I discovered this technique from my local CSA. Bruising kale is quick and easy and involves no cooking. It gives the kale a sort of cooked feel and flavor. I am guessing that it may be a raw food thing. Whatever it is, it’s yummy, easy and a really great way to get in some dark leafy greens into your diet.
To bruise kale, first rinse and lightly dry leaves. Remove stems. Roll kale leaves tightly into a cigar shape and slice thinly. Toss kale strips into a bowl and sprinkle with 1/2 – 1 tsp of course sea salt. Using your hands thoroughly squeeze, mix, and rub salt into the leaves.
You can add lots of stuff to this to make a great salad. I added 1 tbsp olive oil, 2 tbsp orange muscat vinegar, shredded purple cabbage, shredded carrots, sunflower seeds, dried cranberries and chopped walnuts.
You could also add beans, sprouts or purple onions. That would be nice too. Try it out and let me know if you like it.
I use this technique but also add some olive oil and avocado towards the end of the “bruising”, then add whatever other ingredients. Really good!
Sounds yummy and looks good!! What is CSA? Is it like a Produce Store or a Whole Foods Store?
God Bless You and Yours!!!
That looks so good – you know they rarely have kale here for some unknown reason…
Regina-
I just bought kale yesterday for the first time ever! I have been looking around for something to make with it. I will give this a try. Thanks.
I got 4 bunches of kale in my CSA box this week, so this is a welcome idea!
(Flassie, CSA stands for community supported agriculture — it’s basically a way to buy a set quantity of produce, supporting local growers and getting what’s currently in season and available)
Thanks for the tip! I will definitely try this. I’ve been trying to bring in some new greens to our lives – like kale. I recently put some in with a cabbage slaw and it went over pretty well so the more ways to prepare, the better!