Nourish the Budding Lotus

Raw Kale Salad with Apples

A little bitter, a little sweet, and a whole lot of crunch!  I am loving this salad, and have been making it quite frequently in the past few weeks.  It is super easy to whip up, stores well in the fridge for future meals, and I know that it nutrient packed and makes my digestive system happy.  I first saw a version of this salad on Elana’s Pantry and was excited to try it out.

The first time that I took the plunge I was on my working vacation in Florence, Italy, where Lacinato Kale (cavolo nero) is the kale of choice.  I love Lacinato kale, and was excited to try it in the salad.  Knowing that it is a very bitter kale, I thought it would be great to pair it up with the sweet apples and a little balsamic vinegar to round out the tastes.  I think it might be a little ridiculous how excited I get about this salad, but I do!

Let me know what your favorite combination is with the raw kale.  I will be excited to try some new variations.

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Raw Kale Salad with Apples and Sunflower Seeds

1 bunch of lacinato kale, washed and chopped
1 apple, peeled and diced
1 handful of sunflower seeds (raw or toasted)
2 T olive oil
balsamic vinegar
salt
pepper

In a bowl combine the kale with the olive oil.  This is the fun part, get in there with your hands and rub the leaves of the kale together with the olive oil so that the leaves are well coated.

Add in sliced apple, sunflower seeds, and season with salt, pepper and balsamic vinegar to taste.

Let the salad sit for 15-30 minutes so that the kale will soften from the oil.

Then jump in and crunch away!

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