Day 5: In which Jessica is better than Popeye.
That’s right, I said it. Because you know what’s better than spinach? Kale. Kale all the way. And you know what’s even better than just cooked kale (if that is the equivalent of what Popeye was eating out of those cans)? Raw kale. Uh-huh. I’m one-upping left and right here.
Anyway. Raw kale salad is super healthy for you and it’s easy to make and it’s crazy delicious. I’ve blogged about it before, but not recently, so it’s time to re-issue the news about how rad it is.
Ok, maybe that’s not the best representation because I put it in a green bowl and it was sort of dark and I was probably starving and not caring much about the photo that day. When I get hungry, I get irrational, and dumb stuff happens. (seriously, ask the omnivore boyfriend.)
Now, if you’re like I was before I’d ever had raw kale, you’re thinking ‘gross’, but it’s really not, I swear. It’s so fresh tasting! I like it when something tastes ‘healthy’ though. Sometimes. I’m not going to deny that I will totally down a plateful of tots with ketchup. But other times, you just want something that feels like it revitalizes you to eat it. And this salad does that. Want a recipe? Ha, nice try, you know I’m terrible at that. But I will give you a rundown:
Raw Kale Salad
1 medium bunch of kale
drizzle of extra virgin olive oil (about 2 teaspoons)
sprinkling of salt
1/2 an avocado
juice from 1 small lemon
1 tsp of your favorite vinegar
cracked pepper (and more salt) to taste
whatever add-ins you like (strawberries are amazing in this!)
Method:
Ok, so wash your kale and tear it up into small bits (de-veining it) and put it in a bowl. Try to get most of the water off of it (I just squeeze mine out, you’re going to bruise it up anyway). Add the olive oil and some salt, then massage the kale with your bare mitts until it looks all wilty and limp and dark green. Add the avocado and lemon juice, massage it some more until the leaves are coated in the avocado. Then add the vinegar, pepper, additional salt, and whatever add-ins you are using, stir it up, and enjoy!
Seriously so easy. It takes me about 5 minutes to make. That’s a single serving, by the way. The kale shrinks a lot as you massage it, just like it does when you cook it on the stove top.
I wish I had some more kale now.
I made something like this recently. It was really good, but I’m such a nerd that I didn’t de-vein the kale. Oops! I guess that’s why it was a tad on the crunchy side!
Okay, that looks amazing. I wish I hadn’t just eaten lunch, because now I want a big bowl of kale!
Give me a K!
Give me an A!
Give me an L!
Give me an E!
What’s that spell? Raw kale salad awesome rad.
Ya know, if I wasn’t already courting kale, I would definitely be doing so after reading your post…
I have yet to try kale raw. Maybe I’m a little afraid. Buuuutttt…after reading this, I think I should face my fear 😛
i’ve been meaning to make this raw style kale salad for at least a year! i need to get on that…
this looks interesting. and i am right there with you about wanting food to taste healthy! ill have to try this!