This fresh and delicious Strawberry Feta Kale Salad features tender massaged kale topped with juicy strawberries, red onion, feta, and pecans tossed in a tasty balsamic dressing. It’s bright, beautiful, and always a hit!
This vibrant and oh so delicious strawberry kale salad, has the most fantastic balance of sweet and tangy flavors. The natural sweetness of ripe strawberries complements the earthy kale, while the creamy and salty feta and zippy marinated red onion adds a delightful contrast. It’s refreshing and flavorful with a delightful texture and taste.
I like adding toasted pecans for nuttiness and crunch and this scrumptious salad is equally awesome with candied pecans or walnuts. I’ll toss the recipe in the post if you’re interested!
Though it’s the type of salad you’ll frequently see served at restaurants, it only appears fussy. It’s actually incredibly easy to make and delivers restaurant-quality flavors in the comfort of your own home.
YES PLEASE!
The secret to the best kale you’ve ever eaten? Massage it!
Kale has a hearty texture to it that can sometimes be tough and fibrous. All it takes is a simple rubdown to transform it into a tender and oh so enjoyable base for your salad.
STEP ONE: Wash and dry kale.
STEP TWO: Remove the stems and chop the leaves into bite-sized pieces.
STEP THREE: Sprinkle a pinch of salt and a teeny drizzle of olive oil or avocado oil over the kale.
STEP FOUR: Next gently massage the leaves for a few minutes until they become softer and darker in color. This process helps break down the fibrous structure and enhances the overall texture of the salad. It’s a wee bit magical.
I’ll admit I never was a fan of kale until I started massaging it for salads and now it’s easily my favorite salad green on the planet. I prefer it over romaine, arugula, spinach, and spring mix and have gone so completely kale crazy that you’ll find over 20 delicious kale salads on Peas and Crayons.
Kale Salad Ingredients
- fresh kale
- ripe strawberries
- feta cheese
- red onion
- pecans
- balsamic vinegar
- extra virgin olive oil
- juice of 1/2 a lemon
- dijon mustard
- honey
- salt and pepper
Onion Tip:
To reduce the sharpness of the red onion, slice then soak in cold water before serving. I like to drizzle mine in red wine vinegar and a teeny bit of olive oil with salt and pepper for fresh marinated red onions with lots of flavor! You can also use pickled red onions if you’d like.
Pecans: Toasted or Candied
You can use either freshly toasted pecans or try it with my speedy candied pecans for extra sweetness and crunch.
DIY Candied Pecans
- 1 cup chopped pecans (the smaller the better)
- 1 TBSP unsalted butter
- 2 TBSP brown sugar
- ⅛ tsp salt
To make the candied pecans, heat a small skillet or saucepan to medium heat and butter to melt. Next add in your pecans, brown sugar, and the teeniest bit of salt. Sauté for 5-6 minutes and pour over parchment paper, using a spatula to separate the nuts. Otherwise you’ll have yummy pecan brittle that you’ll want to break apart over your salad, which is no big deal either! Yum! Allow to cool for several minutes until the coating hardens and your pecans have officially been candied!
When it comes to feta cheese, I need to let you in on the most delicious secret: buying your feta packed in brine is a total game changer! Seriously! Since trying it last year I haven’t been able to go back to any other type of feta. It’s so creamy!
No feta? No problem!
Try it with goat cheese for a tasty twist. You could even add my famous Baked Goat Cheese Balls to the salad which totally have a fried goat cheese vibe to them and make the most marvelous little croutons for your salad.
My Almond Crusted Goat Cheese Balls are an even speedier option and super tasty as well.
Serving Suggestions
Pair this strawberry kissed salad with half a sandwich or a cup of soup for a well-rounded meal. Here are some tasty options:
- Garden Veggie Chickpea Salad Sandwich
- Tomato Soup
- One-Pot Orzo Vegetable Soup
- Spinach and Avocado Grilled Cheese
- Ultimate Veggie Sandwich
Looking to add a protein?
While this strawberry feta kale salad is already packed with nutrients, adding protein can make it even more filling and help round out the meal.
Grilled chicken or shrimp are excellent options to enhance the salad’s protein content and provide a savory element.
Vegetarians and vegans can consider incorporating roasted chickpeas or even quinoa for a boost of fiber and protein. Kale and quinoa are basically a dream team.
Strawberry Feta Kale Salad
This sensational strawberry kissed salad is ready to rock your socks! The recipe yields 2 meal-sized salads or 4 side salads. It can easily be adjusted down to serve one or snag extra ingredients to double or triple the recipe if needed. It’s oh so flexible.
Ready to get your recipe on? Let’s do this!
Strawberry Feta Kale Salad
Ingredients
- ¼-⅓ cup raw pecans
- ¼-⅓ small red onion sliced thin
- 3 cups chopped kale
- 6 large strawberries or extra if desired
- ¼-½ cup crumbled feta cheese fresh off the block
SPEEDY BALSAMIC DRESSING
- 2 TBSP balsamic vinegar
- 2 TBSP extra-virgin olive oil
- ½ lemon (juiced)
- 2 tsp honey
- ¼-½ tsp Dijon mustard
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp black pepper
Instructions
First Toast the Pecans
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Spread the pecans in a single layer on a baking sheet and bake for 5-10 minutes, until the pecans are fragrant and toasty.
- Keep an eye on them the whole time to prevent burning. Transfer to a cutting board and roughly chop.
Prep the Onions
- Thinly slice onion and either soak in cold water to remove the harshness or drizzle in red wine vinegar and a teeny bit of olive oil with salt and pepper for fresh marinated red onions with lots of flavor! You can also use pickled red onions.
- Allow the onions to sit in either water or marinade while you prep the remaining salad ingredients.
Next Make the Dressing
- In small mixing bowl, add dressing ingredients: vinegar, oil, lemon juice, honey, dijon, salt and pepper. Whisk to emulsify.
Kale Yeah!
- Prep the kale and give it a quick massage. Wash and dry leaves and remove from stem.
- Sprinkle a pinch of salt and a teeny drizzle of olive oil over the kale. Gently massage the leaves for a few minutes until they become softer and darker in color.
- Hull the strawberries and slice (vertically or horizontally – both work!) Add to the kale along with the onions (without water but with marinade – depending on which method you choose) plus feta and pecans.
- Add half the dressing and toss to combine. Serve with remaining dressing for drizzling on top as desired. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
More Sensational Strawberry Recipes
- NEW! Strawberry Peach Fruit Salad Salsa
- Tropical Pineapple Strawberry Smoothie
- Strawberry Pretzel Salad via Angie at Big Bear’s Wife
- Strawberry Steak Salad with Homemade Balsamic Dressing
- Strawberry Basil Chickpea Salad Sandwich
If you get a chance to try this strawberry feta kale salad recipe, let me know! You can leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) or tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Bookmarked to make this weekend! We have company coming over and strawberries were on sale. Thanks!