There was a time when kale was just ornamental. Then suddenly it became a culinary superstar!
And with good reason. Because once you start eating kale, it will become the “new normal” base for your salads. It has a more robust flavor and texture than lettuce, and is good for you, too. And that’s all because kale is part of the same family as broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts and cabbage.
Black kale — also called Tuscan kale — is the best choice for salads. It has soft, flat leaves and is not prickly or curly. It still needs to be de-stemmed and the leaves need to be torn, but it isn’t nearly as tough as curly kale, which is a good choice for making kale chips. Baby kale is the easiest kale to use because all you need to do is wash and dry the tender leaves and finish making the salad.
There are many ways to dress kale in a salad. I love adding a touch of sweetness to both the dressing and the salad mix-ins. This counteracts the slight bitterness of the leaves. The other key is to dress the kale, then let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes before adding the other ingredients. This will slightly wilt the greens, remove the bitter flavor and make the raw kale more tender.