Kale Salad with Ginger Peanut Dressing
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A kale salad you’ll actually crave.
Believe it or not, this kale salad will have you eating your veggies with ravenous abandon. It’s filled with crunchy carrots and shredded red cabbage—which you can buy already prepped at the supermarket—and loads of toasted almonds, but it’s the Asian-style peanut dressing laced with ginger and garlic that makes it so good. You’ll want to drink it!
“When hubby saw me making salad with kale, he was far from impressed. But then he tried it…(gates of heaven opening, angel music playing)… OMG!!! Absolute gem, gorgeousness!!!! PLEASE try this people!”
What You’ll Need To Make Kale Salad With Ginger Peanut Dressing
- Curly Kale: Provides a hearty base for the salad with its robust texture and earthy flavor.
- Red Cabbage: Adds vibrant color and a satisfying crunch to the salad.
- Shredded Carrots: Offer subtle sweetness and additional texture to the dish.
- Red Bell Pepper: Contributes a pop of color and freshness to the salad.
- Slivered Almonds: Provide a crunchy contrast. Don’t skip the toasting step as it releases the almonds’ oils and makes them much more flavorful.
- Fresh Cilantro: Adds a burst of freshness and herbaceous aroma to the salad.
- Creamy Peanut Butter: Creates a creamy base and adds richness to the dressing. For a smooth dressing, avoid crunchy peanut butter.
- Unseasoned Rice Vinegar: Provides acidity and balances the flavors of the dressing.
- Lime Juice: Offers tanginess and brightness to the dressing.
- Vegetable Oil: Helps emulsify the ingredients and provides a smooth texture.
- Soy Sauce: Adds depth of flavor, umami, and saltiness to the dressing.
- Honey and Sugar: Provide sweetness to balance the acidity and spice in the dressing.
- Garlic and Ginger: Infuse the dressing with aromatic flavor and depth.
- Sriracha: Adds a kick of heat and complexity to the dressing.
- Toasted Sesame Oil: Offers a nutty aroma and enhances the Asian-inspired flavors of the dressing.
- Jump to the printable recipe for precise measurements
Step-By-Step Instructions
Begin by arranging the almonds on a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake until lightly golden and fragrant.
Meanwhile, make the dressing by combining all of the ingredients in a food processor or blender.
Purée until smooth and creamy.
Combine the vegetables, almonds, and dressing in a large bowl and pour the dressing over top.
Toss well.
Let the salad sit at room temperature for about 15 minutes to allow the kale to soften. Toss again, then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. As the salad sits, the flavors may dull; a squeeze of lime and/or pinch of salt will wake things up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Sure, you can replace the cilantro with flat-leaf (Italian) parsley.
Absolutely! Feel free to reduce the prep time by using these supermarket shortcuts.
Yes, it keeps well in the fridge for a few days, although it won’t be quite as pretty, as the colors dull once refrigerated. Make sure to cover the salad tightly—the cabbage has a strong odor.
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Asian Kale Slaw with Ginger Peanut Dressing
A kale salad you’ll actually crave.
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 4 cups chopped curly kale, thick stems removed (patted dry)
- 3 cups shredded red cabbage
- 2 cups shredded carrots
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into bite-sized pieces
- ¾ cup slivered almonds
- ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro
For the Dressing
- 3 tablespoons creamy peanut butter
- 3 tablespoons unseasoned rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice, from one lime
- 3 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 1 tablespoon sugar
- 1 large clove garlic, roughly chopped
- 1-inch square piece fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped (see note)
- ¾ teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon sriracha
- 1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Bake the almonds until lightly golden and fragrant, 5-10 minutes. (Keep a close eye on them; nuts burn quickly.) Transfer the nuts to a small plate to cool.
- Meanwhile, combine all of the ingredients for the dressing in a food processor or blender; process until smooth and creamy.
- Combine the ingredients for the salad in a large mixing bowl. Pour the dressing over the salad and toss well. Let the salad sit at room temperature for 15 minutes to allow the kale to soften. Toss again, and then taste and adjust seasoning, if necessary. (As the salad sits, the flavors may dull; a squeeze of lime juice will wake things up.)
- Note: Check out easy guidance on how to peel, grate, and chop fresh ginger here.
Nutrition Information
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- Per serving (6 servings)
- Calories: 282
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated fat: 2g
- Carbohydrates: 28g
- Sugar: 17g
- Fiber: 6g
- Protein: 7g
- Sodium: 505mg
- Cholesterol: 0
This website is written and produced for informational purposes only. I am not a certified nutritionist and the nutritional data on this site has not been evaluated or approved by a nutritionist or the Food and Drug Administration. Nutritional information is offered as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. The data is calculated through an online nutritional calculator, Edamam.com. Although I do my best to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures should be considered estimates only. Varying factors such as product types or brands purchased, natural fluctuations in fresh produce, and the way ingredients are processed change the effective nutritional information in any given recipe. Furthermore, different online calculators provide different results depending on their own nutrition fact sources and algorithms. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Gluten-Free Adaptable Note
To the best of my knowledge, all of the ingredients used in this recipe are gluten-free or widely available in gluten-free versions. There is hidden gluten in many foods; if you're following a gluten-free diet or cooking for someone with gluten allergies, always read the labels of your ingredients to verify that they are gluten-free.
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I am really gobsmacked with this one! When hubby saw me making salad with raw kale he was far from impressed. He was reluctant from even trying it. But then he did…(gates of heaven opening, angel music playing, sun shining bright above white clouds…) OMG!!! Absolute gem, gorgeousness!!!! PLEASE try this people!
Thank you Chef Jenn!!!
I made this for Xmas and had everyone asking for the recipe! “How did you make Kale taste this good?” This is one I’ll be making over and over for sure! Loved the crunch and flavour explosion of the dressing!
I served this salad along with a pan-Asian feast for a Christmas party that I hosted last night. It was so delicious and I will definitely be making it again and again. The dressing is the best peanut dressing I have ever tasted. Thank you for all of your wonderful recipes!
Just had this as a side to some rainbow trout we had. I could not stop eating this salad, absolutely delicious! I’ve always been a salad gal but yours really hit different Jenn. Thank you
Delicious! and healthy Love your recipes!
This is a go to salad for us! I love making it and love eating it even more. So delicious!!
We enjoy this salad & would like to serve along with maybe meatballs. Would one of your recipes pair well(guests coming for a simple supper) Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thank you for any direction you can steer me! 😊
Hi Mary, The Sesame Ginger Meatballs in my second cookbook would be good – if you don’t have the book, I can email you the recipe (just send me a request to my email jennifer@onceuponachef.com).
Thank you so much….I really appreciate your kindness & your wonderful recipes! Mary
My new favorite salad. Loved it!! I haven’t yet tried one of your recipes that I didn’t like, and I try a LOT of recipes from books, bloggers, TV etc. Very few of them would I make again, but everything I have tried from your site goes on my rotation list.
I made this as written, as I had everything on hand (save peanut butter, so I made my own).
The dressing is heavenly. I used less vinegar and no sugar. I started spooning the dressing from the food processor 😀
The salad looks beautiful, the crunch is nice, the dressing is heavenly,… Thanks Jenn!
I can imagine using the dressing as a dip for vegetable sticks.
This is the best salad I’ve ever had. I have been eating it twice a day for two months.