Kale Power Salad from Pure Delicious

, , , 34

Kale Power Salad- a vibrant kale salad tossed in a Garlic Honey Sesame Dressing. Great for healthy lunches or served with protein such as quinoa or edamame for a wholesome meal! (gluten-free, grain-free and refined sugar-free)

Kale Power Salad with Garlic Honey Sesame Dressing | Making Thyme for Health

Is there anything sexier than a big bowl of bright green kale? On second thought, don’t answer that question.

Okay, so I’m aware that the texture and taste might not appeal to everyone but I’m convinced they just haven’t had it prepared the right way. If you make a flavorful dressing and then take a few minutes to massage it into the leaves, it can break down the rough texture and infuse the kale so that there isn’t any bitterness. Then you’re left with a robust salad that will hold up in the refrigerator for several days.

See? Totally sexy.

Kale Power Salad with Garlic Honey Sesame Dressing | Making Thyme for Health

This bodacious kale salad comes from Heather Christo’s brand new cookbook, Pure Delicious. Similar to the recipes she creates for her blog, her book features over 150 recipes that are made without gluten, dairy, eggs, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, shellfish, or cane sugar. Many of them are also paleo-friendly, vegetarian, or vegan!

If that’s not enough to impress the pants off of you, the recipes are delicious enough to share with anyone, not just those with food allergies. Heather creates meals with fresh and flavorful ingredients that will have you forgetting all about what you can and cannot have.

I was blown away by how creative the recipes are and how gorgeous her photography is, but the part that really touched me was learning the story of how the book came to be. It all started with a trip to the emergency room when Heather’s daughter, Pia, had an allergic reaction at the age of five. Going through such a terrifying experience opened her eyes to the reality of food allergies and made her aware that it’s much more than just a trend. Feeling empowered to make a change, she decided to have herself and her daughters tested only to discover that they were allergic to an alarmingly long list of everyday ingredients.

As a chef and recipe developer, Heather took this information and made the most of it by getting to work in the kitchen.  Through lots of trial and error, Pure Delicious was born. The end result is a compilation of her family’s favorite recipes as well as what I would consider a guidebook for anyone transitioning to an allergy-free lifestyle. She put together a beautiful video for her book HERE if you want to check it out!

Kale Power Salad with Garlic Honey Sesame Dressing | Making Thyme for Health

There are so many incredible recipes in this book but I could only choose one to share with you guys and this colorful kale salad was calling my name. It’s jam-packed with superfoods like bell peppers, green peas, green onion and sesame seeds then tossed in an amazing dressing bursting with flavors of garlic, ginger, honey and sesame oil.

It comes together fairly quickly and is great for healthy lunches during the week. It would also be perfect to bring to a picnic or summer party since it’s light and refreshing. Plus it dairy-free and doesn’t have to be kept ice-cold.

Kale Power Salad with Garlic Honey Sesame Dressing | Making Thyme for Health

Here’s what I can’t wait to make next:

  • Blackberry Scones with Vanilla Glaze
  • Baked Banana Oatmeal
  • Lemon-Blueberry Coffee Cake
  • Spring Minestrone
  • Spicy Tomato, Lentil and Rice Soup
  • Roasted Tomato and Corn Risotto with Arugula Basil Pesto
  • Chocolate Zucchini Bundt Cake
  • Strawberry Coconut Shortcakes

And that’s only the beginning. There is so much deliciousness going in this book!

 

GIVEAWAY!

Now for the best part! Heather was generous enough to offer one of you a chance to win a free copy of her book! All you have to do is leave a comment below letting me know if you’ve ever dealt with food allergies. I’ll pick a winner one week from today and notify you via email. Good luck!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED**

Kale Power Salad with Garlic Honey Sesame Dressing | Making Thyme for Health

Kale Power Salad

Yield: 4

Prep Time: 25

Total Time: 25

Print Recipe
5
5 / 5 (1 Reviews)
Did you make this recipe?
Leave a review »

Ingredients:

For the Salad

  • 6 cups thinly cut curly kale (approx. 2 bundles)
  • 1 yellow bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
  • 1 red bell pepper, cored and thinly sliced
  • 4 green onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 cup green peas, blanched*
  • 1/2 cup fresh cilantro leaves
  • 1 tablespoon sesame seeds

For the Dressing

  • 2 garlic cloves
  • 1-inch fresh ginger
  • 2 tablespoons sesame oil
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/3 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1 tablespoon honey (or agave for a vegan option)
  • pinch of kosher salt

Directions:

  1. To make the dressing: In a blender, combine the garlic, ginger, sesame oil, olive oil, vinegar, honey and salt. Blend until smooth.
  2. In a large bowl, add the kale and pour the dressing on top. Use your hands to massage it into the leaves for about 10 seconds. Add the bell peppers, green onions, peas and cilantro. Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve immediately.

 

*To blanch the pease, bring a small pot of a water to a simmer. Add the peas and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, drain, then add cold water and ice to the pot to cool. Drain and set aside to dry while you prepare the dressing.

Click Here for Nutrition Facts

Nutrition Facts are of 1/4th of recipe

Minimally adapted, with permission, from Pure Delicious by Heather Christo

Did you try this recipe? Please let me know how it turned out by leaving a comment below or sharing a picture on Instagram with the hashtag #makingthymeforhealth. I love hearing your feedback! heart

by Sarah on May 26, 2016  //  Salad, Sides, Spring
34 Comments »