Whole Food’s Vegan Garlic-Massaged Kale Salad… It’s a bit heavenly. It’s also really hard to get off your mind once you get it in your head that you HAVE to have it. And with my pasta salad obsession in full force, it was only a matter of time before I started venturing into the world of faux-ta salad. Is that not a thing? It is now. Faux pasta salad. It’s what’s for lunch!
Ok fine, it’s just a salad. But it’s a darn good one! It’s also vegan, gluten-free, ridiculously healthy and fan-freaking-tastic. The buttery olive oil, zesty garlic and smoky chipotle keep me coming back for more!
Garlicky Kale Salad with Smoky Chipotle Dressing
Prep
Total
Yield 4 servings
Ingredients
- one large bunch of kale, torn + stems removed [pshh.. measurements schmesherments]
- 1-2 cups of chopped veggies [I used organic cucumber + cherry tomatoes]
- the dressing:
- 2-3 heaping tablespoons of chipotle extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice
- 4 cloves of garlic, smashed and minced
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- additional salt, pepper and garlic powder, to taste
- Feel free to top it with a sprinkle of your favorite healthy salad toppers! Right now I'm loving toasted sesame seeds and shelled hemp seeds.
Instructions
- It's a salad. It's easy. Make it.
- Simply whisk together your dressing ingredients and, using your digits, massage it into chopped/torn kale leaves.
- I add the dressing in increments, pouring a little over the bowl of kale and massaging it into the leaves. Yes you're getting intimate with something you're eventually going to be eating. Yes it's awesome.
- Add in your chopped veggies and dig in immediately or pop it in the refrigerator for later.
- It'll keep for around 4-5 days and, because kale is a rather sturdy green, can be enjoyed all week long without getting soggy. Pretty awesome, eh? If you wind up with extra dressing [I had a little!] save it to drizzle over leftovers!
Courses salad
You can find infused olive oils like the smoky chipotle one I use in this recipe in a number of different locations. Larger grocery stores like Publix, Harris Teeter, Whole Foods and Fresh Market all have a bevvy of infused oils to choose from. Olive oil bars [LOVE these!] will also carry them, as well as many online retailers. Large international stores are a great place to look too!
You can even infuse your own extra olive oil by adding herbs and spices. Simply add a chipotle seasoning blend, add a little crushed red pepper, and even some smoked paprika and whisk together to infuse the flavor. The longer it sits the more the flavor should intensity and you can add/adjust based on personal preference. Hope this helps! I buy my oils from a Wilmington olive oil and baslsamic vinegar bar called Taste the Olive and also infuse my own at home.
One of the best parts of this salad is that you can make it ahead of time [dressing and all!] and it will keep in the fridge for around 4-5 days! Assuming it lasts that long 😉 It’s a perfect addition to on-the-go lunches or just to help cut down on mealtime prep at home.
so… how was it? Flipping delicious! This recipe makes enough for 4 side salads or two larger salads. Or if you’re really hungry you can plow through the enire bowl in a sitting. I won’t tell.
This zesty salad is flavorful enough to enjoy on it’s own and absolutely amazing paired with pretty much anything you can dream up! It makes a fabulous side dish for veggie burgers, pizza, paninis, and even compliments a good old fashioned cheesy veggie quesadilla!
SO GOOD! <3
Ooh! And while you’re at the store buying kale… grab an extra bunch of the leafy greens and make a big batch of Cayenne Kale Chips to snack on. Love them so!
hungry for more?
The salad looks delicious, colourful and so fresh. And I don’t blame you for running of to snuggle that cutie.
Wow,that salad dressing sounds awesome! Adding infused oil to my shopping list…
Ive made spinach salads but never kale…I need to do this. Love it! It’s so pretty too.
I used to make a massage kale salad all the time that used liquid smoke… I love the idea of smokey chipotle instead! Anything for a little heat.
Enjoy your little mofo. 😉 Love to Bullet.
I definitely need to try this. I like the fact that you can make it ahead of time and leave it in the fridge for a few days!
What a little cutie 🙂
No encouragement needed (your pictures were enough)time to add kale to my shopping list!
This sounds awesome – anything involving chipotle is my friend, and I’m all about lending a helping hand to kale. 🙂
Much love to Bullet, too. I’m so sorry to hear about his diagnosis, and I’m thinking lots of happy, healthy thoughts for the little guy!
I’ve been going through Chilies in Adobo like crazy lately, but I have never had Chipotle EVOO. Definitely need to find some and try this dressing 🙂
Happy Blogging!
Happy Valley Chow
That looks so colorful and vitamin rich!! I must try it!! I love kale chips but am always scared to try them in a salad.
This looks delicious! I have yet to try kale on its own (I love kale chips…), so I really want to look out of the box soon.
Your ferret is adorable 🙂 Positive thoughts!
That dressing sounds fantastic! I love anything that is titled “chipotle.” 😉
With words like garlic and chipotle, I’m 10000000% positive I will love it. This one has officially been put on my radar. 🙂
the flamingo is whining this is going to make my breath stink and is blaming you.
i recently discovered kale – i was afraid to try it or something – but now i’m obsessed and i might have to make this =)
Yum this looks awesome 🙂
They just brought kale to supermarkets here in Australia so i will be trying this 🙂
I’m preeeeetty sure I ate nothing but garlicky kale salad every meal last summer 😉 it’s addicting!
1. I want a ferret. So stinking precious and photogenic! Haha.
2. Slurp. Kale is amazing any and every way it is prepared. Love the recipe!!
Mmm, this does sound amazing!
Fresh garlic kale salad sounds great!
Is the chipotle infused EVOO spicy? I just can not eat spicy food so I need to make sure before I buy it. Let me know please
It varies brand to brand. I don’t find this one to be spicy [it has a tingle to it but its mostly flavor versus blatant heat/spice] but I also might have a different spice-tolerence than you so I don’t know 100% how to say for sure, ya know? Hmm… I think your best bet would be to get a bottle of your favorite EVOO and then add smoked paprika to infuse it with a smoky flavor without any heat whatsoever. Then you can add in anything else you love… onion, additional garlic, even cumin if you like that [also very smokey and savory without the heat factor!] – Hope that helps! I’m here if you have any more questions! xoxo
Bullet is model. Hands down most photogenic little baby I’ve ever seen.
And THANK GOD for you. I’ve had dreams about Whole Foods Garlicky Kale Salad and that is not a joke. BONUS POINTS I just got some chipotle infused EVOO last week! Look like this dish is getting stuffed in my face all week.
Hope you’re feeling good and taking care of that growing little nugget!!
I have a salad very similar to this at least once a week – so delicious and it just makes me feel GOOD! I will literally crave kale salad. 🙂
What a cute little mofo. I’m rooting for Bullet, and I just got back from the grocery store where I purchased Kale because of this post. This salad sounds delicious and I’m craving some Kale. Thanks! You’re the best.
Mmm…I love Whole Foods garlicky kale salad. And this looks just as good! 🙂
Yum, I love Kale and that dressing sounds delish! But let’s be honest, my favorite pic is the one of your ADORABLE little snuggle bug! So sweet <3
It’s so colorful and looks delicious too. I have never tried a salad with Kale. Hope to try this very soon.
I made this recipe for dinner tonight– so refreshing and tasty! Thanks, as always, for the great food ideas!
Love all the flavors in this salad. It is going to be so satisfying with the garlic and chipotle.
I am so in love with this dressing. It takes a kale to a whole new level of yum!
This looks so fresh and pretty! I just bought a huge container of toasted sesame seeds at World Market for a fraction of the price of grocery stores.!
Kale is so versatile. Love the fact that it holds up, even with the dressing, for a few days in the fridge. So convenient. Love the smoky chipotle here too.