Julienne Kale Salad

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Packed with kale, romaine lettuce, ham, and topped with a delicious mediterranean dressing, this Julienne Kale Salad is both healthy and delicious! It’s perfect as a healthy side, or quick and easy lunch.

picture of julienne kale salad with meat cheese and vegetables with a Mediterranean dressing in a wood bowl on a table

Healthy Kale Salad

Kale is a great leafy veggie to use for salads. It’s sweetest when the weather turns colder making it the perfect fall vegetable for your salad. High in vitamin C, this healthy kale salad is perfect for flu season, before holidays, and after the holidays.

Not only is this kale salad packed with vitamin C, but it is a great source of vitamin A, K, manganese, potassium, calcium, and of course fiber! Made with sliced ham, you get a healthy serving of protein as well. Needless to say, this is a healthy and hearty side dish.

How To Make Julienne Kale Salad

For this recipe, you will need ingredients for both the salad, and the deliciously tangy mediterranean dressing. Here’s what you will need:

Kale and lettuce- For a well rounded salad, you will want two types of leafy greens.
Swiss cheese- You can’t have salad without some cheese. If you aren’t a fan of swiss cheese, you could use mozzarella, provolone, or sharp white cheddar.
Tomatoes- I cut up two regular sized tomatoes, but you could use cherry tomatoes as well.
Olives- I love the flavor of green olives, but you could use black or green depending on your preference. Or, if you aren’t a fan, you can leave them out completely.
Ham- To whip this recipe up easily, use precooked sliced ham and break it up into pieces to put in your salad.
Parmesan flakes- Also known as shaved parmesan, you can find them at your local grocery store.
Olive oil- I use extra virgin olive oil due to the fact that it is the healthiest option, but you can use regular olive oil if you choose.
White wine vinegar- This is classic in mediterranean dressings, but you could also use red wine vinegar or Sherry vinegar.
Worcheshire sauce- Worcheshire adds a sweet and salty flavor to your dressing.
Olive juice- I use the juice from canned or jarred olive for this recipe.
Lemon juice- Fresh is always best, but you can use 2-3 tablespoons of store-bought lemon juice if you prefer.
Garlic- I mince fresh garlic cloves, but you could use 1 tablespoon of jarred minced garlic as well.
Spices and seasonings- To add complex flavors to your dressing, you will need dried oregano, salt, and cracked black pepper.

picture of salad, kale, tomatoes, garlic, lemon, olives, ham, cheese, lemons on a table

picture of julienned kale on a cutting board

picture of lettuce and ham and cheese and olives in a bowl

picture of julienned kale salad in a wood bowl

You will be making the dressing before the salad so all the ingredients have time to permeate. Follow the steps below!

Combine the olive oil, vinegar, worcheshire sauce, olive juice, lemon juice, garlic, and spices to a mason jar.
Then, place the lid on the mason jar and shake it vigorously to combine all the ingredients. Set it to the side.
Next, julienne the cheese, ham, and tomatoes, and slice the kale and lettuce into ½ inch strips.
Add kale, lettuce, cheese, ham, tomatoes, olives, and ¾ of the parmesan cheese in a bowl and toss to combine.
Pour ½ of the dressing over the salad and toss to coat. Set aside remaining dressing for serving.
Top with remaining cheese and serve additional dressing on the side.
Serve and Enjoy!

Tips and Tricks to Perfect Kale Salad and FAQs:

Make the dressing the night before and the flavors will intensify as they combine overnight!
Slice the kale into thin strips. Strips make it easier to eat. If you tear it like lettuce, it will be chewy.
Massage the kale. Squeeze the leaves with moderate pressure to help break up the fibers.

FAQs

Do I need to cook or bake anything?

Nope! This recipe does not require any baking or cooking of any kind. However, if you don’t have precooked ham slices, you can cook a ham or use leftover ham.

How long does this recipe take to make?

From chopping and cutting to making the dressing, the whole process is only going to take you about 15-minutes. Whip it up for an easy side or quick lunch.

How do I store leftovers?

Once fully prepared, you can store leftover kale salad with Mediterranean dressing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-days. Keep in mind that the dressing will soften the leafy greens as it sits, so sometimes it only lasts 1-2 days depending how old the kale and lettuce are.

What does julienne mean?

Julienne refers to how you will cut your ingredients for the salad. It means to cut into thin strips. For this recipe, you will cut the cheese, ham, tomatoes, lettuce, and kale into thin strips rather than cubes.

What To Serve With Julienne Kale Salad

Julienne kale salad can be served as a side to almost any recipe you choose. Salad goes with just about anything. This salad pairs well with Baked Salmon, a Longhorn Steakhouse Parmesan Crusted Steak, Pan Fried Pork Chops, or any entree you choose. You could also eat this delicious salad as a healthy lunch option.

For more delicious salad recipes, click here.