This 10 minute warm kale salad for one is a great way to use up hearty greens after they've started to go bad. Turn wilting greens into a flavorful warm salad with this simple recipe.
[This warm kale salad recipe was originally posted in March 2018. It has been updated with a new ingredient photo, cooking instructions, tips, FAQ, related recipes, and ways to repurpose/use up ingredients]
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It's really easy for food to go bad when you're cooking for one, If you hate wasting produce just as much as I do, this warm kale salad can be made with wilting kale and other greens.
This recipe makes enough for a pretty big side salad. It makes good leftovers though, so that's fine. It's better to cook the wilting kale in this warm kale salad earlier so it doesn't wilt even more.
Add an easy protein and grain to it to make it a full meal.
Ingredients
Scroll down to the warm kale salad recipe card for the amounts of each ingredient, but here's a quick visual + description of what's in this recipe.
- Butter: Oil works well too, but butter adds a nice flavor to the kale.
- Onion: Use whatever kind of onion you have. Green onion would be a good addition, but you may enjoy it more uncooked, added as a garnish.
- Garlic
- Kale: hearty greens like kale, chard, collared greens, cabbage, etc are best for this recipe as they cook well.
- Lemon juice: Lemon/lime juice adds a nice tangy flavor to this salad, it + the butter/oil create a dressing. You could use apple cider vinegar too.
- Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Scroll down to the warm kale salad recipe card for more detailed instructions. Here's a quick overview + photos to see how to make this recipe in general.
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 slice onion.
Melt butter in pan. Then add sliced onion. Season with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Sautee kale 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 your warm kale salad with freshly grated parmesan cheese, salt and pepper, and enjoy.
Serve with
- Breaded Pan Fried Pork Chop + baked or mashed potatoes or Lemon Herb Couscous
- Panko tofu + rice or roasted potato
- BLT Bagel
- Easy Brisket Grilled Cheese
Storage/Reheating Tips
Store leftover warm kale salad in an air tight container in the fridge for about a week. You can reheat it, covered in the microwave or on a skillet. This salad wouldn't freeze well.
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, red pepper flakes, drizzle of balsamic dressing, other vegetables. You can add in whatever additional vegetables or toppings to this warm kale salad that you'd like.
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.
Other good vegetable recipes
- Roasted Beets and Potatoes
- Instant Pot Beets
- Au Gratin Potatoes and Brussels Sprouts
- Roasted Broccoli and Mushrooms
- Roasted Frozen Butternut Squash
- Frozen Roasted Green Beans for One
- Asparagus and Brussels Sprouts for One
- Air Fryer Broccolini
- Roasted Garlic Mushrooms
- Air Fryer Broccoli and Cauliflower
- Sheet Pan Broccoli for One
- How to Microwave Frozen Broccoli
Repurpose kale salad
- Add some ham, bacon or other meat and enjoy your warm kale salad in a tortilla or pita.
- Serve pork chops with your warm kale salad.
What can I make with leftover ingredients?
When you're cooking for one, you often have leftover produce, cans of whatever ingredient, etc. Here are a couple ideas on how to use up the leftover ingredients. It'll help you save money by wasting fewer ingredients.
- Kale: Kale Apple & Pecan Salad, Frozen Breakfast Sandwiches.
- 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, Easy Cucumber Beet Salad for One, and 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 for One
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 lemon juice or lime juice or apple cider vinegar
- 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 Tablespoons butter in pan. Then add ½ whole 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.
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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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.
Sharon Seraphina says
I topped mine with Champagne Vinagrette and thought it was delicious. Thank you!
Rebecca Clyde MS, RDN, CD says
great idea! thanks for sharing
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
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
GiGi says
This is basically the only way I would eat kale! ONLY WAY!! 😉
Rebecca says
Haha! it's def one of my faves
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
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
Samantha says
This looks amazing! I love a good kale salad
Rebecca says
thanks! me too 🙂
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!
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