Marinated in a toasted cumin maple dressing and tossed with a mess of herbs, pomegranate, persimmon, and walnuts, kale salad never tasted so good.
I'm pretty sure that, if left to his own devices, Jay would eat salad for every meal of the day, every day of the year, with the occasional burrito thrown in for variety. This is a very good thing, because I hate making salads, but I like eating them and appreciate their healthfulness.
Why do I hate making salads so? I don't really know. But before Jay came along, I would buy bags of pre-washed greens which would rot in the crisper before I could force myself to throw some bottled dressing on them and call it a meal.
But Jay whips up vinaigrette every few days. He makes sure we always have some pretty heads of lettuce on hand and whatever vegetables look good. If we run out, he'll pop by the store just to pick up some more. (He vacuums too. Be jealous.)
Jay's salads are always the same: big bowls brimming with torn lettuces, crunchy vegetables, vinaigrette, some crumbled feta; simple, healthy, and delicious. He makes one, without fail, every day, which we usually accompany (at my insistence) with other food. And though I sometimes whinge about the big bowls of greens, particularly on cold or drizzly days, I love knowing I'll get a dose of fresh veggies without having to do any salad-making of my own.
In general, Jay is an equal-opportunity salad-eater, with one glaring exception: kale salad. The man won't touch it with a ten-foot pole.
"Kale salad," he'll say, curling his lip in disgust, whenever the subject comes up. This was the case last week, when, after styling this salad with Sarah, I came home with two huge bags full of fresh herbs. I have a pet peeve about herbs: the ones you need a lot of at a time - basil and mint - come in tiny bunches, whereas the herbs that are only called for a tablespoon or so at a time in recipes - cilantro, parsley, dill - come in giant shrubberies that linger in the crisper, becoming increasingly black and slimy, before being shoved into the compost amidst a flurry of shame and self-disgust at having let so much food go to waste.
We pondered how to tackle the herbs on said evening, and what with the fall weather, kale salad popped into my mind. We could have just made more of the delicious Ottolenghi salad, but I wanted something that could keep longer. So I mentioned the K-word. And when Jay's face became a mask of disgust complete with gagging noises, I thought to myself, "Challenge accepted. I WILL make you love kale salad."
Jay loves toasted cumin, so that was a no-brainer. He complains of kale being tough and fibrous, hence the genius and well-trodden solution of massaging the greens with acid to soften the little buggers up and break down the walls of cellulose that trap moisture. This makes the kale tender and juicy, allowing it to absorb the other flavors. Kale is bland – herbs to the rescue. Kale is bitter – sweet persimmons, pomegranate, and a drop of maple syrup will fix that. Kale salad is boring – try saying that with a mouthful of bright herbs, tangy dressing, and toasty walnuts.
My plan worked, to some extent. There were no leftovers as we devoured the whole thing. Through mouthfuls, Jay mused over how bright and clean the herbs tasted, and how the salad would make a good accompaniment to a holiday meal with its penchant for cutting through richness like a honed knife. Kale salad: 1, kale salad haters: 0.
But the joke was on me. "Hey, when are you gonna make that kale salad again?" Jay now asks.
Damn.
*Bojon appétit! For more Bojon Gourmet in your life, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest, purchase my gluten-free cookbook Alternative Baker, or subscribe to receive new posts via email. And if you make this herbed kale salad recipe, I’d love to know. Leave a comment and rating below, and tag your Instagram snaps @The_Bojon_Gourmet and #bojongourmet.*
Herbed Kale Salad with Persimmon, Pomegranate and Maple-Cumin Dressing
Print Recipe Pin RecipeIngredients
- 1 ½ teaspoons cumin seed
- 3 tablespoons good olive oil
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon maple syrup
- ¼ teaspoon fine sea salt
- 1 bunch dino kale, stems removed, leaves chopped into 2" pieces (6 cups loosely packed)
- 1 cup loosely packed parsley and/or cilantro leaves
- ½ cup loosely packed mint leaves
- 1 cup toasted walnuts (or pecans)
- 2 large fuyu persimmons (or apples)
- ½ cup pomegranate arils
- optional: crumbled goat cheese, feta or ricotta salata
Instructions
- Place the cumin in a small, dry skillet and toast over medium heat, shaking frequently, until fragrant, about 2 minutes. Let cool, then grind in a spice grinder or mortar and pestle. In a bowl or measuring pitcher, whisk in the olive oil, lemon juice, maple syrup, and salt. Place the prepared kale leaves in a large bowl and toss with the dressing, using your hands to squeeze and squish the kale; this helps to make it tender and absorb the dressing. Set aside while you prepare the remaining ingredients, at least 5 minutes or up to 30 minutes.
- Add the herbs, nuts, and fruit to the bowl and toss well to coat. Toss with crumbled cheese if using and serve immediately, or chill for up to several hours.
Notes
Nutrition
Becky Winkler says
Ha! I love that story, and great point about the sizes of herb bunches! I'm obsessed with cilantro so I'll always use it all, but can almost never make it through a bunch of parsley. Almost every time I need basil at the store, it's not only a tiny amount but is only sold as part of a LIVING PLANT, which I just can't seem to sustain. This salad looks amazing.
sam says
Im all over kale at the moment as its only become a 'thing' here in our corner of the world and this salad looks delicious. I love how it wilts when you douse it in vinaigrette. I tend to make the same vinaigrette all the time so I want to step out my zone and give a few other s try. beautiful pics as usual.
Madeline Taylor says
LOVE this story, Alanna...and decision over holiday salad SOLVED in one, fabulous, Bojon entry. Molte grazie!!
Heather (Delicious Not Gorgeous) says
love how you conquered kale and all its faults/unfriendly bits! and i could stare at that pomegranate picture for hours- the color is fantastic, and it's so clear for something in motion!
Erika says
Hah! LOVED this story!! I had no idea Jay was such an enthusiastic salad maker (or vacuum-er, I am SUPER jealous). This salad sounds so fabulous--my family is flying into town for Thanksgiving and we're preparing to cook our entire meal in my teensy apartment kitchen. I'm definitely putting this salad (and your pecan pie (!!!)) on the list of contenders! So excited to try this!!
Windy Chien says
What a funny and well told story! I was right with you every step of the way, including thinking about that Ottolenghi Herb Salad. I will totally make this one, Alanna - thanks for the recipe! (And for including the spoon in the photo!)
Kathryn @ The Scratch Artist says
You had me at Maple-Cumin Dressing. This salad is perfectly suited to my tastes. Thanks for such a beautiful creation. I pinned so many of your gorgeous photos as I scrolled my way down to the recipe. So beautiful!
Gaby Dalkin says
for a lady who hates making salads, this one is quite beautiful! great photos :)
Laura (Tutti Dolci) says
Ha, what a funny story! I hate making salad too (washing lettuce = bane of my life) but I love eating salad, so I make the sacrifice. I just had a fab persimmon-pom salad last week and have been thinking of it ever since. The maple-cumin dressing sounds so good!
Christine says
I have the exact same herb complaint. Why are the mint bunches TINY?! The massaged kale trick has been the only way I've been able to get kale past Zach in salad. This looks completely delicious. That dressing too... can't wait to try it! xo
Lili says
What a funny story, I enjoyed reading it! The salad really do look amazing, loving all the colors and flavors, will have to try it out! :-)
Hanna says
I can never get enough of persimmon recipes this time of the year so I am glad you shared yours! I really love the colors of the salad and can imagine it with different nuts and herbs as well or maybe as a nourishing bowl with brown rice or quinoa. Thanks a lot for sharing!
Greetings, Hanna
Carla (@charliesue) says
Oh man, Alanna, have I told you that when I become a millionaire the first position I'm hiring is a salad maker? Sincerely. I shall be the first person on Craigslist to ever ask for someone who doesn't mind washing and prepping vegetables. (On second thought, I bet someone's asked for that.) Some people want chauffeurs or makeup artists or butlers. ALL I WANT IS A SALAD I DON'T HAVE TO MAKE.
Kimberly/TheLittlePlantation says
Definitely a salad that can win a sceptic over. Thanks for sharing. It's gorgeous.
allie says
Dino (lacinato) kale and massaging them is *totally* the answer to kale-haters' hate, I agree - although I do always secretly hate the phrase "massaged greens," haha. I was also a kale skeptic for a long time but some of Deb Perelman's kale salads really won me over, and now I've found myself even ordering kale salads. And loving them. I can't help it!
As always, gorgeous photos, and your blog will always remain top-tier to me.
Jaime says
i burst out laughing at 3 distinct points in this post. i can totally relate! this looks delicious and i loved the story! xo
Rakhee@boxofspice says
Ha! Love the story! Me... you had at cumin dressing. I LOVE cumin because well! In India where I come from, we eat it by the kilo! I am not such a big salad person (and therefore don't like making them either!) but this salad looks irresistible! The colors are insane as are the flavors I bet. Gorgeous! :)
Arthur in the Garden! says
Yummy
Arthur in the Garden! says
And persimmons!
Megan | the bay leaf kitchen says
I'm not a big salad-eater either! I really have to make myself eat it, but am often faced with a fridge drawer-full of green sludge :P
Also, I didn't know you could make kale softer/absorb flavor with the addition of acid! This is so good to know! Kale salad is actually one of the kinds I actually like- so fresh and crunchy. And your flavor combo is awesome!
Molly says
We celebrated our Thanksgiving two days early with our daughter home from college. We've served this salad twice already (!), and my daughter exclaimed that she wants to eat this salad every day for the rest of her life! My husband raved, too. The first time we used parsley, cilantro and mint, two fuyus, and feta. Next time around we had only one fuyu remaining so used a pear along with the fuyu. All delicious. This beautiful salad has earned a permanent place on our Thanksgiving menu! Thank you!
Kate says
Best Christmas salad ever! This is my new goto salad recipe. Thank-you.
Daria W. says
By December 24th, all the fuyus were sold out, but it was still a hit with red comice pears. Delightful!
Alanna says
Aw man, I hate when the persimmons go away! But I'm so glad y'all liked the salad with pears - yaaayyy!
tmsky says
many thanks
suzuki says
thansk your post
Sandra says
I made this tonight to bring to a friend’s dinner and it got rave reviews from all - even my teen son. It’s an exceptionally delicious combination.
Alanna Taylor-Tobin says
I'm so glad you liked the salad and that it was a hit! Your son sounds like he has sophisticated taste, I'm so impressed!