Grapefruit kale salad is a brightly colored and vibrantly flavored array of textures to satisfy all senses - sweet, tart and crispy fresh!
recipe originally published June 28, 2012
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Why you'll love this salad
This grapefruit kale salad is piled high with fresh massaged kale chiffonade, juicy grapefruit segments, and crunchy hazelnuts.
This is a refreshing salad for spring or summertime, and also a vibrant winter citrus salad to enjoy in the colder months, too. This is a quick and easy recipe that takes minutes to prep, making it a perfect last minute add on for any meal or party.
Make a double batch, because everyone loves this fresh and flavorful salad.
How to make this fresh grapefruit salad
This grapefruit kale salad is super easy and literally takes minutes to make.
The only way I prepare kale for salads is to enthusiastically massage the leaves while I wash them, then remove the stems and chiffonade into thin strips.
To chiffonade kale takes only a few steps, and it is very easy:
- Wash / massage the kale
- Remove the stems
- Pat the leaves dry with a towel
- Stack several kale leaves together
- Tightly roll into a tube
- Carefully slice kale into thin strips
The rest of this grapefruit kale salad recipe is quick. Whisk together the maple grapefruit dressing right in the serving bowl. Add the kale chiffonade and toss with tongs to coat the kale. Top the kale with the grapefruit segments and hazelnuts, and enjoy!
What dishes to pair with this salad
This grapefruit kale salad is not only good all year long, it is great for any meal.
If you are like me and try to enjoy several servings of greens each day, why not begin with breakfast? Enjoy this grapefruit salad with vegan egg bites or a stack of spinach pancakes.
For lunch or dinner, serve this fresh salad alongside crispy coconut tofu, this incredible maple mustard roasted cabbage, or jackfruit taquitos.
How long does this grapefruit salad last?
Kale is so hearty and holds up great as dressed salad leftovers - kale doesn't really wilt! My rule for maximum flavor and freshness is to enjoy this grapefruit salad within three to four days.
Refrigerate leftover salad in a glass container with a tightly fitting lid.
Did you make this grapefruit kale salad?
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Grapefruit Kale Chiffonade Salad
A brightly colored and vibrantly flavored array of textures will satisfy all senses - sweet, savory and tart; crunchy, salty, and fresh!
Ingredients
Maple Grapefruit Dressing
- juice of 1 grapefruit
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon tahini
- ½ tablespoon maple syrup
- pinch sea salt
Kale Chiffonade Salad
- 4 large bunches kale, washed and stems/ribs removed
- 1 grapefruit, peeled
- ½ cup candied hazelnuts, chopped
Instructions
- In large bowl, whisk together grapefruit juice, olive oil, tahini, maple syrup, and sea salt. Set aside as you prep the salad ingredients.
- After cleaning and removing ribs from kale leaves, chiffonade the kale: stack several leaves together and tightly roll them. Carefully slice into thin ribbons.
- Peel grapefruit and remove pith. Divide each segment into 2-3 pieces each.
- Add kale chiffonade and grapefruit to bowl with dressing. Use tongs or hands to toss, coating salad with dressing.
- Top tossed salad with chopped hazelnuts. Serve immediately.
Notes
Dishes to pair with this salad
This grapefruit kale salad is not only good all year long, it is great for any meal.
If you are like me and try to enjoy several servings of greens each day, why not begin with breakfast? Enjoy this grapefruit salad with vegan egg bites or a stack of spinach pancakes.Â
For lunch or dinner, serve this fresh salad alongside crispy coconut tofu, this incredible maple mustard roasted cabbage, or jackfruit taquitos.
How long does this grapefruit salad last?
Kale is so hearty and holds up great as dressed salad leftovers - kale doesn't really wilt! My rule for maximum flavor and freshness is to enjoy this grapefruit salad within three to four days.
Refrigerate leftover salad in a glass container with a tightly fitting lid.Â
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Nutrition Information:
Yield:
6Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 222Total Fat: 9gTrans Fat: 0gCholesterol: 6mgSodium: 73mgCarbohydrates: 22gFiber: 5gSugar: 7gProtein: 5g
nutrition calculations results vary by calculator, are for informational purposes only, and are not intended to replace medical advice or treatment.
about Kristina:
Kristina is spabettie! She found cooking at an early age, and created spabettie in 2010 to share vegan recipes. Kristina turned her culinary training into sharing vibrant vegan food! Read more...
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Geanna says
Nicely done! I've done my fair share of massaging kale (I love how dirty that sounds), but have to chiffonade it. Now I think I might have to, because you have really sold it. And seriously - I love the citrus/greens combo. That looks so refreshing, especially with such warm weather we're *supposed* to be having!
spabettie says
haaa - dirty. I just never really put two and two together, in how massaging makes the kale so yummy good. you should try the chiffonade as well - massage and chiffonade just GO together! 😀 you just wait, that sun is going to return!
Eileen says
Ok, chiffonaded kale is a great idea! How have I never done this before? Plus this salad sounds like it would provide the perfect hit of fresh veg taste in winter, when citrus and kale are at their peaks. Love it!
spabettie says
I eat a lot of salads in the warm summer months, I just crave them all the time, but yes, this would be great in the winter time as well - a bright freshness among cold temps and comfort foods!
and chiffonading kale - please try it! 😀
Lisa says
Keeping this one! I love grapefruit and we have tons of kale in our garden.
spabettie says
I love grapefruit too - have always loved it on salads!
Ali @ Around the VeggieTable says
This salad looks so beautiful!! I can't wait to try it 🙂
spabettie says
thank you, Ali! I could eat this one every day - hope you enjoy!
Leanne @ Healthful Pursuit says
Mm nothing like getting a little dirty in the kitchen in preparation of enjoying a nice, bright salad! I dig it.
spabettie says
the kale covered hands are absolutely worth this payoff...
Heather @ Better With Veggies says
You must have been rolling your eyes when you heard me oohing & ahhhing over kale in the past - I LOVE massaged kale. It's heaven. And you can lick your fingers after you're done massaging, not that I've ever done that (of course). 😉
spabettie says
haa, I haven't given you an eye roll, not once! I love Love LOVE kale and make salads with it all the time, I just really didn't think massaging actually did anything? I'm making up for it now, for sure!
...I wouldn't know anything about that licking fingers either. not at all.
Nichole says
At first I thought that was salmon, but what a beautiful salad with tons of color!
Very refreshing!
spabettie says
salmon would work here, absolutely! 😉
Caralyn @ glutenfreehappytummy says
what a beautiful salad! i love the color! so pretty:)
Sarena (The Non-Dairy Queen) says
Truth, I have never massaged my kale. Now I really feel like I need to! Also, I'm not a fan of fruit on my salads, but grapefruit and kale really does seem right. The bitterness of the kale with the sour, yet slightly sweet grapefruit...yeah, I bit this is amazing! Definitely making this one!
spabettie says
I cannot believe all this time I gave the kale massage an eye roll - really. It's awesome. Try the grapefruit, let me know what you think! 🙂
Heather (Where's the Beach) says
Love the idea of chiffonade to get smaller kale bites. This is going to sound crazy b/ had an incident with grapefruit in the 2nd grade and haven't eaten it since. How well do you think oranges might work?
spabettie says
I love the chiffonade! I'm sure oranges would work fine with this... a grapefruit incident, huh? 😉