Magic Kale Salad with Pistachios and Apples
Do you like magic?
I’ve always had a thing for magicians.
I have a cousin on my mom’s side of the family who was a model and used to date David Copperfield. I’m not related to Claudia Schiffer, so the three male readers I have can calm down now. That includes you, Pea Daddy.
I had this fantasy in my head that somehow I’d show up at a family gathering and he’d be there with his mysterious demeanor, satin jacket and totally awesome eyebrows. He’d raise one wooly arch in my direction and suddenly make my really bad perm disappear. Or at least he’d teach me how to do a spectacular trick that would magically make me intriguing enough to get a date to the eight grade dance.
No such luck.
I never met David Copperfield.
My hair got even bigger.
And I lost count of the number of times I awkwardly sat in the corner of the middle school cafeteria during Mariah Carey songs while my brother slow danced with who I thought was my new best friend.
Hussies, all of ‘em, I tell ya.
I do my own magic these days.
I don’t even need an assistant. In fact, I prefer to work alone.
Watch as I skillfully raise my right eyebrow, wave my hand, shimmy to and ‘fro, and make this bowl of kale disappear.
Magic Kale Salad with Pistachios and Apples
Makes 2 servings
- 1 bunch of dinosaur or lacinato kale
- 1 lemon, juiced
- 1 T. extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 t. sesame oil
- 2 t. Dijon mustard
- 1 1/2 t. honey or agave
- 1/4 t. salt
- 1 Granny Smith apple, peeled, cored and diced
- 1/4 c. pistachio kernels, roasted and salted
Wash and dry kale and remove stems with a sharp knife of by tearing. Cut or tear leaves into large, bite-sized pieces and place in a large bowl.
In a small bowl or shaker bottle, combine lemon juice, oils, mustard, honey or agave and salt. Whisk or shake until fully combined.
Pour dressing over kale and massage it over and into the leaves of kale for a two or three minutes. Refrigerate and allow kale to soften for several more minutes.
Meanwhile, prepare apple by peeling and dicing and pistachios by eating them by the handful.
Add diced apples to the kale and toss. Plate each serving and top with remaining pistachios.
It’s easy to turn people on with decadent desserts, supermodels and eighth grade girls that matured far earlier than I did.
It takes real sleight of hand to make someone fall in love with kale.
Abracadabra.
And now that you know my trick, go ahead, amaze your friends.
Or as I like to call them, my brother’s girlfriends.
Very cute blog post! Love it. You are very good at telling a story, and making a delightful salad.
Thanks so much!
I only recently tried kale for the first time, and I baked it to make kale chips. I’ve been wanting to try kale for a salad option, and this sounds like the perfect recipe. I can’t wait to try it out! And I love that you have a thing for magicians, that’s so great
Basically kale with anything is magical to me. I can’t get enough. And apples pretty much make everything amazing so this is a double win my (recipe) book!! YUM.
I will be trying this! I love kale!!! I think I’ll sub out the pistachios for sunflower and pumpkin seeds though as I’m allergic to nuts. Off topic, HOW FLIPPIN’ AWESOME is thai fried quinoa??? You have never seen 2 carnivores and a vegan shove down every last kibble from a double recipe so fast. Delish!
Definitely sub the seeds! And glad the crew loved the quinoa!
I find myself buying heads upon heads of lovely, grizzly kale with the best of intentions… but they inevitably wilt in my crisper and have to be torn up and tossed into soup or grain dishes. I’m not sure why – I LOVE greens and eat a salad twice a day – perhaps it’s just the extra step of massaging that puts me off? I’ve done it before and loved the results (and I love the prepared ones at Whole Foods as well, though my wallet doesn’t), so I think it’s just a matter of making that “extra commitment.” Perhaps I’ll leave this recipe open on my computer as a little reminder that the few extra minutes are so worth it – this looks beautiful.
P.S. Pistachios… man, I don’t know why I keep buying one 12-ounce bag at a time when clearly, I should be buying three. Pistachios Anonymous, anyone?
OMP, I am obsessed with pistachios. Curse Trader Joe’s for shelling them, roasting them and salting them for me.
Your Sunshine kale salad is already my favorite way to eat Kale- I am sure this recipe will follow suit!!
I *might* like it better. Shh…
I seriously second the above comment. I am so in love with the Sunshine Kale salad if I go too long without making it, I start to crave it, I kid you not! I cannot wait to make this new creation…….I am so in love with it already.
You will LOVE it.
3 of my most favourite ingredients! How could this go wrong, it looks delicious!
That’s my type of magic!! I do something very similar with plates of cookies. lol
Nicely done! That sounds like my kind of salad. No matter what kind I make it almost always includes a chopped apple and some sort of nuts or seeds.
Wow. Not only does this salad sound delicious, it looks incredible! You are getting so good with your photography!!
Thank you! I’ve been really working on it.
I concur with Erin on your photographs – seems like you’ve taken it to a new level lately. I thought the dinner and dessert photos in your recent post Last-Minute Valentine’s Dinners and Desserts were especially striking. That first meatloaf muffin looks 3 dimensional, like I could touch it almost.
And as one of your 3 male readers, thanks for the shout-out! References to supermodels are always a good hook. Pictures work too!
Ha! Thanks, Mark. Having Ashley here really made me up my game on the photos, which I think are a good thing. I’m choosing quality over quantity these days. Hope you have a great weekend, full of supermodels and meatloaf muffins.
Haha, hussies! You’ve got kale, who needs ‘em? I love the sweet and savory combos, not many people can make that kind of magic!
Sounds like a yummy combo of flavors!!!
I keep trying kale, but I just can’t seem to find a way to make it taste good. Kale chips were the worst! But I am determined to understand what makes so many people like it.
I love kale, but I haven’t given it a massage yet. I think we need to move to that stage of our relationship!
Every little thing you do is magic Mama! I have to say, I had (ahem, have) a mad crush on Sting. This salad looks great, as does the photography!!!!
Beautiful salad and that wood plate/bowl is just gorgeous…that’s what I am really coveting!
This is a magical kale dish and I love the addition of pistachios to the salad!
Oh you are too much. We would have totally been sitting together in the corner at the dance. Prepping the pistachios sounds pretty difficult.
I have yet to massage kale and make a salad. putting this on my list. Will any other nuts work?
Sure, use whatever nuts you like! I think sunflower seeds would also be great. I promise to return your email one of these days…
Love this! You always make me smile…SOOO glad that I found your blog!
It’s all about massaging kale. That’s were the magic is!
Love the addition of pistachios!
I was massaging your Sunshine in a Bowl salad last night while my husband and I were talking about how amazing it is we are now eating a bunch of kale every day! We will try this recipe over the weekend…but not sure I an be trusted around roasted, salted pistachios. Your salad plate is gorgeous too.
Happy Friday Mama Pea! Thank you for the recipea!
I can’t wait to hear what you think of it!
OMP I just inhaled this. The tartness of the apple and the lemon mixed with the unexpected nutty of the sesame oil and salty, roasted pistachios….oh holy yum. I wish I were at home so I could make some more RIGHT NOW.
i’ve yet to turn nate on to kale salad…i guess my magic lies more in the baking category than not, but i’m willing to try anything to get him to eat it!
I think you actually can perform magic because I may not eat kale in way other than chip form!
I wish I could make this for you. Lives would change.
I’m a huge kale fan, and pretty much love it in every form (except steamed!). This combination looks really good- but I’m a little leery about the sesame oil- it’s SUCH a strong flavor to me. The rest sounds awesome, but I might have to sub out a different oil…. (but really, if you say it’s good, I should trust you..)
David Copperfield creeps me out. Always has. Most magicians do- especially that one guy that locks himself in a box all the time… can’t remember his name. Ick!
My love for kale already runs deep, so don’t worry – it won’t take much convincing to get me to try this! And as Averie said above, I love that wooden plate!
I got it at World Market for like $6.
Oh how I used to love David Copperfield back in the day (before the alleged scandals in Vegas). Kale though is something I have grown to love and really can’t get enough of it these days.
Thank you for working your magic and producing a yummy salad…now if only you could get it to appear at my house without me doing any work for it
Have a great weekend Mama Pea!
Oh my goodness you just made me start my day with a a good laugh along with my bowl of oatmeal. TGIF and have a wonderful weekend :~)
YUM! I’m growing two types of kale in my new raised bed this spring. SO excited to see how they do.
Oh, I’m jealous!
Very well-written and gorgeous pictures! But you did mean sleight of hand, didn’t ya?
Of course…
Adding pistachios makes everything magic. I just got some kale delivered and wasn’t sure what to do with it…now I know!
Hahaha….my parents took me and my sister to a David Copperfield show when we were kids, and we LOVED it.
This looks delicious! Love the addition of pistachios.
I am beyond jealous. How sweet were his eyebrows?
Be still my beating heart!
Yay! Another Kale salad variation to try. It’s always so hard deciding…salad or chips.
Love anything Kale, David Copperfield not so much. I actually met him one time and he was beyond creepy. Your recipes and blog are my go to for the best recipes. I actually just told someone yesterday about you and your blog and cookbooks. Thanks for sharing your life with us it truly blesses me. By the way how are the workouts going? Are you doing the Live fit would love to know what you think.
And another dream is crushed…
I finished LiveFit and am just finishing my second go-around with Phase I, but I’m going to extend the “bulking” phase a bit longer this time.
Heh, I just made a kale salad this morning! I made a pretty tasty one from Gluten Free Girl (http://glutenfreegirl.com/emerald-city-salad-inspired-by-pcc/) but I’ll have to try yours next! And as for making people fall in love with kale, I think all it takes is kale chips.
Believe it or not I’ve only eaten kale once in my life..in the form of kale chips. I definitely need to chance that and I think this salad just inspired me to do so sooner than later!
OK so I have been on the fence for a while about eating raw kale, but if you’re throwing apples and pistachios in there you may have me convinced – I love both of those so why not give it a go and see if I can handle the kale!
I wouldn’t need much trickery – I have no problem finishing off a large bag of kale all by myself! Kale salads are one of my favorites
Mama Pea,
You have yet to steer me wrong. From the plopping to the poptarts, winners every time. I think I will try the pistachios too.
Best,
Deirdre
I never knew kale can just be eaten without having to be cooked? What world have I been living in?
Honestly…you are such a good writer! What a fun post. As I’ve commented before, I’m not a vegetarian or a young mom…I lurk around here just to read your commentary on life and your adorable family. Oh…and thanks for posting on the Curly Girl method…that information has changed my life.
Thank you, Lee! So glad to have influenced you in a positive way. There’s no “right” way to eat, do hair or even live, but if we share what we know I think we can all learn a little.
We have a beautiful garden at work. I saw this recipe (while working hard, clearly!) and picked a bag full of kale on my way out. I added black bean and tofu and called this dinner. YUM!
Magical, right?
Tasty! I have been on a major pistachio kick lately, so I will definitely be adding this to my list of recipes to make.
I make your sunshine salad almost weekly. Is it worth cheating on that recipe with this one? Hmmmmm….
Ah – Mariah Carey during junior high dances. I remember it all too well. Not fondly, either.
Totally cheat.
When I first read this title, I immediately thought of Gob from “Arrested Development”.
This salad looks delish, I can’t wait to try it out!
Oh my gosh…best clip ever:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0o1kXiUwGw
haha yes! I love Buster’s excitement for everything. One of my favorite episodes was when he was the star of Gob’s magic show because of his hand. The little dance he does while the Final Countdown is playing killed me!
I’m looking into jiinong a (semi) local csa and ran across Maple Creek Farm’s site. You’re pictures look amazing, it’s ashame that we have to go through winter and have to wait… I was also looking into online organic delivery sites, but am kinda leery about that right now (is it really organic??). Looks like I’m going to have to start setting aside some money and invest in that csa membership for Maple Creek, again, you’re pics looks delicious! Thanks for sharing!
This isn’t magic its talent. I think it looks delicious.
How long do you think it lasts in the fridge?
I ate it the next day and it was fine. If your apples are coated with the dressing, they won’t brown too much, but I would wait to add the pistachios until right before eating so they don’t get gummy.
*Whew* I love cooking in bulk but have never done a raw kale salad before so I have no clue how it works. Thanks.
I just made this for the third time…and ate half the giant bowl…with my fingers, standing at the counter. No really.
Ha ha ha! I love that I just posted this recipe three days ago and you’ve made it three times. You are my hero.
The sad (good) thing is that it’s not just me. After getting my 5 year old on the bus today, my 3 year old sat herself at the counter and said “I need some of that salad. You know, with the crunchy green roundy things and the kale?”
Oh, be still my heart.
I made this yesterday for dinner!!! SUperb–thank you
Grocery store was out of kale so I bought an arugula/spinach blend. Pumpkin seeds were on sale, so I bought those instead. But I kept the dressing and the apples and it was a great combo!
Great subs…glad you liked it!
Can’t wait to try this!
BTW: I made the Chocolate Cherry Cashew Bars for my husband Sunday while he was gone and told him I left him some cookies in the refrigerator. When I got home after work yesterday, he said, “What are those nut bar things in the refrigerator?” I told him, and he said, “those are GREAT! What’s in those?” He couldn’t believe that it wasn’t anything but nuts and liquid sweetener (I don’t mention the flax). Two thumbs up!
Nicely done! What flax?
This is absolutely delicious! I’ve only had Kale in soup so it was all cooked up. What is the consistency of raw Kale? I noticed you soak in to “limp” up before hand. I’m assuming that’s needed. When I first saw the picture my first thought was, this would look fantastic with cranberries in it too. Have you tried it with different types of dried fruit by any chance? Thanks for this great recipe!
Raw kale is very tough and chewy, but it gets a nice texture when you massage it. And yes, it’s great with any dried fruit too!
Hey my cousin was a model who went out with David Copperifeld. No joke. Could it be?! Are we related?! I guess in that industry, however, they all get around with each other.
Maybe we are!
P.s. I heard David Copperfield is a real douche…
YUMMY! When it comes to pistachios i know it is a nut that is good for you, having fiber, potassium, and antioxidants, and so much more? You can’t go wrong! check out http://www.orandiranch.com for great pistachios handcrafted with Himalayan Pinksalt!
Just made this and my husband and I snarfed it up with great gusto. Thank you. This was an inspired recipe.
Wonderful! Thanks for the feedback.
I love kale, but I’m usually too lazy to make a proper dressing and massage it. I usually just drizzle some balsamic and honey on my kale salads. But I am SO glad that I took the extra effort to whip up the dressing (which really took no time at all) and give the kale a good massage. It makes such a difference! I might actually be able to get the boyfriend to eat kale salad this way!
I’m just impressed you are willing to share!
I made this last night Mama Pea! I loosely followed the recipe and left out the sesame oil and subbed pistachios for walnuts. DELICIOUS!
Great, Lisa! Thanks for the feedback!
Thank you so much for this idea I am now obsessed with this kale!
http://cowgirlbeans.com/2012/08/dinosaur-kale-salad.html
In the refridgerator! Ready for our Thanksgiving table! (:
Whoohoo!
I’m so impressed with this recipe — my sister shared this with me when I mentioned I just couldn’t find a good kale recipe… now I’m hooked. Thanks for sharing!!