespoons
Hemp hearts – 1 tablespoon
Tamari maple syrup dressing – see below

Tamari Maple Syrup Dressing

2 tablespoons tamari or soy or coconut amines
1 tablespoon maple syrup
2 tablespoons olive oil

Mash avocado with garlic and lime juice. Add bite-sized pieces of kale and start massaging. Really work the kale leaves to ensure that they’re well coated with avocado. Trust me when I tell you this is therapeutic. Add your veggies and seeds and toss with the tamari maple syrup dressing. Enjoy!