The True Food Kitchen Kale Salad is a fan favorite for good reason. This vibrant and flavorful salad features a unique combination of textures and tastes that will leave you feeling both satisfied and refreshed. While enjoying a meal at True Food Kitchen is always a treat, wouldn’t it be wonderful to recreate this culinary delight in your own kitchen? This blog post will guide you step-by-step through a copycat True Food Kitchen Kale Salad Recipe that is so delicious and easy to make, you’ll be adding it to your weekly rotation.
Unveiling the Magic: Ingredients for True Food Kitchen Kale Salad
The key to replicating the True Food Kitchen kale salad experience lies in using fresh, high-quality ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
For the Salad:
- 1 bunch of lacinato kale, ribs removed and thinly sliced
- 1/2 cup dried cranberries
- 1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted
- 1/4 cup grated pecorino romano cheese
For the Lemon Vinaigrette:
- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
- 1/2 teaspoon honey
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Ingredients for True Food Kitchen Kale Salad
Crafting Your Masterpiece: Step-by-Step Guide
Now that you’ve assembled your ingredients, let’s dive into the simple yet crucial steps to create this delicious salad.
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Prepare the Kale: Start by washing and thoroughly drying the kale. Remove the tough ribs from each leaf and then stack the leaves on top of each other. Roll the leaves tightly together and thinly slice them into ribbons. Place the chopped kale into a large bowl.
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Toast the Almonds: To enhance the nutty flavor of the almonds, toast them in a dry skillet over medium heat for 3-5 minutes, or until fragrant and lightly golden. Keep a watchful eye on them as they can burn quickly. Once toasted, remove the almonds from the heat and set aside to cool.
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Make the Lemon Vinaigrette: In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, lemon juice, apple cider vinegar, Dijon mustard, and honey until well combined. Season with salt and pepper to your liking.
Whisking Lemon Vinaigrette
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Assemble the Salad: Add the dried cranberries, toasted almonds, and grated pecorino romano cheese to the bowl with the prepared kale. Drizzle the lemon vinaigrette over the salad and toss gently to coat all the ingredients evenly.
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Serve and Savor: For the ultimate True Food Kitchen experience, serve the salad immediately. The kale will be tender yet slightly crisp, and the flavors will be bright and well balanced.
Elevate Your Salad Game: Tips and Tricks
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Massage Your Kale: For a more delicate texture, massage the kale with a small amount of olive oil for a couple of minutes before adding the other ingredients. This helps to break down some of the toughness and enhance its flavor.
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Customize Your Toppings: Feel free to get creative and personalize your salad with additional toppings. Some delicious options include roasted butternut squash, crumbled goat cheese, dried cherries, or pepitas.
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Make it a Meal: While delicious on its own, you can easily turn this salad into a satisfying meal. Grilled chicken, salmon, or tofu all make excellent additions.
Plated True Food Kitchen Kale Salad
Why This Salad is a Nutritional Powerhouse
Beyond its incredible taste, the True Food Kitchen Kale Salad is packed with nutrients. Kale, a leafy green superfood, is an excellent source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as fiber and antioxidants. Almonds contribute healthy fats, protein, and vitamin E, while cranberries provide antioxidants and fiber. This nutrient-rich salad is a great way to nourish your body from the inside out.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make the salad ahead of time?
While the salad is best enjoyed immediately, you can prepare the components ahead of time. Store the kale, cranberries, almonds, and cheese separately in airtight containers in the refrigerator. Make the lemon vinaigrette and store it in a separate container in the refrigerator as well. When ready to serve, combine all ingredients and toss with the dressing.
What can I substitute for pecorino romano cheese?
If you don’t have pecorino romano cheese on hand, parmesan cheese is a good substitute. You can also use a vegan alternative, such as nutritional yeast, for a dairy-free option.
Can I use a different type of kale?
Lacinato kale is recommended for this recipe due to its slightly sweeter and more tender texture. However, you can use curly kale if you prefer. Just be sure to remove the tough ribs before slicing.
I don’t have apple cider vinegar. What can I use instead?
If you don’t have apple cider vinegar, you can substitute it with white wine vinegar or red wine vinegar.
What can I add to this salad to make it a complete meal?
Grilled chicken, salmon, or tofu are all delicious and nutritious additions to make this salad a complete meal. You could also add a scoop of quinoa or lentils for a boost of plant-based protein.
Need More Culinary Inspiration?
For more delicious and healthy recipe ideas, check out our bill nye food web worksheet.
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