Massaged Kale Salad with Almonds and Cranberries

Massaged Kale Salad with Almonds and Cranberries –

Massaged Kale Salad with Almonds and Cranberries

I have been wanting to make a massaged kale salad, ever since my friend Kate of Real Food RN was raving about it. She loves it so much, that she takes one to work every single day. I had planned to make her recipe. But, I didn’t have all of the ingredients, so I had to improvise. So, here is my version. It was delicious!

Massaged Kale Salad with Almonds and Cranberries

Ingredients
1/4 cup shallots, soaked (directions below)
1 bunch kale (I prefer curly kale for this), stalks removed and leaves chopped
1/2 cup dried cranberries (preferably sweetened with apple juice, like these ones)
1/4 cup almonds, chopped or slivered*
juice of 1 orange
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar (I prefer a thick syrupy variety, like this one)
3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
sea salt and pepper

1. Place the shallots in a bowl and cover with filtered water. Let them sit for at least 10 minutes. This will help take the bite out. Then drain the water and discard.
2. In a large serving bowl, combine the kale, half of the orange juice, 1 tablespoon of olive oil and some sea salt.
3. Massage with your hands until the kale starts to soften, about 2 to 3 minutes.
4. Now add the cranberries, almonds and shallots to the kale.
5. In a separate bowl, whisk together the remaining olive oil, orange juice, and balsamic vinegar.
6. Pour over the salad and toss to combine.
7. Adjust salt and pepper to taste.

*Optional: To add a little extra crunch, I used raw almonds and I tossed them with a little bit of coconut oil, about 1/2 a teaspoon. I toasted them in my toaster oven for just a few minutes, until they were crispy. I then chopped them up and used them in the salad.