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    Home » Recipe Index » Salads

    Warm Kale Salad

    March 9, 2020 Updated October 13, 2022 By Rebecca Fall Recipes, One Pot/One Pan Meals, Salads, Side Dishes, Vegetables, Winter Recipes

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe
    warm kale salad in a cast iron skillet
    sauteed kale salad on plate with text overlay

    This simple and easy warm kale salad is a great way to use up hearty greens after they've started to go bad. It just takes 10 minutes to turn wilting greens into a flavorful warm salad.

    Also try this Kale and Apple Coleslaw or Kale and Broccoli Salad with Dried Cherries (AKA Chick Fil A copycat salad).

    warm kale salad in a bowl with kale, cheese and onions on table

    [This recipe was originally posted in March 2018. It has been updated with new photos, cooking instructions, expert tips, FAQ, related recipes, video and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]

    PIN HERE to add to your recipe box.

    Table of contents

    • How will this easy kale salad make your life easier?
    • What makes this wilted kale salad so good?
    • How do I make this cooked kale salad?
    • Substitutions/Tips
    • FAQ
    • How can I repurpose this kale salad?
    • What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    How will this easy kale salad make your life easier?

    If you hate wasting produce just as much as I do, this warm kale salad can be made with wilting kale and other greens by heating it up with butter, garlic, and lemon juice. Add an easy protein to it to make it a full meal, like this Breaded Pan Fried Pork Chop.

    If you like the idea of warm veggies in the winter, these other warm veggie dishes will hit the spot: Roasted Winter Vegetables, Instant Pot Beets, and Au Gratin Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts.

    What makes this wilted kale salad so good?

    • Butter
    • Red onion
    • Garlic
    • Kale
    • Lemon juice
    • Parmesan cheese

    How do I make this cooked kale salad?

    greens on plate close up

    To make your warm kale salad, start by heating a cast iron skillet over medium heat. While skillet is heating, chop up kale, and thinly sliced red onion.

    sliced red onions and butter cooking in a cast iron skillet

    Melt butter in pan. Then add sliced red onion. Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Sautee your warm kale salad for 3-4 minutes, or until onion is slightly translucent.

    sauteed kale salad in cast iron skillet with spatula

    After onion is slightly translucent and softened, add minced garlic, lemon juice, and chopped kale. Cook for another 3-5 minutes, stirring kale occasionally. Remove from heat once kale is softened, and a bright green color.

    Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and enjoy. Serve with a pan fried pork chop, tofu, scrambled eggs, or salami + your favorite grain for a full meal.

    Substitutions/Tips

    • It may seem like a lot of kale, but 4 cups raw kale = ~2.5 cups cooked kale. Plus, it's great as leftovers, so make extra!
    • Use whatever kind of hearty greens you have on hand like kale, collared greens, cabbages, and even spinach in this warm kale salad.
    • Other great add-ins: Chopped nuts, seeds, other vegetables. You can add in whatever you need.

    FAQ

    Can you eat kale raw in a salad?

    Definitely, it's great raw and cooked. I recommend massaging kale when eating it raw, or cooked. Just massage some salt into kale if you're eating it raw. Read about how to massage kale in the 'how do you make kale less bitter' section.

    How do you get the bitterness out of kale salad?

    Like I said above, heating kale, massaging it with salt, or adding an acidic dressing all help cut down on the bitterness of kale, just like in this warm kale salad.

    Here's how you massage kale: Remove kale ribs with your hand by holding the kale stalk at the bottom with both hands, then push one hand up toward the top of the leaf, pushing the leaves off the stalk.

    After you’ve removed the leaves, grab kale and rub together with your two hands for a minute +. Stop when kale is softened. This will soften the leaves and make them easier to eat.

    You can sprinkle kale with a pinch of salt to soften it more quickly. I recommend massaging kale whenever you plan to eat it raw.

    Can you heat kale?

    Heating kale is a great way to make it less bitter. Adding an acidic dressing, or massaging it with salt also helps make it less bitter. Sauteed kale is really delicious like in this warm kale salad, you can also roast it for crunchy kale chips.

    sauteed kale salad with cast iron skillet and bread in the background

    How can I repurpose this kale salad?

    • Add some ham or meat and eat in a tortilla or pita.
    • Serve pork chops with your warm kale salad.

    What can I make with leftover ingredients?

    • Kale: Kale Apple & Pecan Salad, Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches.
    • Red onion: Sausage & Egg Casserole, Apple Omelet w/Sharp Cheddar Cheese, Warm Harvest Bowl.
    • Lemon: Lemon Pasta Carbonara, Passion Tea Lemonade, Parchment Paper Salmon Packet, Shaved Zucchini Salad with Corn, Peach Crumble for One, and this Grilled Lamb Steak with Asparagus.

    Did you make this warm kale salad? Leave me a comment & rating to share how it turned out!

    warm kale salad in a white bowl with ingredients surrounding it
    Print Pin
    5 from 2 votes

    Simple Sauteed Greens

    This simple and easy warm kale salad is a great way to use up hearty greens after they've started to go bad. It just takes 10 minutes to turn wilting greens into a flavorful warm salad.
    Course Side Dish
    Cuisine American
    Prep Time 4 minutes
    Cook Time 9 minutes
    Total Time 12 minutes
    Servings 2 cups
    Author Rebecca

    Equipment

    • knife
    • cutting board
    • Medium Skillet
    • rubber spatula
    • Microplaner
    • Measuring Spoons
    • Measuring Cups

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoons butter sub olive oil for vegan
    • ½ onion sliced
    • 4 cloves garlic slivered
    • 4 cups chopped kale or other hearty greens well dried
    • 1 teaspoon lime juice or lemon juice
    • grated parmesan cheese omit for vegan
    • salt & pepper

    Instructions

    • Heat cast iron skillet over medium heat. While skillet is heating, chop up kale, and thinly slice ½ red onion.
    • Melt 2 tablespoon butter in pan. Then add ½ whole red onion (sliced). Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Sautee for 3-4 minutes, or until onion is slightly translucent.
    • After onion is slightly translucent and softened, add 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1 teaspoon lemon juice, and about 4 cups of chopped kale. Cook for another 3-5 minutes, stirring kale occasionally. Remove from heat once kale is softened, and a bright green color.
    • Top with freshly grated parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and enjoy.
    • Serve with a pan fried pork chop, tofu, scrambled eggs, or salami + your favorite grain for a full meal.

    Video

    Sauteed Kale Salad

    Notes

    • It may seem like a lot of kale, but 4 cups raw kale = ~2.5 cups cooked kale. Plus, it's great as leftovers, so make extra!
    • Use whatever kind of hearty greens you have on hand like kale, collared greens, cabbages, and even spinach.

    Want to get more single serving recipes like this warm kale salad delivered to your inbox? Click here to download my Single Serving Cookbook.

    Recipes are great, but you’ll need a simple 3 step process to create a meal plan that make cooking easy & helps you stop wasting food. Check out this expertly developed meal planning guide to get started. 

    More Salads

    • open faced chicken salad sandwich with sides on plate
      Chicken Pecan Salad with Apples
    • shaved zucchini, corn, and feta salad in a bowl
      Zucchini with Feta
    • square image of kale salad in a bowl
      Copycat Chick Fil A Kale Salad Recipe
    • thin apple and cucumber slices on a plate
      Apple Cucumber Salad

    About Rebecca

    Welcome! I’m Rebecca, a food loving dietitian. On Nourish Nutrition, you’ll find real, quick, and nourishing recipes for one that'll get you to want to cook for yourself, because you deserve it.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Katie Uhran says

      March 14, 2018 at 7:58 am

      Oh this looks so simple, healthy, and DELICIOUS!!! I love the addition of the parmesan cheese. I wouldn't even mind adding some crunchy bacon to this too...Perfect for lunch or dinner and so versatile! nom nom

      Reply
    2. Rachel says

      March 14, 2018 at 12:39 pm

      Oooh, I have some kale I won't be using in a fresh salad. I should definitely make this one!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        March 15, 2018 at 1:18 pm

        do it!

        Reply
    3. Samantha says

      March 14, 2018 at 12:53 pm

      This looks amazing! I love a good kale salad

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        March 15, 2018 at 1:17 pm

        thanks! me too 🙂

        Reply
    4. Abbey Sharp says

      March 14, 2018 at 1:04 pm

      LOVE your sautee trick to reduce food waste! I'm sure they also bring a ton of flavour.

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        March 15, 2018 at 1:17 pm

        so much flavor! thanks

        Reply
    5. Deborah @ Confessions of mother runner says

      March 14, 2018 at 1:14 pm

      I love simple healthy salads like this! I am on board

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        March 15, 2018 at 1:16 pm

        right?! I'm all about simple too

        Reply
    6. GiGi says

      March 14, 2018 at 4:43 pm

      5 stars
      This is basically the only way I would eat kale! ONLY WAY!! 😉

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        March 15, 2018 at 1:16 pm

        Haha! it's def one of my faves

        Reply
    7. Emily @Sinful Nutrition says

      March 14, 2018 at 5:54 pm

      I have a bag of kale just begging to be made into this! Looks so delicious!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        March 15, 2018 at 1:15 pm

        yaaassss! LMK how it goes

        Reply
    8. Jennings says

      March 20, 2018 at 2:45 am

      5 stars
      Hello Rebecca, this kale salad looks very delicious!Looks like very healthy one. I would love to make at home!

      Reply
      • Rebecca says

        March 20, 2018 at 8:13 pm

        thanks! let me know if you make it& how it turns out

        Reply

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    At Nourish Nutrition, you'll find bold, flavorful recipes for one. Most are single serving, and all have suggestions to use up the leftover ingredients so you can stop throwing away unused ingredients & leftovers!

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