Kale salad is made over with a tangy and nutty sesame-lime dressing!
Welcome to another edition of Mystery Dish! This month, Zainab from Blahnik Baker was our host and she gave us a fabulous list to make one great dish with, including: sesame seeds, green chiles, green tea/matcha powder, cardamom, ginger, feta, lamb, pinto beans, white wine, prickly pear cactus, and apples. We were supposed to use three ingredients, and I immediately thought of a few directions I could go: an apple dessert, a Mexican dish, or something Asian-y. To me, making an apple dessert [which I’d make anyway countless times this fall] was the easy way out. So was Mexican. That left Asian. What to make, what to make. OH! Sesame. I had sesame seeds and sesame oil… and somehow made an awesome awesome kale salad that has been a constant in our fridge for the past three weeks. Seriously!
I would say that the dressing in all its nutty sesame, citrusy tart lime, intense fresh ginger, and salty soy is the best part of the salad. But then I’d be doing a disservice to the crunchy toasted sesame seeds [I used white AND black] and the dried sweet apples. That’d be so sad. This salad keeps well in the fridge over the course of the week. The dressing softens the kale more and more over time, and is just so fragrant and flavorful! One might think that if you’re making the salad ahead of time it would be better to add the sesame seeds and dried apples just before serving. But surprisingly the sesame seeds stay nice ‘n crisp, and the apples take on a great salty-sweet flavor once they’ve bathed in the dressing for a day or so. Obviously the ultimate choice is up to you–assuming the salad lasts long enough for leftovers–but I highly recommend just tossing it all together and enjoying dish after dish in your lunch all week long.
I’ve never had a salad I’ve had to fight Ben for…this is a first. I mean, he likes salad and kale but this kale salad is out of this world amazing! Enjoy!!
one year ago: Maple Apple Pie-Crisp with Cheddar Crust and Bacon Crumb Topping
two years ago: 1970s Style Tacos
four years ago: Sweet and Spicy Blueberry Pork
Kale Salad with Sesame-Lime Dressing
dressing recipe from freshncrunchy
Ingredients:
- 1 bunch kale
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- juice of 1 lime [approximately 1/4 cup]
- 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons maple syrup
- 1 1/2 teaspoons fresh ginger, grated
- 1/2 cup dried apples, chopped
- 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
Directions:
Wash kale, then remove thick stems and thinly slice leaves into ribbons. Dry with a salad spinner or a kitchen towel. Place in a large bowl.
In a measuring cup, combine extra virgin olive oil, sesame oil, lime juice, vinegar, soy sauce, maple syrup, and ginger. Whisk to combine, then pour half the dressing over the kale. Toss together with salad tongs or your hands, and add as much of the remaining dressing as desired. For extra tender kale, massage dressing into the kale with your hands for a few minutes. Allow salad to rest for at least 10 minutes before serving to soften. Top with chopped apples.
Place sesame seeds in a cold skillet. Set on stovetop over medium heat, and toast for 3-5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring often. Add sesame seeds to kale salad before serving.
Come check out what else we made this month!
- Green Chile Chicken Soup – Chez CateyLou
- Crockpot Chicken Chilli Stew – Yummy Healthy Easy
- Spiced Apple Crisp – I Want Crazy
- Kale Salad with Sesame-Lime Dressing – The Pajama Chef
- Spiced Mini Skillet Apple Crisp – Culinary Couture
- Pan Seared Pork Chops with Spicy Apple Chutney – Flavor the Moments
- Matcha Swirl Cheesecake – Baking a Moment
- Green Chile Cheese Pinwheels – I Dig Pinterest.
- Baked Apple Donuts with Cardamom Cream Cheese Glaze – Joyful Healthy Easy
- Vegan Gluten-Free Ginger Walnut Apple Pie Bars – The Sweet-Tooth Life
- Apple Feta Salad with Toasted Sesame Seeds – The Well Floured Kitchen
- Apple Cardamon Crisp – Blahnik Baker
The Pajama Chef 
wow I’ve got to try this ASAP. I love kale salad but haven’t ventured out from balsamic or sherry vinegar flavors. I adore sesame so this just sounds too good to pass up! Thanks for sharing!
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hope you enjoy, sam! it’s really good!
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Sarah: The dressing sounds good. Love, Dad
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thanks, dad!
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I’ll fight over this salad too!! Looks so amazing! I can’t wait to try it!
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hope you do, zainab!
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I love kale salads so much, and this dressing sounds so delicious. Lime and sesame are such delicious flavors!
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thank you, cate!
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I love the sound of this kale salad! You rarely see it paired with Asian flavors, but why not?! Great use of the ingredients!
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thank you, joanne!
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Ooh I really like kale salads and the apples + sesame sound incredible! What a pretty side dish to have on hand – love how easy it is to fix!
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thank you!! i love kale salads for just those reasons 🙂
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That dressing sounds perfect! I love that kale salads last the whole week, makes life easy!
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yes, it does! thanks emily!
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This looks so yummy! My husband and I were just talking last night about how we need to include kale in our recipes more often because of how good it is for us. This looks like a perfect way to re-introduce it in our home.
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thanks christine! i’m glad my husband loves kale as much as i do because we eat it so much!
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What an awesome looking kale salad! And even more awesome that it gets more delicious as it sits!! Love that there are dried apples!
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thank you, ashley!
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I love a kale salad and this one sounds SO delicious. YUM!
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thanks, amy! you know it’s a good recipe when you make it over and over again! 🙂
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That’s a fun challenge and your salad sounds lovely!
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thank you, amy!
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