Kale Salad
February 17, 2018 by Nicole Collins
I’m ready to party!
Actually, I feel like I’ve been partying all month!
I mean, I started February in Florida which was super fun. Then, I came back and had my friend Alison’s and my mom’s birthdays back to back. And to celebrate with my mama, we took a day off of work to go to lunch and the movies to see Fifty Shades Freed. Which. Was. Everything!
Then this week, we’ve had Fat Tuesday, Valentine’s Day, and Chinese New Year all in the same week. Talk about a fun week. And tonight, we’re finally getting together to celebrate Alison’s birthday at a wine and tapas bar, which I’ve never been to but am soooo excited for.
I am on fun overload! Though, I don’t think you can really overload on fun.
It’s because of all of the fun (which has been accompanied by LOTS of food and alcoholic beverages) that I feel like I need to put some healthy back in my life.
Not that the healthy habits have disappeared. I did just give you these Shrimp and Kale Taquitos in an attempt of getting back on the wagon. But, they have just kinda been on vacation.
Like me…
So, to get my life right again, I actually just registered for a 5k. It’s the Red Shoe Shuffle which benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities. I do this race every year. But, this is big news, because I used to do at least 1 5k per month, and I haven’t been out walk/running in about a year. Oops…
Another attempt to get my life right is today’s Kale Salad. And, I’m taking you on this journey with me!
This is such an easy salad to throw together, and it makes the perfect flavorful side dish! We take some chopped kale, some red onion, some harrisa, olive oil, and feta cheese; and we toss it in a bowl together. Done. Recipe complete.
Harissa is one of my favorite ingredients right now. It has sooooooo much flavor. And it goes with everything. It's a little spicy, but you can control the heat based on how much you decide to use. Mmm...
I like to mix this salad with my hands, though. I think it really helps to blend the flavors. And, massaging the kale helps to break it down a little bit so it’s not so tough. That’s my recommendation, but mixing with a spoon is totally acceptable. Not quite as fun though…
And, bonus recipe! This salad is AWESOME mixed in with scrambled eggs! You just toss some of the mixed salad in a skillet with a little extra olive oil, let it wilt a bit, add 2 beaten eggs with a splash of milk and s&p, and cook it up as usual. It’s amazing! And, it lets you turn this delicious side salad in to a full meal. And, it helps you not get bored of eating the same of thing every day. And…I could go on all day.
Alright guys. I’m off to go be an old lady and rest so I can stay out past my bedtime tonight at Alison’s birthday party!
Enjoy, party hearty, and let’s eat!
Kale Salad
Serves: 4 Print
Ingredients:
3 cups kale, chopped
¼ cup red onion, thinly sliced
3 oz feta, crumbled
1 tbsp harissa
1 tbsp olive oil
salt and pepper, to taste
Directions:
In a mixing bowl, combine kale, red onion, feta, harissa, olive oil, and a pinch of salt and pepper, to taste. Toss with a spoon (or your hands) to make sure everything is combined. Divide, and serve.
Recipe notes:
*Bonus recipe! Take about a quarter of this mix, and heat it over medium high heat with a splash of olive oil until the kale starts to wilt. Add 2 eggs that have been beaten with a splash of milk and a pinch of salt and pepper. Scramble egg and kale mix. Enjoy for a delicious meal!
*This makes a nice light but flavorful side salad. But, I imagine this would be great as a main course salad for one by adding some roasted shrimp. YUM!
*Red onion can be a little too sharp for some people. If you want to take a little bit of the sting out of it, soak the red onion slices in a bowl of cold water for about 15 mins. Remove, drain, and pat dry before adding to the salad.
*Harissa has some kick to it, but I would not call this recipe spicy at all. If you're worried about it, start with a little less harissa, and add up to 1tbsp to your liking.
*I like to mix the salad with my hands, because massaging the oil and harissa in to the kale helps to soften it up a little bit. Plus, hands are our best mixing tools in my opinion!
*If you're not in to kale, this would work with fresh spinach too.
