8 Ways to Dress Your Kale Salad
Bitter kale is great with pungent, umami-rich, and creamy dressings.
Bitter kale is great with pungent, umami-rich, and creamy dressings and vinaigrettes. Whether you make a hearty vegetable and grain bowl, slaw side dish, or main course salad with fruit and nuts, these condiments pair perfectly with kale and its accompaniments. From light to bright, here are six options to help you determine the best dressing for kale salad and dishes.
Creamy garlic
Caesar is probably kale's most popular dressing. For a leaner alternative, puree roasted garlic with vinegar, mustard, Worcestershire, and a little mayo. Combine toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, peanut butter and rice wine vinegar to add a nutty earthiness.
:Get the Recipe: Sesame Dressing
Chile and lime
Channel your inner Bobby Flay, making a Southwestern, spicy salad dressing sweetened with a bit of honey. This recipe makes an ideal side to serve at a summertime cookout and is hearty enough to be a meal on its own.
:Get the Recipe: Chile-Lime Vinaigrette
Yeast
Noma alum Josh Lewis makes his terrific dressing with toasted nutritional yeast (sold at health food stores) and two types of oil. It’s great on all kinds of slaws and any salad with sturdy leaves.
:Get the Recipe: Toasted Yeast Dressing
Citrus
Whisk together vinegar, orange juice, mustard, shallot, and garlic for this dressing from Emily Farris.
:Get the Recipe: Kale Salad with Cranberries, Almonds, and Goat Cheese
Miso
Whisk miso with vinegar, sesame seeds, oil, and brown sugar for a bright, sweet, and savory dressing by Andrew Zimmern.
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Yogurt
Kale can handle intense dressings such as this Mediterranean one, made with garlic, red wine vinegar, yogurt, and crushed red pepper.
:Get the Recipe: Spicy Yogurt Dressing
Tahini and ginger
Use kale in a roasted grain bowl with more vegetables and chickpeas, then let this deliciously easy sesame-based dressing tie it all together. Make a double batch of the dressing to have enough for a full week of easy lunches.
:Get the Recipe: Tahini-Ginger Dressing
Sunflower seed
This creamy sunflower seed dressing for a hearty summer salad is flavored with za’atar, the classic Middle Eastern spice mix that often includes thyme, oregano or marjoram, sesame seeds, tangy sumac, and often salt.
:Get the Recipe: Sunflower Seed Vinaigrette
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