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    Home » Recipes » Salads

    Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

    Published: Jan 11, 2023 by Nicole · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

    Jump to Recipe·Print Recipe

    Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing is going to be your new favorite cold weather salad! It's healthy, hearty, and filled with so many flavors and textures.

    Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing on a table with a serving spoon.

    Why You'll Love This Recipe

    If you find it difficult to incorporate fresh produce into your meals during the winter, try eating more kale! This salad is perfect for cooler weather, since kale thrives during the late fall, winter, and early spring.

    This favorite kale salad is plant-based, gluten free, and so easy to make! Simply toss all the ingredients together and drizzle with a Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing.

    Do you want more kale salad recipes? Try this Fall Kale Salad with Sweet Potato or this Kale Crunch Salad.

    Ingredients

    For the Salad

    • Kale: Chopped, with stems removed. Use your favorite type of kale like Curly, Red, Lacinto, or Baby Kale. Read more about the different types of kale.
    • Chickpeas: A can of chickpeas, also known as garbanzo beans, rinsed and drained.
    • Almonds: Sliced almonds. You can substitute for your favorite type of nut or seed, like walnuts or pepitas.
    • Parmesan: Freshly shredded or shaved parmesan cheese, optional.
    • Avocado: A ripe avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped.
    • Red Onion: Thinly sliced red onion, optional.

    For the Creamy Tahini Dressing

    • Tahini: This is what makes the dressing extra creaming. Tahini is a paste made of ground sesame seeds, and it can be found in most grocery stores.
    • Olive Oil: Extra virgin olive oil.
    • Lemon Juice: Fresh lemon juice is a must!
    • Honey: To add a little sweetness. Use a natural sweetener like honey or maple syrup.
    • Water: Cold water to thin out the dressing and give it the creamiest texture.
    • Garlic: A clove of minced garlic.
    • Salt and Pepper: To taste.
    Ingredients including Kale, Chickpeas, sliced almonds, parmesan, avocado and red onion
    Creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing Ingredients.

    How to Make Kale Tahini Salad

    1. Place the kale and ¼ teaspoon olive oil in a large bowl. Using your finger tips, massage the kale for about 1 minute until it starts to soften.
    2. Assemble the salad. Add the chickpeas, avocado, almonds, parmesan, and red onion to the kale. Toss to combine. Set aside.
    3. Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together or shake all the dressing ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust as needed. If it's too think, add more water, a teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency.
    4. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss until coated. Serve and enjoy!

    Expert Tip: Don't skip the step of massaging the kale with olive oil. This gives it the best texture! It will be more enjoyable to eat and easier to digest.

    Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing Process Photo.

    Variations

    • Add more veggies. Use your favorite veggies like radishes or roasted sweet potatoes.
    • Top with some fruit. Chopped apples or dried cranberries are great options.
    • Swap out the protein. Instead of chickpeas, you can top the salad with tofu or grilled chicken.
    • Turn it into a well rounded meal. Add cooked quinoa to the salad.
    • Use different greens. If you're not a fan of kale, you can used your favorite type of greens or a mixed greens.
    • Prefer a different type of cheese? Instead of parmesan use your favorite type of cheese like feta, goat cheese, or blue cheese.
    • Make it dairy-free. Simply leave out the parmesan!
    • Make it vegan. Leave out the cheese, and swap the honey for maple syrup in the dressing.

    Serving Suggestions

    Serve Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing for a lunch, light dinner, or side dish. It's great with garlic bread or pita bread. It's even the perfect side for grilled chicken or fish.

    You can even meal prep this salad. Kale holds its own, so it doesn't get soggy as quickly as other types of salads. You can prepare this salad ahead of time, just be sure to add the avocado just before serving to prevent it from browning. This will last for up to 2 days in the refrigerator in an air tight container.

    Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing closeup.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

    When is kale in season?

    Though you can typically find kale in most grocery stores throughout the year, it is in season during late fall, winter, and early spring. Kale thrives in cooler weather.

    Can you eat kale raw?

    Yes! You can eat kale raw. The most popular ways are in salads and smoothies. If you use it in a salad, massage it for a minute with a splash of olive oil for the best texture.

    More Recipes with Kale

    • Kale and Mushroom Frittata
    • Sweet Potato and Kale Quinoa Bowls
    • Lemon Kale Pasta with Salmon

    If you make this recipe, don't forget to come back and leave a 5-star rating and a comment below.

    Print
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    Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing.

    Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing

    • Author: Nicole | Fresh Apron
    • Prep Time: 10 minutes
    • Total Time: 10 minutes
    • Yield: 4 servings 1x
    • Category: Salads
    • Method: Toss
    • Cuisine: Mediterranean
    Print Recipe
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    Description

    Kale Salad with Tahini Dressing is going to be your new favorite cold weather salad! It's healthy, hearty, and filled with so many flavors and textures.


    Ingredients

    Scale

    For the Salad

    • 6 cups kale, chopped with stems removed
    • ¼ teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 (15 ounce) can chickpeas, rinsed and drained
    • 1 avocado, peeled, pitted, and chopped
    • ¼ cup sliced almonds
    • ¼ cup parmesan cheese, shredded or shaved
    • 2 tablespoons thinly sliced red onion

    For the Dressing

    • 3 tablespoons tahini
    • 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
    • 2 tablespoons lemon juice
    • 2 tablespoons cold water
    • 2 teaspoons honey
    • 1 clove garlic, minced
    • salt and pepper, to taste

    Instructions

    1. Place the kale and ¼ teaspoon olive oil in a large bowl. Using your finger tips, massage the kale for about 1 minute until it starts to soften.
    2. Assemble the salad. Add the chickpeas, avocado, almonds, parmesan, and red onion to the kale. Toss to combine. Set aside.
    3. Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl or jar, whisk together or shake all the dressing ingredients until smooth. Taste and adjust as needed. If it's too think, add more water, a teaspoon at a time, until desired consistency.
    4. Drizzle the dressing over the salad and toss to combine. Serve and enjoy!

    Equipment

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    Notes

    Don't skip the step of massaging the kale with olive oil. This gives it the best texture! It will be more enjoyable to eat and easier to digest.

    Make it dairy-free. Simply leave out the parmesan.

    Make it vegan. Leave out the parmesan and swap the honey for maple syrup in the dressing.

    Nutritional values (per serving) are approximates only.

    Nutrition

    • Serving Size: 1 serving
    • Calories: 401
    • Sugar: 7 g
    • Sodium: 312.8 mg
    • Fat: 29.4 g
    • Saturated Fat: 4.4 g
    • Carbohydrates: 28.2 g
    • Fiber: 9 g
    • Protein: 12 g
    • Cholesterol: 3.6 mg

    Keywords: kale, salad, side dish, winter recipes, fall recipes, tahini, vegetarian

    Did you make this recipe?

    Tag @freshapron on Instagram and hashtag #freshapron — I can't wait to see what you've made!

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    Nicole | Fresh Apron

    Hi, I'm Nicole! I’m so happy to share all my recipes with you. I'm all about using fresh ingredients and creating simple recipes. Enjoy and happy cooking!

    More about me →

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