Kale: Leafy Green, Yes; Tasty? Ummm… After a Massage, Yes!

When I opened our CSA box last year and found kale, I wasn’t sure quite what to do with it.  Kale was not a vegetable I had ever purchased or prepared for my family.  At a friend’s recommendation, I tried sauteing it with a bit of olive oil and garlic, but my family was less than impressed and so the remainder of the kale sat in the refrigerator until it had turned yellow and I finally admitted we were not going to eat it and threw it away.

This year, when deciding to participate in the CSA again, I had to promise Patrick that I was not going to let any of the vegetables sit in the refrigerator rotting, and so when I opened our box the first week and found kale, I had to find something to do with it, something that my family might actually eat and enjoy.

Another CSA friend suggested making Massaged Kale Salad.  “Did you say massaged kale salad?,” I asked my friend.  “Yes,” she answered.  Intrigued, I decided to give it a try.

Start with a large bowl of kale, rinsed and patted dry.

Massage, yes, massage, the kale for about 5 minutes.  As you massage the kale, it will change in color, texture, and bulk.

Mix together 1/4 cup of honey, 1/4 cup of olive oil, raisins, and pine nuts and pour over the kale.  Toss and serve!

We enjoyed this salad so much that I made it three times in one week!  If, like me, you prefer your salads with a bit less dressing, you may want to cut the honey and olive oil back to about 1/8 of a cup each.  A little dressing goes a long way if you toss it with the kale and let it sit for a few minutes before serving.