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).
[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]
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Table of contents
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?
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
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!
Simple Sauteed Greens
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
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.
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Katie Uhran says
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
Rachel says
Oooh, I have some kale I won't be using in a fresh salad. I should definitely make this one!
Rebecca says
do it!
Samantha says
This looks amazing! I love a good kale salad
Rebecca says
thanks! me too 🙂
Abbey Sharp says
LOVE your sautee trick to reduce food waste! I'm sure they also bring a ton of flavour.
Rebecca says
so much flavor! thanks
Deborah @ Confessions of mother runner says
I love simple healthy salads like this! I am on board
Rebecca says
right?! I'm all about simple too
GiGi says
This is basically the only way I would eat kale! ONLY WAY!! 😉
Rebecca says
Haha! it's def one of my faves
Emily @Sinful Nutrition says
I have a bag of kale just begging to be made into this! Looks so delicious!
Rebecca says
yaaassss! LMK how it goes
Jennings says
Hello Rebecca, this kale salad looks very delicious!Looks like very healthy one. I would love to make at home!
Rebecca says
thanks! let me know if you make it& how it turns out