Broccoli Kale Salad with Lemon Poppy Seed Dressing

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• This salad is an addictive blend of texture and sweet and savory flavor.
• It’s packed with superfoods, which makes it extremely nutritious.
• The hardy texture of the kale keeps it from wilting, so it’s a nice make ahead option and it’s great for meal prep.
• It’s perfect for special diets such as gluten free, vegan, dairy free and paleo diets. 

Recipe ingredients

This broccoli kale salad is packed with superfoods and big flavor that’s perfect any time of year.

Ingredient notes

• Kale.  I used curly kale for this recipe, but dinosaur (also known as tuscan or lacinto) or baby kale are great options as well.   I prefer not to purchase pre-chopped kale because it includes the tough inner stems.  I simply purchase a bunch and tear the kale leaves into bite sized pieces right off the stems.
• Broccoli.  Pre-cut broccoli florets are a huge time saver, or you can even use broccoli slaw.
• Red onion.  If red onion is too pungent for you, substitute with green onions or shallots as they’re more mild.
• Shallot.  I finely grated the shallot and used it in the lemon poppy seed dressing for savory flavor, but it may be omitted if you don’t have any on hand.

How to make kale and broccoli salad

This salad couldn’t be easier to make, and the best part is that it may be made in advance!

Prepare the lemon poppy seed dressing:

1. Place the olive oil, shallot, lemon juice, dijon mustard, maple syrup, poppy seeds and salt and pepper to taste in a small jar.

2. Secure the lid and shake vigorously until emulsified.

Prepare the salad:

3. Tear the kale and place in a large bowl.  In order to make the leaves more tender, follow my instructions on how to massage kale. 

4. Add the broccoli, apple, red onion, and dried cherries to the bowl of kale.

5. Pour the desired amount of dressing over the salad and toss to coat. 

FAQs

What does kale taste like?

Kale has a strong, somewhat bitter flavor, which many people find overpowering.  The bitter flavor is wonderful in this broccoli kale salad however, because it’s paired with citrus and sweet ingredients.

Which kale is best for salads?

There are a few varieties of kale, and which one to choose depends on your taste.

If you’re a big fan of kale for it’s hardy texture and bold flavor, curly kale is a great option.

If you prefer softer leaves and milder flavor, dinosaur or baby kale would be better choices.

Does massaging kale make it less bitter?

When kale is massaged, it softens the leaves dramatically and makes it easier to digest, but it does not eliminate the bitter flavor.

Do you eat the stems of kale?

Kale stems are tough and fibrous, and should not be eaten.  I always prep kale myself as bagged, pre-chopped kale includes the tough inner stems.

Recipe notes

• Pro tip:  It’s best to avoid pre-chopped kale as it includes the tough, fibrous inner stems.  I prefer to buy a bunch and tear the kale around the stems. 
• If curly and dinosaur kale are too hardy for you, try baby kale or substitute with your favorite lettuce! Keep in mind that baby kale and other types of lettuce aren’t as hardy as curly or dinosaur kale, and will wilt down quickly.
• This is a great make ahead salad and it’s perfect for meal prep!
• The lemon poppy seed dressing will keep in air tight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 weeks. If the oil has solidified, let stand at room temperature for about 10 minutes, shake and serve.
• The dried cherries may be substituted with cranberries.
• Add sunflower seeds, pepitas or almonds to the salad for added crunch.

More salad recipes you’ll love:

• Broccoli salad with bacon
• Horiatiki
• Strawberry salad
• Summer kale salad
• Wedge salad by House of Yumm