Earthy Sundried Tomato Kale Salad: Elevate Your Salad Game
Are you tired of lackluster salads that leave you uninspired? It’s time to stop eating boring salads and start creating vibrant, nutrient-packed meals that delight your senses.
Many of my clients come to me with the best intentions—they want to eat more salads but often find themselves disappointed by bland, uninspired dishes.
The common culprits? Bland lettuces, oily store-bought dressings, and more meats and cheeses than actual veggies, leaving you with a lifeless salad that lacks texture, color, and satisfaction.
The Power of Color in Your Salad
You’ve heard it before: color equals nutrition. But it’s not just about packing your plate with vibrant hues; it’s about embracing variety.
Different colors in your salad mean different flavors, textures, and aromas, making your meal not only more exciting but also more nourishing. The first bite is taken with your eyes, so why not give them something delightful to look at?
This Earthy Sundried Tomato Kale Salad is anything but boring. It’s a beautiful medley of colors, textures, and rich flavors that will captivate your taste buds and leave you feeling nourished and satisfied.
The sundried tomatoes, hemp seeds, and oregano create a deep, earthy flavor, perfectly complemented by pops of saltiness from the olives and pepperoncinis, along with the satisfying crunch from the cabbage and hemp seeds.
The Key to Kale: Massaging for Texture and Flavor
Kale, known for its sturdy texture and bitter undertones, often gets a bad rap. But with a little love and attention, it can transform into a tender and flavorful base for your salad.
Massaging kale breaks down its tough fibers, releasing its natural oils, and softening its texture. This simple step also mellows the bitterness, making the greens more palatable and enjoyable.
Once you’ve experienced this salad, it’s sure to become a staple in your meal planning routine. I’d love to hear how it turned out for you—snap a pic and tag @sproutintowellness on Instagram.
Earthy Sundried Tomato Kale Salad
(Makes 2 large servings or 4 sides)
Dressing Ingredients:
1/2 cup hemp seeds
2 tablespoons lemon juice (~1 lemon)
1 teaspoon dried oregano
2 garlic cloves
1/2-3/4 cup filtered water
1/4 cup sundried tomatoes (dried, not packed in oil), soaked in hot water until softened
1/2 teaspoon sea salt, or to taste
Salad Ingredients:
1 bunch curly kale (~4 cups), destemmed and torn into bite-size pieces
1 cup red cabbage, shredded
1/2 cup cherry tomatoes, halved or quartered
1/4 cup pepperoncinis, sliced
1/4 cup pitted green olives
Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
Hemp seeds, for topping
Directions:
Combine all dressing ingredients, starting with 1/2 cup water, and blend. Depending on your blender and how much water the sundried tomatoes absorbed, you may need additional water to blend smoothly. The dressing should be thick, like a smooth hummus. Add up to an additional 1/4 cup water to reach your desired consistency. Set aside (can be made ahead of time!).
Place kale in a large bowl and massage with your hands for 1-2 minutes until softened. Add half of the dressing and mix well, ensuring all the kale is evenly coated.
Add the shredded cabbage to the dressed kale and toss to combine.
Divide the salad into serving bowls and top with the remaining ingredients.
Pro Tip:
You'll likely have extra dressing left over. This versatile dressing is fantastic in wraps, slathered on sandwiches, or even as a dip!
By incorporating these fresh, vibrant ingredients, you’re not just making a salad—you’re nourishing your body and soul.
Enjoy every bite of this earthy, flavorful creation, and remember, eating healthy should never be boring!
Science-Backed Benefits
Kale: Rich in antioxidants like quercetin and kaempferol, kale has been shown to reduce inflammation and protect against oxidative stress. It's also a great source of vitamins A, C, and K, essential for immune function and bone health.
Sundried Tomatoes: These are packed with lycopene, an antioxidant that has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease and certain cancers.
Hemp Seeds: A complete source of protein, hemp seeds provide essential fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6, which support heart health and reduce inflammation.
This salad is more than just a meal—it's a step toward vibrant health.
