This fast and flavorful Chipotle Kale Salad features tender massaged kale tossed with fresh vegetables and a tasty homemade chipotle dressing.
Today we’re going from KALE? to KALE YEAH! with a choose your own adventure type of salad.
We’ll start with a base of tender massaged kale (no sharp, bitter greens here – nope!) and top it with with a boatload of fresh vegetables.
Fresh tomatoes, sweet corn, creamy avocado, bell peppers and even some jalapeno for a little kick are all delicious options. Have fun with it and empty out your crisper drawer!
Next up is the dressing. I have this teensy weensy little obsession of the salad dressing at Chipotle, and this homemade honey chipotle vinaigrette is the perfect little copycat. It’s fast and flavorful and has the perfect kiss of smokiness.
The protein is where you really get to choose your adventure. You can keep things vegetarian by adding black beans, lentils, or roasted chickpeas or go the T-rex route with shredded rotisserie chicken, leftover taco meat from the night before, carne asada or steak, or add some speedy sauteed shrimp to your salad. The chipotle dressing compliments it all!
but… how do you massage kale?
It’s easy! So easy, in fact, that even my 10 year old can do it! She was kind enough to hand model for me this time around.
First chop your kale. Teeny bites of kale mean you’ll get lots of kale, veggies, and dressing to fit on each forkful!
Add the kale to a large bowl and drizzle kale with a tsp or two of your favorite healthy oil (like avocado oil or olive oil) and a pinch of salt. You can also add a squeeze of lemon juice if you’d like!
Massage the kale with your fingers until kale darkens in color and takes on a velvety texture. This little rubdown turns the curly kale leaves into a tender and silky salad green!
Chipotle Kale Salad
This salad is 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 entire bowl in a sitting. I won’t tell.
One of the best parts of this salad is that you can make it ahead of time and it will keep in the fridge for up to 4 days. Same goes for the dressing – leftover dressing can be stored in a lidded jar for 1-4 days. It’s a perfect addition to on-the-go lunches or just to help cut down on mealtime prep at home.
hONEY cHIPOTLE dRESSING
The below measurements yield yield approx. 1/2 cup of dressing. Need less? You’re welcome to halve the recipe if desired!
- ⅓ cup avocado oil plus a little extra to taste if desired
- 3 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 1.5 TBSP honey
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp pepper
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 1 small/medium clove garlic, smashed and peeled
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend/process until smooth and emulsified. An immersion blender also works great here!
- Dip a kale leaf or cucumber slice into the dressing to taste-test and adjust any ingredients to taste. For more chipotle flavor you can add a little extra adobo sauce or adjust the sweetness/tartness with the honey and vinegar, etc… Let your taste buds be your guide!
- OPTIONAL EXTRA: juice of 1/2 a lime for a delicious burst of citrus flavor.
Chipotle Kale Salad
Ingredients
FOR THE SALAD
- 4 cups chopped curly kale
- 1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
- 1 bell pepper, any color
- 1-2 cups sweet corn (cooked from fresh/frozen or canned)
- 1 jalapeño (optional)
- 3 TBSP fresh chopped cilantro (optional)
HONEY CHIPOTLE DRESSING
- ⅓ cup avocado oil
- 3 TBSP red wine vinegar
- 1.5 TBSP honey
- ¾ tsp salt
- ¼ tsp black pepper
- ¼ tsp dried oregano
- ¼ tsp ground cumin
- 1 chipotle pepper in adobo sauce
- 1 small/medium clove garlic (peeled and smashed)
- ½ lime, juiced (optional extra)
PROTEIN OPTIONS: CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE
- black beans
- crispy roasted chickpeas
- lentils
- shredded rotisserie chicken or grilled chicken
- carne asada or steak
- shrimp
- leftover taco meat
Instructions
HONEY CHIPOTLE DRESSING
- Combine all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend/process until smooth and emulsified.
- Dip a kale leaf into the dressing to taste-test and adjust any ingredients to taste. For more chipotle flavor you can add a little extra adobo sauce or adjust the sweetness/tartness with the honey and vinegar, etc… If the chipotle level is a little strong for your liking you can add extra oil and vinegar (stick to the above ratios and you're good to go) or even a little water to the dressing. Let your taste buds be your guide!
- OPTIONAL EXTRA: Stir in juice of 1/2 a lime for a delicious burst of citrus flavor.
FOR THE SALAD
- Chop up your favorite vegetables and massage the kale using drizzle of oil and a pinch of salt.
- Combine kale and veggies in a large mixing bowl and drizzle desired amount of dressing on top. I like to add around 1/3 of the dressing and serve with the remainder so everyone can add their desired amount.
- Mix in your choice of protein from the list above. The dressing compliments all of the options SO well, so have fun with it and customise this salad to your heart's content! Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
This sassy salad is vegetarian, gluten-free, ridiculously healthy and fan-freaking-tastic.
Kale Salad Serving Suggestions
This zesty kale 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, paninis, pizza, and even compliments a good old fashioned cheesy veggie quesadilla!
Looking for More Tasty Kale Recipes?
Check out my round-up of 10 Tasty Ways to Eat More Kale or snag a few favorites from the list below:
- Lemon Parmesan Kale Salad – READER FAVORITE!
- Kale Apple Salad with Bacon and Cheddar
- Broccoli Kale Salad with Lemon Dressing
If you get a chance to try this chipotle kale salad recipe, let me know!
Leave me a comment here (LOVE checking those daily!) and tag @PEASandCRAYONS on Instagram so I can happy dance over your tasty creations. I can’t wait to see what you whip up!
Questions & Reviews
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.
I am so in love with this dressing. It takes a kale to a whole new level of yum!
Love all the flavors in this salad. It is going to be so satisfying with the garlic and chipotle.
I made this recipe for dinner tonight– so refreshing and tasty! Thanks, as always, for the great food ideas!
It’s so colorful and looks delicious too. I have never tried a salad with Kale. Hope to try this very soon.
Yum, I love Kale and that dressing sounds delish!
Mmm…I love Whole Foods garlicky kale salad. And this looks just as good! 🙂
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.
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. 🙂
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!!
Fresh garlic kale salad sounds great!
Mmm, this does sound amazing!
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!!
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
I’m preeeeetty sure I ate nothing but garlicky kale salad every meal last summer 😉 it’s addicting!
Yum this looks awesome 🙂
They just brought kale to supermarkets here in Australia so i will be trying this 🙂
i recently discovered kale – i was afraid to try it or something – but now i’m obsessed and i might have to make this =)
With words like garlic and chipotle, I’m 10000000% positive I will love it. This one has officially been put on my radar. 🙂
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 looks so colorful and vitamin rich!! I must try it!! I love kale chips but am always scared to try them in a salad.
That dressing sounds fantastic! I love anything that is titled “chipotle.” 😉
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!
Ive made spinach salads but never kale…I need to do this. Love it! It’s so pretty too.
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!
What a little cutie 🙂
No encouragement needed (your pictures were enough)time to add kale to my shopping list!
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.
Wow,that salad dressing sounds awesome! Adding infused oil to my shopping list…
The salad looks delicious, colourful and so fresh. And I don’t blame you for running of to snuggle that cutie.